For the Patriots, it’s a return to the scene of so many crimes. Sunday’s matchup in Minneapolis marks the eighth time that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have made it to within 60 minutes of a championship.
For the Eagles, it’s their third-ever chance at the franchise’s first Super Bowl win and would be their first championship since 1960.
It’s a game filled with subplots galore: Brady’s and Belichick’s quest for a record sixth Super Bowl win. Nick Foles‘ attempt to become Jeff Hostetler 2.0—a backup quarterback who led his team to a win on football’s biggest stage. And the battle between two of the NFL‘s three highest-scoring offenses against two of the league’s stingiest scoring defenses.
It’s a matchup that has the makings of an instant classic. And just as we do every year here at “MYBOYSAY SPORTS BLOG”, the NFL gang has gathered to preview the game and offer takes on how Super Bowl LII will play out.
On Sunday, the Patriots and Eagles will battle in the 52nd edition of the Super Bowl. This fact you probably know—especially if you’re hip to the whole Roman numerals thing.
However, there are a few things you might not know about the NFL’s annual season-ending spectacle.
In the 51 Super Bowls played prior to this year, the NFC/NFL holds the edge over the AFC/AFL in victories. But the edge is as narrow as edges get. The NFC/NFL has won 26 Super Bowls, while the AFC/AFL has won 25. The last 10 Super Bowls have been split right down the middle (five wins apiece), but the AFC has won four of the last five.
The Pats are 5-4 in their nine other Super Bowl appearances, and 5-2 during the Belichick/Brady era. The team lost its first Super Bowl in spectacular fashion (46-10 to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX) but has emerged with a victory in its last two trips—including last year. New England’s last loss in the Super Bowl came back in XLVI—a 21-17 setback at the hands of Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
The Eagles are appearing in their third Super Bowl and still searching for win No. 1. Philly lost Super Bowl XV 27-10 to the Oakland Raiders and fell to Brady’s Patriots 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. That game also marked the last time the NFL crowned a back-to-back champion.
Last year, a total audience of over 170 million tuned in to watch the Patriots and Atlanta Falcons play the first overtime game in Super Bowl history. Of course, many of those people were actually tuned in to see the commercials, which have become an event all their own.
Those commercials ought to be good. Per Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated, a 30-second spot on Sunday will cost advertisers over $5 million.
The Eagles kept the train on the track after losing Wentz (who was having an MVP-caliber year) to a torn ACL in Week 13, which is truly remarkable.
Now, Philly and Nick Foles are one game away from finishing that surprising year with a championship, and head coach Doug Pederson told reporters (via ESPN’s Tim McManus) that he’s confident Foles can seal the deal.
“He’s really handled his business extremely well,” Pederson said. “He tries to block out the clutter, the noise, as much as he can and just focus on his job. He’s had a great week of preparation, and the last month has been really special for him. He’s been able to handle it extremely well and put himself in a really good position.”
A large part of the reason the Eagles were able to absorb the loss of Wentz is that Foles hasn’t had to do it all on the field. He’s got a lot of help.
In tailbacks Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount, the Eagles have two physical tailbacks who keyed the NFL’s third-ranked ground game in 2017. Wide receivers Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and Torrey Smith and tight end Zach Ertz offer Foles a bevy of weapons in the passing game.
This team showed plainly in the NFC Championship Game (a 38-7 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings) that it can beat anyone in the NFL. Even the Big Bad Wolf of the AFC.
So that Tom Brady fellow is pretty good at the whole being an NFL quarterback thing.
In his 18th season, at 40 years young, Brady finds himself in position to do something unprecedented in history of the NFL. If there’s any doubt as to the best to ever play at the position, a sixth victory in his eighth Super Bowl would finish that.
In 2017, Brady led the NFL with 4,577 passing yards and had 32 touchdown passes vs. eight interceptions and a passer rating of 102.8. It was a performance that makes Brady the odds-on favorite to be named the NFL’s MVP Saturday at the NFL Honors.
Just another year at the office.
However, while Brady’s been great this season, it’s the improvement of New England’s defense as the year went on that propelled the Patriots into their umpteenth Super Bowl.
But while the Patriots finished the year 29th in yards allowed and 30th in passing yards allowed, they also ended the season fifth in scoring defense by surrendering just 18.5 points per game. From Week 5 on, the Pats gave up only 14 points per contest—best in the league.
Per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, New England safety Duron Harmon is confident in his group.
“The proof is in the pudding,” Harmon said. “We know what we do. We know what we have to do to be successful. It starts with a good week of practice and a good week of preparation. We know what we’ve done over the last 12 weeks. Everybody can talk about what they want to talk about, but we know what we’re capable of. We know we’ve got good players on this defense.”
Two of the NFL’s highest-scoring offenses against a pair of the NFL’s hardest defenses to score on.
It’s not great news for the teams involved. But for the fans?
Oh, yeah. Must-see TV.
MORE ON SUPER BOWL LII, SPORTS WRITERS, ANCHORS, MYBOYSAY SPORTS GROUP, AND FANS PREDICTIONS:
Last year’s postseason was dominated by the favorites. This year? It’s all underdogs, as they’ve gone 9-1 against the Vegas number.
You know it’s a given that Brady will play great — it’s what he does. We don’t think Brady’s hand will be an issue in this game. Seemed like he was pleasantly surprised with how well he threw it against Jacksonville in the AFC Championship Game. We also be surprised if Jim Schwartz doesn’t dial up some pressure to get to him early.
Philadelphia is coming in with a lot of confidence, but I go back to Super Bowl 50 between Denver and Carolina. I was watching the pregame warm-ups from the stands, and Cam Newton and his teammates were out so early. They were fired up, getting the fans excited … and it was 2½ hours before the game. I said “uh-oh.” Meanwhile, Peyton Manning was just going through his typical routine and through his progression like any other game. I’m not saying it’s bad that it’s Philly’s first time there, but New England has been through the travel, media requests, extended halftime and everything else we don’t think about surrounding the Super Bowl.
Believe me, I’ve had many of Jules Verne “Bottom of the Sea” marks. But in the Super Bowl 13 years ago, it was one of the Swami’s high-water marks, as I had the score exact — New England 24, Philadelphia 21. Only the QB and coach are the same for the Patriots … hmm.
I know I just was saying earlier why history matters less now, but this is the Swami. Why wouldn’t I pick the same thing? New England by three, 24-21.
Score: New England 24, Philadelphia 21
“Not buying any underdogs,” was said of the Eagles. “You’re not fooling anyone with that.”
The Eagles will fight hard, and certainly have a chance at pulling off an upset, but Brady’s experience and Foles’s volatility give New England a slight advantage. The Patriots won three Super Bowls in a four-season period from 2001 to 2004, and they appear poised to repeat that accomplishment.
Patriots 28, Eagles 26.
