NFL: New England 27, Philadelphia 25

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes after a year's absence Thursday in leading New England to a 27-25 exhibition victory over Philadelphia.

Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in New England's exhibition opener last year and the Patriots, with Matt Cassel at quarterback, missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.

Brady, three times a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, played the first half and completed 10 of 15 passes for 100 yards. He was intercepted once, but threw scoring passes of 4 and 9 yards to Chris Baker.

Julian Edelman also returned a punt 75 yards to help the Patriots build a 21-6 halftime lead.

Touchdown runs of 4 yards and 1 yard by rookie Eldra Buckley in the third quarter allowed the Eagles to get within 24-22.

New England's Stephen Gostkowski and Philadelphia's David Akers traded field goals in the fourth quarter, and Akers missed a 43-yard attempt with a minute to play that would have given the Eagles the lead.

Although the return of Brady was the big news going into the game, the Eagles stole the spotlight before the contest when it was reported they had signed quarterback Michael Vick to a two-year contract. Vick recently completed a prison sentence for dogfighting.