Eagles (15-3) vs. Patriots (15-3) in Minneapolis, 6:30 p.m. NBC
Conference championships: 1-1 Playoffs: 5-5
Last year, I wrote that we had Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on one side and ... Matt Ryan and Dan Quinn on the other. This season, it's Belihick and Brady against ... Nick Foles and Doug Pederson? Pederson has had a solid first couple years in Philadelphia and, with an underdog mentality, the Eagles have defeated the Falcons and Vikings to get to the Super Bowl, and they weren't expected to win either game by most of the media pundits and Vegas bettors. Foles has had an up-and-down career, but has filled in nicely for Carson Wentz, who might have won the MVP had he stayed healthy. Foles was very solid in the NFC title game, a 38-7 triumph, completing 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards, three TDs, and no interceptions. The Eagles ran for 110 yards, led by 73 from midseason trade acquisition Jay Ajayi's 73. And the defense was just as good as the offense, limiting Minnesota to 333 yards while picking off Case Keenum twice. The Patriots fell behind the Jaguars in the AFC championship, but in typical Brady fashion, came back to win, 24-20, getting a fourth-quarter TD drive and then a defensive stop that clinched it. Brady was average throughout the game and outplayed by Blake Bortles ... until the fourth quarter. He finished 26 of 38 for 290 yards, two scores, and no interceptions. Jacksonville outgained New England, 374-344, but couldn't score enough touchdowns when it mattered. And the Jaguars were criticized for letting the clock run out in the first half when they had timeouts and were up 14-10.
Interesting side note, former Virginia standout Chris Long is going for his second straight Super Bowl
win, this one as a member of the Eagles. He was a Patriot last season. (EDIT: Also, Rodney McLeod, a safety for the Eagles who was a senior on the 2011 UVa Chick-fil-A team, is going for his first title.) New England is attempting to capture its sixth Super Bowl, which would tie it for the most in the NFL with the Steelers and break a second-place tie with the Cowboys and 49ers. This is also New England's 10th appearance in the game, which is the most. The Steelers, Cowboys, and Broncos have been in eight. Belichick is going for his sixth win, and his five are already more than Chuck Noll's four he won with the Steelers.
The Eagles have the better overall roster, probably, but Brady and Belichick obviously give the Patriots an edge at QB and coach, though if Foles can play close to his NFC title game level, that would certainly help Philly's chances. And Pederson could be a rising star in the coaching ranks and would certainly elevate himself, already, above former Eagles coach Andy Reid if he can deliver the city's first Super Bowl.
The Eagles' defense has been good, but will have to deal with Danny Amendola (seven catches, 84 yards, two TDs, including the game-winner against the Vikings) and a healthy Rob Gronkowski, who suffered a concussion against the Jaguars but is good to go tonight. He didn't even play in last year's Super Bowl, when the Patriots of course rallied from 28-3 down to top the Falcons in overtime, 34-28. Foles and the offense can probably have some success against the Patriots, but can they do enough to stay out in front in the fourth quarter? We know that it'll take a big margin for Philly to feel comfortable against a Brady rally. I don't know if the Eagles will have that kind of firepower. I'm going to take the Patriots, but I do think it'll be a close game, as have all of the Patriots' Super Bowl victories.
Patriots 28, Eagles 24
Conference championships: 1-1 Playoffs: 5-5
Last year, I wrote that we had Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on one side and ... Matt Ryan and Dan Quinn on the other. This season, it's Belihick and Brady against ... Nick Foles and Doug Pederson? Pederson has had a solid first couple years in Philadelphia and, with an underdog mentality, the Eagles have defeated the Falcons and Vikings to get to the Super Bowl, and they weren't expected to win either game by most of the media pundits and Vegas bettors. Foles has had an up-and-down career, but has filled in nicely for Carson Wentz, who might have won the MVP had he stayed healthy. Foles was very solid in the NFC title game, a 38-7 triumph, completing 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards, three TDs, and no interceptions. The Eagles ran for 110 yards, led by 73 from midseason trade acquisition Jay Ajayi's 73. And the defense was just as good as the offense, limiting Minnesota to 333 yards while picking off Case Keenum twice. The Patriots fell behind the Jaguars in the AFC championship, but in typical Brady fashion, came back to win, 24-20, getting a fourth-quarter TD drive and then a defensive stop that clinched it. Brady was average throughout the game and outplayed by Blake Bortles ... until the fourth quarter. He finished 26 of 38 for 290 yards, two scores, and no interceptions. Jacksonville outgained New England, 374-344, but couldn't score enough touchdowns when it mattered. And the Jaguars were criticized for letting the clock run out in the first half when they had timeouts and were up 14-10.
Interesting side note, former Virginia standout Chris Long is going for his second straight Super Bowl
The Eagles have the better overall roster, probably, but Brady and Belichick obviously give the Patriots an edge at QB and coach, though if Foles can play close to his NFC title game level, that would certainly help Philly's chances. And Pederson could be a rising star in the coaching ranks and would certainly elevate himself, already, above former Eagles coach Andy Reid if he can deliver the city's first Super Bowl.
The Eagles' defense has been good, but will have to deal with Danny Amendola (seven catches, 84 yards, two TDs, including the game-winner against the Vikings) and a healthy Rob Gronkowski, who suffered a concussion against the Jaguars but is good to go tonight. He didn't even play in last year's Super Bowl, when the Patriots of course rallied from 28-3 down to top the Falcons in overtime, 34-28. Foles and the offense can probably have some success against the Patriots, but can they do enough to stay out in front in the fourth quarter? We know that it'll take a big margin for Philly to feel comfortable against a Brady rally. I don't know if the Eagles will have that kind of firepower. I'm going to take the Patriots, but I do think it'll be a close game, as have all of the Patriots' Super Bowl victories.
Patriots 28, Eagles 24
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