A look at the key players in Super Bowl 52
Projected starters and key players for the Super Bowl at Minneapolis on Feb. 4:
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Offence Nick Foles, QB (9), 6-foot-6, 243 pounds, 6th season, Arizona
Took over for Carson Wentz after Wentz tore his ACL in December against Rams . ... Played first three seasons with Eagles before returning as free agent. ... Became first QB in franchise history to throw for at least 300 yards and at least 3 TDS in playoff game with 352 yards, 3 TDS in NFC championship game.
Legarrette Blount, RB (29), 6-0, 250, 8th season, Oregon
Won Super Bowls with Patriots after 2014, 2016 seasons. ... Led NFL with career-high 18 rushing TDS in 2016 . ... Power runner who does best work near end zone.
Jay Ajayi, RB (36), 6-0, 223, 3rd season, Boise State
Acquired from Miami at trade deadline . ... Became first player in NFL history to produce at least 400 rushing yards with two teams (465 yards, Miami, 408 yards, Philadelphia) in same season . ... Was fourth in NFL in rushing in 2016 with 1,272 yards.
Alshon Jeffery, WR (17), 6-3, 218, 6th season, South Carolina
Led Eagles with 9 TD catches in regular season despite no 100-yard games. Only two receivers (Deandre Hopkins, Devante Adams) had more . ... Spent first five seasons with Bears . ... Caught 5 passes for 85 yards and 2 TDS in NFC title game.
Nelson Agholor, WR (13), 6-0, 198, 3rd season, Southern Cal
First-round pick in 2015 . ... With 62 catches, 768 yards and 8 TDS, provides excellent complement to Jeffery in breakout season.
Torrey Smith, WR (82), 6-0, 205, 7th season, Maryland
Brings playoff experience to passing game . ... Won Super Bowl 47 with Baltimore . ... A deep threat.
Zach Ertz, TE (86), 6-5, 250, 5th season, Stanford
One of league’s best tight ends. Led team with 74 receptions and added 8 TDS. Had 8 catches for 93 yards in NFC championship game.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai, LT (72), 6-6, 320, 2nd season, TCU
Fifth-round pick in 2016. Can play both tackle positions . ... Replacing perennial Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters.
Stefen Wisniewski, LG (61), 6-3, 305, 7th season, Penn State
Originally second-round pick of Oakland in 2011 . ... Has played left guard and centre . ... His uncle, Steve, was two-time All-pro selection at guard with L.A. Rams and Oakland Raiders.
Defence Chris Long, DE (56), 6-3, 270, 10th season, Virginia
Won Super Bowl last year with Patriots . ... First season with Eagles . .... Had 5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in regular season and 8 QB pressures in NFC title game . ... Similar performance could help Eagles pull upset in Super Bowl . ... Second overall pick in 2008 draft by Rams . ... Son of Hall of Fame DL Howie Long.
Fletcher Cox, DT (91), 6-4, 310, 6th season, Mississippi State
Three-time Pro Bowler . ... Powerful force who’s second among Eagles interior linemen with 34 sacks . ... Had seasonhigh 7 tackles and sack of Falcons’ Matt Ryan in divisional playoff win against Atlanta.
Tim Jernigan, DT (93), 6-2, 295, 4th season, Florida State
Second-round pick of Ravens in 2014 was acquired in trade in April and provides depth on defensive line . ... Signed four-year extension through 2021.
Brandon Graham, DE (55), 6-2, 265, 8th season, Michigan
Led Eagles with career-high 9 1/2 sacks . ... No. 13 pick in 2010 draft and longest-tenured member of Eagles defence . ... Sacked Tom Brady twice when Eagles beat Patriots in previous meeting in 2015.
Derek Barnett, DE (96), 6-3, 259, 1st season, Tennessee
Had 5 sacks in rookie season . .... Had strip-sack of Case Keenum to halt Vikings’ red zone drive in NFC title game . ... First-round pick last April.
Mychal Kendricks, LB (95), 6-0, 240, 6th season, Cal
Second on team with 77 tackles . ... Has thrived under defensive co-ordinator Jim Schwartz . ... Had team-high 10 tackles in NFC title game.
Dannell Ellerbe, LB (57), 6-1, 245, 9th season, Georgia
Won Super Bowl 47 with Baltimore . ... Joined Eagles in November and became third middle linebacker after Jordan Hicks, Joe Walker sustained seasonending injuries . ... Missed NFC title game with hamstring injury.
Nigel Bradham, LB (53), 6-2, 241, 6th season, Florida State
Acquired in trade with Buffalo in 2016 . ... Led all Eagles LBS with 99 tackles and had careerhigh 7 tackles for loss and tied for team lead with 2 forced fumbles in first season with Eagles.
Jalen Mills, CB (31), 6-0, 191, 2nd season, LSU
Seventh-round pick in 2016. Made key defensive play while guarding Julio Jones on fourth down to preserve 15-10 win over Falcons in divisional round.
Patrick Robinson, CB (21), 5-11, 191, 8th season, Florida State
First season with Eagles and led them with 4 interceptions in regular season . ... Had spectacular 50-yard pick-6 against Vikings in NFC title game.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Offence Tom Brady, QB (12), 6-4, 225, 18th season, Michigan
Led NFL with 4,577 yards passing this season . ... Fourtime Super Bowl MVP going for sixth ring ... Is 5-2 in Super Bowls ... Contender for third regular-season MVP award with 32 TD passes at age 40 . ... If Eagles don’t bring pressure, he will pick them apart.
Dion Lewis, RB (33), 5-8, 195, 6th season, Pittsburgh
Played first two seasons with Eagles ... Missed next two seasons with injuries before joining Patriots in 2015 ... Had 896 yards and 6 touchdowns this season. ... One of most versatile RBS in league.
James White, RB (11), 5-10, 205, 4th season, Wisconsin
Set Super Bowl record with 14 receptions last year . ... Also set Super Bowl record by scoring 20 points (2 rushing touchdowns, 1 touchdown reception and 2-point conversion). Scored tying and winning touchdowns against Falcons . ... Solid passcatching option out of backfield.
Brandin Cooks, WR, (14), 5-10, 189, 4th season, Oregon State
Acquired in trade with New Orleans . ... Provides deep threat for Brady . ... Second on team with 65 catches, 1,082 yards, 7 TDS.
Rob Gronkowski, TE (87), 6-6, 265, 8th season, Arizona
Had team-leading 69 receptions and 8 touchdowns . ... Suffered concussion in AFC championship game . ... Combination of size, strength and hands creates matchup nightmares. All-pro who’s nearly impossible to stop with one single defender.
Nate Solder, LT (77), 6-8, 325, 7th season, Colorado
Has second-most important job on team: protecting Brady’s blindside ... First-round pick in 2011, also played right tackle . ... Solid contributor.
Joe Thuney, LG (62), 6-4, 305, 2nd season, North Carolina State
Third-round pick in 2016 who fits job description perfectly: diligent, unassuming, good student . ... Typical Patriots Olineman.
David Andrews, C (60), 6-3, 295, 3rd season, Georgia
Another young blocker, Andrew became starter as rookie and performed well . ... Selected co-captain for first time in career . ... Missed two games with injury.
Defence
Eric Lee, DE (55), 6-3, 260, 1st season, South Florida
Signed off Buffalo practice squad on Nov. 21 . ... Originally signed by Houston as rookie free agent. Spent 2016 on Texans practice squad . ... Went to training camp with Houston and released prior to start of season before joining Buffalo.
Lawrence Guy, DT (93), 6-4, 305, 7th season, Arizona State
Solid performer with 58 total tackles . ... Signed as unrestricted free agent from Baltimore on March 13 . ... Drafted by Green Bay in seventh round of 2011 draft.
Malcom Brown, DT (90), 6-2, 320, 3rd season, Texas
First-rounder in 2015 who has been solid since joining team ... Missed three games, but still had 2 1/2 sacks this season . ... Takes up lots of room inside.
Trey Flowers, DE (98), 6-2, 265, 3rd season, Arkansas
Patriots’ best pass rusher. Led team with 6 1/2 sacks this season after 7 in 2016 . ... Had teamleading 6 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in Super Bowl last year.
Kyle Van Noy, LB (53), 6-3, 243, 4th season, BYU
Second-round pick by Detroit in 2014. Acquired in trade on Oct. 21, 2016 . ... Second on team with 5 1/2 sacks. Began season at outside linebacker. Was asked to handle multiple roles, playing both on edge and middle of field at times.
Elandon Roberts, LB (52), 6-0, 235, 2nd season, Houston
Sixth-rounder from 2016 and helped fill void when Dont’a Hightower was lost for season with torn pectoral muscle.
James Harrison, LB (92), 6-0, 242, 15th season, Kent State
Won two Super Bowls with Steelers, had memorable 100yard interception return for touchdown in Super Bowl 43 . ... Situational player at this point of lengthy career. Another option in passing situations . ... Had 2 sacks in Pats debut in regularseason finale . ... Has 6 tackles in Patriots’ post-season wins.
Stephon Gilmore, CB (24), 6-1, 190, 6th season, South Carolina
Signed five-year, $65 million contract to come from Buffalo and struggled with inconsistency early on . ... Made key stop on fourth down on Jags’ final drive to preserve win in AFC title game.
Malcolm Butler, CB (21), 5-11, 190, 4th season, West Alabama
Still best known for interception of Russell Wilson at goal line to clinch Super Bowl win over Seattle three years ago . ... Signed one-year tender worth $3.9 million. Set to be unrestricted free agent in 2018.