Photo Credit: @BleacherReport
It came down to the last play of the game as Tom Brady hurled a pass towards the endzone in hopes for another "Minneapolis Miracle" at U.S. Bank Stadium. The New England Patriots trailed the Philadelphia Eagles, 41-33, with nine seconds remaining in the game on their own 49 yard line. Brady took the shotgun snap, dropped back, avoided a sack and chucked the ball to the endzone. It was tipped by a couple Eagles players and hovered just long to enough to scare every Eagles fan to death but the pass ultimately fell to the ground as the clock read :00.
Philadelphia was 0-2 in Super Bowl history coming into the game. Their first appearance in the Super Bowl was on January 25, 1981 in the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they lost to the Oakland Raiders, 27-10. The Eagles would not return to the NFL's biggest stage for 24 years. On February 6, 2005, the Eagles faced off against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX with Donovan McNabb at quarterback; after failing to win an NFC Championship game in three consecutive NFC Championship appearances. They would continue their misfortune in the Super Bowl, losing to the Patriots & Tom Brady, 24-21, sending them to an 0-2 record.
Now, 13 years after their last Super Bowl appearance, the Eagles are bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Philadelphia. There were 1,151 total yards in Super Bowl 52, which is the most total yards in any NFL Postseason game in history. Philly's backup quarterback, Nick Foles, who came in late in the season after starter Carson Wentz went out for the season with a torn ACL, was 28/43 for 373 yards passing and three touchdowns with one interception. Tom Brady was 28/48 for 505 yards and three touchdowns as well. There was no lack of offense in this game but it was the Eagles defense who made the play that would ultimately "seal the deal."
With 2:16 left in the 4th quarter, Brandon Graham strip-sacked Tom Brady and the ball bounced up, right into the arms of Eagles rookie defensive lineman, Derek Barnett, thus giving the Eagle the ball and ultimately, the Super Bowl 52 championship. Philly would have to settle for a 46 yard field goal with 1:05 left on the clock; but New England was left with no timeouts after having to burn the last of them after the fumble. Brady completed a 13 yard pass to Danny Amendola on a 4th and 10 from their own nine yard line to keep their hopes alive. The Patriots would get to their own 49 yard line with nine seconds left on the clock but, as the first paragraph stated, they were unable to replicate the miracle play made by Stefon Diggs and Case Keenum to beat the Saints just a few weeks before.
This was one of the more entertaining games in recent years and kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Justin Timberlake assisted in keeping the momentum of the game going during his halftime performance. Super Bowl 52 did not disappoint and, if we're being honest, the better team won it in the end.
Eagles dethrone the dynasty, 41-33.
UPDATE (as of 11:58 pm): Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski, would not commit to playing in the NFL next season in the postgame press conference, stating, "I'm definitely gonna look at my future, for sure. I'm going to sit down the next couple weeks and see where I'm at."