Patriots...31 Eagles...28

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Asante Samuel returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and had a second pick to shut off a late Philadelphia drive as the New England Patriots beat the Eagles, 31-28, to run their record to 11-0.

It was only the second truly competitive game of the season for New England, which trailed, 28-24, midway through the fourth quarter. A 69-yard drive, capped by Laurence Maroney’s four-yard run, put the Patriots ahead of the 24-point underdog.

Then Samuel’s second interception finished the job. James Sanders had an interception in the final seconds to close it out.

It was also the Patriots’ smallest margin of victory this season, and it comes only a week after a blowout of Buffalo and their largest victory margin.

The Patriots clinched the AFC East when Buffalo lost earlier. The Eagles dropped to 5-6.

Quoteworthy: “Three points, man. Three points. The Patriots and three points. They’re killing me with it.” -- Andy Reid, Eagles coach, referring to Super Bowl XXXIX and Sunday’s game