The Super Bowl took place Sunday, Feb. 4. It was a very close game all the way through, but the Eagles were consistent throughout and ended the game with their first Super Bowl victory. The Patriots started to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Brandon Graham worked his way into the pocket and knocked the ball from Brady’s hand, and then teammate Derek Barnett recovered the fumble with 2:16 remaining. This play changed the whole game. Nick Foles was named MVP of the game, which many think he deserves. “Foles had comparable stats to Tom Brady, who is most likely the best quarterback in the league. He not only played well as a quarterback, but also caught the ball for a touchdown which Tom Brady could not do.” said senior Meave Lee when asked her thoughts on Nick Foles being named MVP of the game.
Heading into the playoffs, the Eagles were the underdogs. When their starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, tore his ACL during a game on Dec. 10, all hope seemed to be lost. Before his injury, they had been the best team in the NFL. This setback had many thinking that the Eagles were done right then and there. Following Wentz’s injury, backup quarterback Nick Foles was put in and has been starting since then. The first two games, Foles struggled to move the ball and utilize his team as a whole. However, they ended up beating the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional playoffs, then continued their winning streak against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game.
According to sports commentators, the Patriots were favored to win by five and a half points over the Eagles. While the Eagles and Patriots are relatively equally matched player-wise, the coaching is what makes the biggest difference between the two teams. The Patriots have a more experienced and consistent coaching staff. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been to eight Super Bowl’s, and won five. He coaches smarter than almost every coach in the game (as seen by the number of Super Bowl rings). He knows how to use the clock, use his players and win a game.
The two teams have two different strengths as well. Tom Brady is considered by many as the greatest quarterback of this time, so the Patriots are an offense-heavy team. Brady has the records for the most touchdowns in the playoffs and the Super Bowl, as well as the record for most completions in a Super Bowl, and has led the Patriots to 12 career AFC division titles (the most of any single quarterback.) On the other hand, while Foles has been on the ball lately, the Eagles are still stronger defensively. This is what made the game so close. But at the end, the Eagles clenched their very first Super Bowl victory.