Three things: Breaking down the Eagles-Patriots matchup
Three things to know about the Eagles-Patriots matchup in Super Bowl LII:
Pressure point: The Eagles’ deep and relentless front four only sacked Minnesota’s Case Keenum once Sunday but hit the quarterback eight times on a day he threw two INTs. Brady was sacked three times and hit seven by a Jacksonville defensive line that’s probably even more acclaimed than Philadelphia’s. However Brady managed to produce a pair of fourthquarter TD throws. Starting inside with DT Fletcher Cox, Philly has the talent to make Brady uncomfortable, very often the key to beating him. However he has the intermediate weapons and hair-trigger release to negate the Eagles’ rush, plus the experience to pick apart a young group of corners. This may be the defining matchup of Super Bowl LII.
Will Eagles fly? The Vikings essentially dared Eagles QB Nick Foles to beat them. With 352 yards and three TDs, he did. The next question is how will New England attack Philadelphia’s offence? Foles hasn’t committed a turnover in the playoffs, and his postseason efficiency is through the roof (122.1 QB rating). It might be worth focusing the game plan on him given the Patriots’ built-in familiarity with Eagles RBs LeGarrette Blount, who spent most of the previous four years in Foxborough, and Jay Ajayi, an ex-Dolphin. The Pats will surren- der yards on the ground, but only one team allowed fewer rushing TDs than their six in 2017.
The big stage: Foles will be making his fourth playoff start, while Brady makes his eighth Super Bowl appearance. The Patriots have reached the Super Bowl for the third time in four years, while the Eagles haven’t been since the 2004 season, when, incidentally, they lost to New England. Philly has a veteran coaching staff, headed by Doug Pederson, one of the NFL’s cagiest play callers, as well as sharp defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. But they are facing an experienced team and coaching staff, including two coordinators, Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, who have been in their roles since 2012.