VIDEO: Eagles Win First Super Bowl With Thrilling 41-33 Victory Over Favored Patriots
By Alan Zlotorzynski, Senior Editor // February 5, 2018
Eagles Quarterback Nick Foles Named Games MVP
ABOVE VIDEO: The Philadelphia Eagles captured the franchises first Super Bowl title and first NFL title since they beat Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers in 1960 with a 41-33 thrilling win over the defending champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – Some things are just meant to be. If someone told you that league MVP and five time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady would pass for the most yards in NFL Playoff history, the Patriots would have three receivers over 100-yards, never punt in the game, average five yards per rush, score 33-points and the Eagles would miss an extra point and two 2-point conversions and still win the game, you’d think that person to be insane.
However, that’s exactly what happened on Sunday evening in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the Philadelphia Eagles captured the franchises first Super Bowl title with a 41-33 thrilling win over the defending champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
The last time the city of Brotherly Love celebrated a football championship it was in 1960 when the Eagles beat Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. If you’re keeping track at home thats 58-years or 20,859 days since the Eagles reigned as league champs.
While Brady was his usual spectacular self, many wondered if Philly quarterback Nick Foles could match him pass for pass.
Not only did Foles match Brady pass for pass but he one-upped the Patriots genius signal caller and caught a critical game changing touchdown pass on fourth down just before the end of the half to give the Eagles a 22-12 lead.
ABOVE VIDEO: Eagles QB Nick Foles became the first player in NFL history with a touchdown pass and a touchdown reception in a Super Bowl.
On the play, Eagles running back Corey Clement took a direct snap and pitched to tight end Trey Burton. The former Florida Gators QB hit an uncovered Foles in the end zone for the touchdown.
the 22-first half points were the most points New England allowed in the opening half of a Super Bowl under Bill Belichick and with the catch Foles became the first player in NFL history with a touchdown pass and a touchdown reception in a Super Bowl.
Earlier in the quarter the Patriots tried to throw a pass to Brady on a trick play but the ball went off his wide open outstretched hands. Brady had nothing but turf and the end zone in front of him but could only look at his hands in disgust.
Neither teams defense had an answer for the others offense. The teams amassed 673 total yards by halftime, a Super Bowl record. The game featured a total of 29 records that were either broken (17) or tied (12).
Some of the notable records to fall were:
- Most combined total yards in any game in NFL history, regular season or playoffs: 1,151
- Most combined passing yards in a postseason game in NFL history: 874
- Most passing yards in a postseason game in NFL history: 505 (Tom Brady)
- Most points by a Super Bowl loser: 33 (the Patriots)
- Fewest combined punts in a Super Bowl: 1
The teams also combined for just one sack, which tied a record for the fewest in a Super Bowl. That sack would be huge as it proved to be the play that derailed the Patriots chance to repeat.
With just 2:16 to play in the game, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham recorded a strip sack of Tom Brady at the Patriots 33-yard line. Rookie Derek Barnett recovered and the Eagles would add three crucial points to build an eight point lead.
ABOVE VIDEO: With just 2:16 to play in the game, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham recorded a strip sack of Tom Brady at the Patriots 33-yard line. Rookie Derek Barnett recovered and the Eagles would add three crucial points to build an eight point lead.
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who was ready to quit football not so long ago, was named the games MVP. Foles completed 28 of 43 pass attempts for 373 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a 106.1 passer rating.
He is the third quarterback to start and win the Super Bowl after starting three or fewer games in the regular season, joining Doug Williams (Washington, Super Bowl XXII) and Jeff Hostetler (New York Giants, Super Bowl XXV). He is the only quarterback in NFL history to have a 100+ passer rating in each of his first four career postseason starts (minimum 20 attempts per game).
With 9:22 to play in the game and trailing 33-32 in the game, Foles did his best Tom Brady impression and led the Eagles on a 14-play seven minute drive that included a critical fourth down conversion from their own 45-yard line with 5:39 to play.
Foles tossed the game winner to TE Zach Ertz with 2:21 to play. The play wasn’t without controversy. After the catch, Ertz turned and ran two yards and dove across the goal line losing the ball when he hit the ground.
ABOVE VIDEO: Foles tossed the game winner to TE Zach Ertz with 2:21 to play.
The NFL’s rule on what is a completed catch these days is about as clear as the fog smoke that appears on state road 520 on some mornings and the rule was put to the replay test.
The entire state of Pennsylvania east of Pittsburgh held their collective breath as NFL Referee Gene Steratore watched the replay on the proved sideline I-pad.
After several minutes watching the replay and viewers listening to NBC broadcasters Chris Collinsworth and Al Michaels tell the viewers the play would be overturned, Steratore disagreed and in the end the NFL got it right and the touchdown was allowed to stand.
The following drive produced the strip-sack-fumble which led to three points and an eight point Eagles lead.
However, you can never count out Tom Brady, just ask the Atlanta Falcons. If the Patriots do lose a game it is sometimes because they beat themselves and that may have been the case on the ensuing kickoff.
The Patriots Dion Lewis fielded the kick at the six yard line and after running for three yards, tried to lateral the ball to Rex Burkhead but the Eagles were flying to down the field and tackled Burkhead at the nine yard line for a loss on the play.
With no timeouts and needing 91-yards and a two-point conversion to tie the game, Brady drove New England to his own 49 with nine seconds to play—time for one final play.
The 40 year old Brady dropped back and tossed the ball 55 yards in the air for one final “Hail Mary” into the endzone. The ball bounced around, was nearly caught by TE Rob Gronkowski but fell onto the ground ending the game and giving the Eagles their first Super Bowl win.
ABOVE VIDEO: The Eagles’ home radio call of the last play of Super Bowl 52.
The Eagles answered the Patriots at every turn in Super Bowl LII including three straight 75 yard touchdown drives by Brady and the New England offense to start the second half. Philadelphia avenged their 24-21 loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson is known as a players coach and on the surface has a lot in common with Nick Foles. Pederson was a career back-up playing 10 years in the NFL for four different teams.
After his retirement, Pederson was hired as head football coach of Calvary Baptist Academy, a private Christian high school in Shreveport, Louisiana.
He remained as a high school football coach until he was hired by the Eagles in 2009 by then head coach Andy Reid. Pederson followed Reid to Kansas City until he was named Eagles head coach on January 18, 2016.
ABOVE VIDEO: Eagles head coach Doug Pederson’s speech following his teams win in Super Bowl LII.
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are now 5-3 in Super Bowls with all three losses coming to teams in the NFC East. It would be naive to think the Patriots are done or this loss in some way hurts their dynasty.
Brady, 40, did just win the leagues MVP award on Saturday night to become the oldest player by three years to capture the honor. And even thought he couldn’t become the first MVP to win the Super Bowl since Kurt Warner in 1999, he shows no signs of slowing down.
While it’s true New England is closer to the end of the Brady-Belechick dynasty, it took 43 points, a near perfect offensive game plan and one of the gutsiest calls in the history of the game to topple the Patriots and even still they had a chance at the end to win.
The Eagles could be around for a while. Philly is young and dynamic but their front office has a decision to make with the Super Bowl LII MVP.
The younger and better Carson Wentz returns under center next season. It’s his job, Wentz is the future. Don’t forget it was Wentz that led the Eagles to an 11-2 record and was likely going to be the leagues MVP until a knee injury ended his year before Foles took over.
The smart move is to trade Foles while he’s hot and get something valuable for him.
In case you’re wondering, the Patriots are already the favorites to win Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes
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