Eagles Spring Super Bowl Upset in Blow to Patriots Dynasty
The Philadelphia Eagles are world champions for the first time since Chuck Bednarik roamed the field and Ike was in the White House.
In a stunning upset that derailed the mighty Patriots dynasty, the Eagles won Super Bowl LII by a score of 41-33 in a game that shattered offensive records in the 52-game series.
The win shocked many including this humble author who predicted a 44-10 blowout but perhaps no one was more shocked than Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft.
This was to be the crowning moment for the dynastic trio and a sixth Vince Lombardi trophy that would put the team one away from the breaking a tie for the all-time franchise record of six wins held by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But this is why they play the games.
The Patriots chose to defer and kicked off to start the game in what was clearly a lack of respect to the journeyman backup quarterback Nick Foles. He was forced into action when superstar Carson Wentz was lost with a knee injury in December and on Sunday, he proved all of his detractors wrong.
The Eagles proceeded to march right down the field against the Patriots defense with one clutch play after another and although they had to settle for a field goal, the tone was set and head coach Doug Pederson’s squad began to build confidence.
The Pats matched the three points and then the Eagles scored again on a 34-yard pass from Foles to Alshon Jeffries.
Nick Foles goes long to Alshon Jeffery for the touchdown! #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/dUZ3tMdXpb
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) February 5, 2018
The would extend the lead on a 21-yard second quarter run by LeGarrette Blount who was cut loose by the Patriots after last year’s Super Bowl title. Blount would finish the day with 90 yards against the Pats’ normally stout run defense.
LeGarrette Blount weaves through traffic for a big touchdown run! #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/3G5BNdynqa
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) February 5, 2018
New England closed the gap to 15-12 before Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich went to a razzle-dazzle play that flummoxed the Patriots.
Choosing to pass up an easy three points with time running out in the half, Philly perfectly executed a bit of trickery that led to Foles catching the first touchdown pass of his career.
#Eagles pull out the trick play on 4th down. Touchdown CATCH for Nick Foles! #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/XASdaE8sMp
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) February 5, 2018
At the half, the score was Eagles 22, Patriots 12
Brady who played a masterful game and carved up the birds vaunted defense would open the second half with a touchdown drive that culminated in a 5-yard strike to star tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Eagles, however, didn’t melt like the Atlanta Falcons did at the first sign of adversity last year and drove for their own score on another Foles touchdown pass. This one to running back Corey Clement who finished with 100 receiving yards on the day.
Corey Clement with a huge catch and run on 3rd down! #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/EWsIlj7Jj7
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) February 5, 2018
Brady then directed yet another scoring drive capped off with a 26-yard pass to Chris Hogan.
At the end of the third, Eagles 29, Patriots 26
But the fourth quarter is Brady Time as five Super Bowl victims – including the Eagles in 2005 – have learned the hard way.
The Patriots completed the comeback when they took their first lead of the game on another touchdown pass from Brady to Gronk that would have snuffed the life out of a lesser team than the Eagles.
Gronkowski catches a touchdown off the fade route #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/NHlY79A3j2
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) February 5, 2018
Foles then did his best Brady imitation by leading a clutch drive to regain the lead capped off by a touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz.
.@ZERTZ_86, and the #Eagles take the lead.#SBLII | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/9sDAh6B4VQ
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 5, 2018
The touchdown went to the normally trustworthy Patriots allies in the New York replay command center but another reversal of a touchdown against the Patriots like the one what occurred when the NFL robbed the Pittsburgh Steelers would have been far more devasting than the national anthem protests.
Results: The ruling on the field stands and Philly regains the lead 38-33.
Then the infallible Brady turned into Matt Ryan by coughing up the ball on a strip sack deep in his own territory.
BRANDON GRAHAM!!!!!
STRIP SACK
FUMBLEEAGLES RECOVERhttps://t.co/jDUkwX0PrA
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) February 5, 2018
The Eagles then ran time off the clock and kicked a field goal for the eight-point lead that would be their margin of victory but first, they had to withstand another furious comeback attempt by Brady.
The Philadelphia #Eagles are Super Bowl Champions.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/KyzzEiEgHz
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 5, 2018
The MVP’s desperation heave fell incomplete and the Eagles were Super Bowl champions.
Champions. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/MltMIas0QI
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 5, 2018
It was one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history but alas, millions missed it thanks to the NFL’s horrific calculus to side with a fraction of race-obsessed multimillionaire malcontents who thought that it was a good idea to take a knee during the national anthem.
Early reports show that the ratings for the game were the lowest in years and as the old Greek proverb goes: a fish rots from the head down.
Super Bowl Ratings Slip To 7-Year Low As Eagles Score Historic Win https://t.co/fuKv5fuJui pic.twitter.com/jUcBmM4XLI
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 5, 2018
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell got his $40 million a year contract extension but his fingerprints are on the corpse of the goose that laid the golden egg.
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles but it’s about time that this hellish season has finally come to an end.
