PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu has caught only one pass for 4 yards this year and become a forgotten man in the team’s offense. But if it weren’t for his smart, athletic special-teams performance earlier this month, the Eagles may be wondering how their season went wrong instead of contending for an unlikely playoff berth.
Before facing the New England Patriots on the road on Dec. 6, Ajirotutu studied film of the defending Super Bowl champions. He knew the Patriots enjoyed catching their opponents off guard.
And so, as the Patriots lined up to kick off after going ahead by 14-0 midway through the second quarter, Ajirotutu remained alert.