Philly bluster grows
Eagles remain hungry for 2nd shot at Brady, Patriots
Nick Foles was a gangly teenager in the process of breaking a guy named Drew Brees’ records at Austin Westlake High when the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles took on Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Journeyman quarterback Doug Pederson was wrap- ping up a career in which he mostly caddied for Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Brett Favre when wide receiver Deion Branch, rather than Tom Brady, became the unlikely MVP in Jacksonville while the Pats claimed their third Lombardi Trophy.
But in two weeks, they’ll be the central figures in frigid Minneapolis because the underdog Eagles crushed the Vikings’ dreams of being the first team to host the big game. Philadelphia erupted for 38 unanswered points in a 38-7 rout at raucous Lincoln Financial Field.
Foles, who inherited the job when Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, justifying the faith second-year coach Pederson had in him.
Now, the Eagles are headed to the Land of 10,000 Lakes and a long-awaited third shot at football’s Holy Grail.
And as first the Falcons then the Vikings discovered this postseason, and Bill Belichick surely will remind the Pats during the next 14 days, these dogs can bite.
Not only that, they’re still hungry. “We’re not done,” tight end Brent Celek said. “We’ve got to finish things.
“The biggest thing about this team is when adversity strikes, we don’t blink. That’s something special about this team I could feel from the very beginning.
“We’re going to enjoy today, but when it’s all over, we’re going to get back to work.”
Brady and Belichick await, which didn’t seem to bother those fan chanting, “We want Brady,” after Foles hooked up with Alshon Jeffery for a second touchdown connection, making the Eagles’ lead 38-7 in the fourth. That was the fans speaking, while the Philly players are more wary.
“He’s definitely the greatest quarterback of all time, but he’s not unbeatable” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “I think we match up well.
“They’ve obviously got a great system and a great offense, but everything we’ve done this year has prepared us for this moment.
“We’re more confident than ever. We’re not just going to the Super Bowl and feeling good about making it. We’re going to win.”
Except for the Giants, though, every team that’s gone against Brady’s Patriots when it’s all on the line has come up empty.
These Eagles, who were 7-9 last year, are convinced they can break through and bring Philadelphia its first football championship since 1960.
“Even after Carson went down, we knew we still had an opportunity,” linebacker Nigel Bradham said. “But besides him, we lost impact players — like a Hall of Fame tackle in Jason Peters and Hall of Fame back in Darren Sproles.
“We overcame that, which shows how resilient we are. I’ve faced Brady a lot. The main thing with him is getting pressure. Another thing is stopping their run game and their backs as receivers.
“The thing about Brady is his preparation. He tries to stay a step ahead of everybody. That’s the type of player he is.”
Two weeks from now in Minneapolis, Brady’s Patriots get to show if they are prepared to face the NFC champion Eagles.