We Did It! Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champs!!!
By:Paul Scofield
We did it!!! Eagles fans, we finally saw triumph after all of the disappointment and heartbreak that we endured, all of the “no Super Bowl rings” jokes and memes, all of the agony of watching year in and year out of other teams winning it…is all over. We got redemption from from the 2005 Super Bowl. We are…Super Bowl 52 champions!!
It was a historic game in many ways, not because Philadelphia winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history. The combined total yards of 1,151 was not only a Super Bowl record, not only a post season record, but an NFL record. Tom Brady became the first quarterback to throw for 500+ yards, 3+ touchdowns and 0 interceptions…in a loss. Bill Belichick became the 6th coach ever to lose 3+ Super Bowls, even though he has 5 wins. Nick Foles and Tom Brady set not 1, but 2 combined passing yards records: first duo to eclipse 200+ yards in the first half and record combined passing yards in a postseason game with 874. Tom Brady threw a postseason record 505 yards. The Patriots scored the most points by a Super Bowl loser with 33. Finally, the two teams combined for the fewest punts in a Super Bowl, with only 1. The teams combined for the fewest sacks in a Super Bowl with one, which was Brandon Graham’s crucial strip sack of Brady late in the 4th quarter. Nick Foles also became the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to catch a touchdown pass, which came on a trick play on 4th down at the 1-yard line. Foles also set a nonsense record with 21 playaction passes during the game, completing 12 of 21 for 118 yards and a touchdown. All of these stats via ESPN.
Nick Foles orchestrated a brilliant 75-yard drive after Brady marched the Patriots down the field to go up 33-32 late in 4th Qtr. Zach Ertz caught the go ahead touchdown of 11 yards with 2:21 to play. Ertz finished with 7 catches for 67 yards and 1 crucial touchdown. Corey Clement was brilliant in the passing game, logging 4 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Mills played a spectacular defensive game with 9 tackles and 2 passes deflected. Blount led the backfield charge with 14 touches for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Jay Ajayi (battling an ankle injury) went 9 touches for 57 yards. Finally, Nick Foles finished 28/43 for 373 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, including a touchdown reception from Trey Burton. The Eagles also went 10 for 16 on 3rd downs, which proved to be a key hidden stat.
Congratulations to your Super Bowl 52 champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. We finally saw it happen and extended congratulations to the Super Bowl MVP: Nick Foles.
Is the Patriot Dynasty coming to an end? What will Gronk do? Is there quarterback controversy in Philly during the off-season? I know what my predictions to those questions are, but that will come later. For now, let’s enjoy this win Eagles fans. We’ve been waiting far too long.
