The NFL Roundup: Super Bowl LII

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​When it comes to the Super Bowl, we all tend to have a wonderful understanding of what this all-important game mean to the players. This is the game that symbolizes excellence and perfection and losing this one means that 53 men failed to be either of those things. But often times, we forget what this game means to the fans as well. Because we all watch football to share in the thrill and wonder of victory when it comes to our favorite teams and I make mention of that today, simply because Super Bowl LII seems to have a special meaning for the fans this year, and it goes far beyond the fact that this is a rematch of Super Bowl XXIX.
 
No, what gives this game extra gravity for the fans is that a victory here is historic in so many ways. If Philly brings home the hardware, they lock up their first NFL Championship in franchise history, wiping away years of heartbreak for the City of Brotherly Love and if New England pulls it off, then Patriots fans get to enjoy some serious bragging rights since their franchise will be the second in NFL History to have won six Super Bowl Championships. Regardless, one of these teams is about to pull off an incredible feat and before these two squads take the field, let’s take an in depth look at both teams and what they will need to accomplish, in order to win Super Bowl LII.

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SUPER BOWL LII
The NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles vs. The AFC Champion New England Patriots
U.S. Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, Minnesota
6:30 P.M. EST – NBC

THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - STRENGTHS
As the old saying goes, defense wins championships and the Philadelphia Eagles have a championship caliber defense for certain. This team boasts quite the pass rush, and a secondary that knows how to shut down any offense they face and while this prolific defense will be the talk of Super Bowl LII, their offense is no slouch either. After all, the O is fully capable of scoring by land or by air and their ability to be dynamic with their pass and run game could make them quite the handful in this game. 

(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - WEAKNESSES
While one of their strengths could help lead them to glory, Philly’s sometimes prolific offense is also the team’s greatest weakness. Sure, the offense has been known to score at will and put up points, but the man running the offense, backup QB Nick Foles, has endured an up and down playoff season. Yes, he was lights out in the NFC Championship game, but he didn’t throw a single touchdown in the Divisional Round and really, the outcome of this game may rest upon Foles’ performance.
 
THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - STRENGTHS
To be perfectly honest, it would take days and possibly weeks to properly discuss the strengths of the AFC Champion Patriots, so really, let’s highlight the two big things they do well week in and week out; the fact that they play stout defense and run a powerhouse offense, and while it may seem silly to boil it down to those two simple elements, that’s precisely what makes them so successful. Their defense knows when to buckle down to keep opposing quarterbacks from making big plays and Tom Brady can literally will his team to a victory with a flick of his wrist and those two elements are precisely what have led them to their eighth Super Bowl appearance with Brady at the helm. 

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(Al Bello/Getty Images)

​THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - WEAKNESSES
Ironically, the two biggest strengths of this team, also serve as their greatest weaknesses. Because while the defense is stout, Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia tends to run a ‘bend, but don’t break’ system that manages to get the team in trouble on the scoreboard from time to time and regardless of how prolific that offense is, Tom Brady is still a mere mortal and when defenses are able to disrupt his timing by either knocking the wide receivers off of their routes, or by flat out getting to him, this offense is simply not the same.
 
KEYS TO SUPER BOWL LII
For the Philadelphia Eagles to win this game, the plan is simple; do everything that Jacksonville did in the AFC Championship game but do it for four quarters. That means they have to sack Tom Brady and play man coverage all day long on defense. As for the offense, they have to run the ball consistently and often to wear down the New England defense and score points and keep the ball safe. But most importantly, as I mentioned before, they have to do this for the entire game. If they have a lead, they still need to blitz, and run man coverage on defense because if they give Brady a window or an opportunity, he will take it and bring this team back from the brink. However, if they can accomplish all of that, there’s a fair chance the Philadelphia Eagles will win Super Bowl LII.
 
As for the New England Patriots, the first order of business falls to their defense, in that they need to rattle QB Nick Foles. That means they need to find a way to disrupt his passing routes, and force some turnovers, and a few defensive plays that disguise the D’s true intentions should help with that since Foles hasn’t seen much of that this year. As for the offense, well, Brady simply needs to be patient, and hope that the Eagles do indeed slide into Zone, a place where he thrives. Last but not certainly least, the Patriots simply need rattle the psyche of the Philadelphia Eagles. They’re something of a legend now when it comes to their playoff and championship comebacks and if they can keep this game close with a few quick scores as necessary, they’ll definitely instill a sense of doubt in the Philadelphia Eagles, and that might lead to a critical mistake that leads New England to their sixth Super Bowl Championship.

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