Eagles Fly to Super Bowl Win
February 6, 2018
On Sunday, February 4, the Philadelphia Eagles upset the favored New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII (52), the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles and Patriots battled throughout the game, which went down to the wire as a last-second Patriots touchdown pass attempt fell harmlessly in the end zone at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the first Super Bowl title for the Eagles, who last won an NFL title in 1960. (The first Super Bowl was not played until 1967.)
Tight end Zach Ertz scores the go-ahead touchdown for the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Feb. 4, 2018. The Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 for the team’s first Super Bowl title. Credit: © Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Sunday’s game was a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX (39), which New England won 24-21. The Eagles also lost Super Bowl XV (15) to the Oakland Raiders, 27-10. It was the 10th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots, the most of any NFL team. The Eagles’ victory was met with euphoria in Philadelphia, while the reaction was understandably more subdued in wintry New England, a region denied its sixth Super Bowl title.
The Eagles led for much of the exciting game, but the Patriots pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and it began to look as though New England was on its way to another title. But the Eagles snatched the lead back with only minutes to go as Philadelphia tight end Zach Ertz caught a short pass and dived across the goal line for a touchdown. On the ensuing possession, Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham forced a fumble from New England superstar quarterback Tom Brady, and the Eagles recovered. A field goal put Philadelphia up eight points with just over a minute remaining. The Patriots, masters of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, drove to midfield for one last shot at the end zone (a touchdown and two-point conversion would have sent the game into overtime). But the comeback threat ended there: Brady’s long “Hail Mary” pass fell to the ground as the clock went “double zero.”
Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles capped a remarkable season that saw him rise from backup to Superbowl Most Valuable Player. With just three games remaining in the regular season, Foles replaced Eagles sensational sophomore quarterback Carson Wentz, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in early December. In the Super Bowl, Foles threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass on a brilliant fourth-down play late in the second quarter. Foles is the only quarterback in Super Bowl history to throw a touchdown pass and catch one as well. Eagles head coach Doug Pederson hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a Super Bowl champion in just his second season with the team.
A number of Super Bowl records were set during Sunday’s game. The Eagles and Patriots combined for the most yards of total offense (1,151). With 505 passing yards, Brady broke his own record of 466 yards set last year. It was a record eighth Super Bowl for Brady, who, at age 40, is the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. It was also a record eighth Super Bowl appearance for New England head coach Bill Belichick. New England’s 33 points were the most for a losing team in Super Bowl history. The Patriots, winners of five Super Bowls, have also now lost five Super Bowls, a dubious honor shared only by the Denver Broncos.
Justin Timberlake provided the halftime entertainment at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, a miniconcert medley that included a tribute to Prince, a favorite son of Minneapolis who passed away in 2016.
