Patriots, Brady eye records vs Eagles in Super Bowl
MINNEAPOLIS— Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will have a slew of records in their sights on Sunday as they aim to defend their Super Bowl crown against a Philadelphia Eagles team chasing a first ever win.
Brady, 40, will become the oldest quarterback in history to win the Lombardi Trophy if he successfully leads the Patriots to a record-equalling sixth title.
A sixth title for Brady would also give him more Super Bowl rings than any other player in history.
Win or lose, Brady will become the oldest non-kicker to play in the showpiece on Sunday, 16 years after guiding the Patriots to his first Super Bowl crown in 2002.
More than 100 million households in the United States are expected to tune in for Brady's latest tilt with Father Time, ending a tumultuous NFL season rocked by player protests and a feud with President Donald Trump.
Trump triggered a furious backlash across the NFL last September after disparaging mostly African-American players who refused to stand for the national anthem in a protest against social injustices.
Advertisers are expected to steer clear of politicallycharged TV ads, in contrast to last year, when issues such as immigration and women's rights were tackled.
Pop star Justin Timberlake, who headlines the halftime show, will also aim to avoid controversy, 14 years after the TV-watching nation were scandalized by Janet Jackson in the "Nipplegate" furore.
A crowd of around 66,500 will huddle under the covered roof of the US Bank Stadium, while Minneapolis shivers in the forecasted sub-zero temperatures.