Source: Creative Commons Super Bowl sundayIt's that time of the year. Millions of people around the world will tune in to watch the Super Bowl. Super Bowl Sunday, arguably an American national holiday, is a day for all football fans to enjoy and makes their post-Super Bowl Monday morning that much more strenuous to have to wake up and go to work or class. Aside from the beer, wings, pizza and parties, Super Bowl LII pins the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The biggest storylines surrounding the game include Tom Brady and Nick Foles's duel, the Eagles's "underdog" reputation and Tom Brady's newest athletic perspective. Source: New York Daily News tom brady vs. nick folesThis quarterback matchup involves a group that couldn't be further apart in terms of career success. Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick from Michigan in the 2000 NFL Draft, a five-time Super Bowl champion, a cemented legacy as the greatest quarterback of all time and arguably the greatest player in NFL history, has the potential to win his sixth ring Sunday at 40 years old. Nick Foles, a third-round pick from Arizona in the 2012 NFL Draft, a one-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles in 2013 and a career backup quarterback up until Carson Wentz's injury, has the potential to silence all the doubters with a win over the 5.5-point favorite Patriots and Tom Brady. The trade of Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on Oct. 30 to the San Francisco 49ers made NFL media members question New England. They saw Tom Brady as an elite quarterback without an heir apparent backup waiting in the bullpen and the Patriots as a team who can't win without Brady under center. Brady responded by guiding his team to the top seed in the AFC playoffs and willing his team to the franchise's tenth Super Bowl appearance by crushing the Tennessee Titans 35-14 in the Divisional Playoff and edging the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 in the AFC Championship. In the free agency and salary cap era, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have been to an astounding eight Super Bowls in 17 years and have won five of them (we'll see how Sunday goes). Their dynasty continues with a 40-year old quarterback and a 65-year old head coach. Meanwhile, Foles nearly retired after his stint with the St. Louis Rams in 2015, but the Eagles brought him back for his second go-around with Philadelphia in 2017 after he spent 2016 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He proved to be exactly what the Eagles needed when Carson Wentz tore his left ACL and LCL in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. Foles helped the Eagles secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, but many fans around the league thought that they were a weak No. 1 seed with a backup quarterback. The Eagles responded by narrowly defeating the Atlanta Falcons 15-10 in the Divisional Playoff and scorching the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship. With this quarterback duel, it will be a tough-sledding game since the Patriots and the Eagles possess great defenses that will hinder both of their passing games. But, looking at the quarterbacks themselves, Brady has a substantial advantage over Foles because of career success, Super Bowl experience and well, he's Tom Brady. Source: NBC Washington the Philadelphia underdogsDog masks. You may have seen this scene throughout the NFC Playoffs. It's the Philadelphia Eagles, who have worn the masks after winning playoff games as the "underdogs." The only reason for their underdog status is that Nick Foles is their quarterback and not MVP candidate Carson Wentz. Now, I'm not an Eagles fan (but Leroy, my radio partner, is) but this logic is a little ridiculous. Football is a team game, and one player does not make or break a team. Players can be valuable for their teams, but are not the teams. Foles has had success throwing the football and has a team to help him along. In fact, in the NFC Championship against one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2017, Foles’s stat line was 26/33, 352 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT. I don't see why all the hate for this team continues even though the Eagles reached the Super Bowl for the first time in 13 years with a backup quarterback. It's interesting to note that the last time the Eagles appeared in a Super Bowl was in 2004 against the New England Patriots. In Super Bowl XXXIX, the Eagles lost 24-21 to the Patriots, and New England won its third Super Bowl title in four years. In Super Bowl LII, the Patriots have the potential to win a record-tying sixth Super Bowl title (Pittsburgh Steelers) and also their third Super Bowl title in four years. But, this Eagles team should not be taken lightly because underdogs are always dangerous (just ask any living Baltimore Colt that played in Super Bowl III). Source: Creative Commons Brady's legacyTom Brady is universally recognized as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. But, another Super Bowl championship could put Tom Brady into a more elite class of athletes. A sixth championship would tie him with six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan, and arguments would begin with asking if Brady is equal to Jordan or has surpassed Jordan. A victory Sunday would undoubtedly make Tom Brady the greatest player in NFL history. I view him as the greatest, but not everyone says Brady is the greatest player in NFL history. Most fans agree with him being the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but they want a sixth ring to cement his legacy as the best ever. History will happen either way Sunday in Minneapolis. Source: Creative Commons game pickPatriots 24, Eagles 17
I'm not saying the Eagles don't have a chance, but this challenge will be even greater than their previous two playoff games. I think Tom Brady will win his fifth Super Bowl MVP Award, but his statistics won't nearly be as astounding as in Super Bowl LI last season. It should be a good game to watch and a great time to appreciate the sport we love. Everyone should be in for a treat this Super Bowl Sunday.
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Daniel Benitez Archives
April 2020
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