In the state they call as having 10,000 lakes,February would have turned it more into frozen ocean so that Ice fishing would be the normal state of affairs in the week leading upto the “big game”.Its not common that TV’s biggest game gets played in cold area territories but US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis provided a popular setting nevertheless. No need to search for gophers here these nights.
The road to Super Bowl is always laborious. However, New England Patriots the “only” prevalent dynasty in a game that produces parity like no other north american sport does, hardly breaks a sweat coming here on a regular basis.Since 2000, they have won their division 15 out of 17 years and won five Super Bowls(tied second with Cowboys and 49er’s). They have unleashed a 21 game unbeaten playoff streak in 2003-04 bowl wins and an active nine straight division title run. Is it even worth being a team in AFC east these days?
The challenger to their throne could have been NFC’s who’s who.Carolina had Cam but they came across a rejuvenated New Orleans team in Louisiana led by Drew Brees who put an electric finish in place to knock them out and then a week later were nudged out themselves over a Stefan Diggs catch by the Super Bowl hosts. The hosts of the Super bowl would have been salivating themselves in getting to the finale had it not been for Nick Foles led Eagles attack that pulled out all the stops in a one sided conference final in Philly.Nick Foles himself was replacing almost a certain MVP nominee Carson Wentz whose season ended weeks before the playoffs began.Another perennial candidate Aaron Rodgers also broke down early which killed Green Bay Packers remote hopes of a berth.
Eventually, after all the deliberations, Tom Brady the lynchpin quarterback of the Patriots took the MVP and was on his way to break the jinx of the trophy holder winning the Bowl.They had the division nailed quite early and though missed some of their key performers to injury in the build up but Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan bailed them out with a somewhat come back win against Jacksonville. Their defence was a question mark at times.Even Tom at 40 though, it never looked that they could cease to amaze.
Nick Foles had stellar run as backup to Carson Wentz in the playoffs which carried in to the big event itself. Philly hadn’t won any trophies in the Super Bowl era and the city’s last major ring was the 2008 world series.They started their third straight being underdogs , ill conceived for a team who had a 13-3 record label. Like why,I dont know. They would give up 613 yards in Super Bowl to New England so it would justify the pundits that come Patriots offense, Brady would fire.
The Eagles receiving core were a strong unit.With Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Aglahor performing in the season, it was apparent in the Super Bowl , one will have to fire.Jeffrey’s 34 yarder early in the game led Eagles to a 9-3 lead.LaGarette Blount made it 15-3 with his run in the second quarter. New England cut the deficit back to three with 12 points of their own courtesy James White’s run before the halftime. Then came a dazzler from Foles’ playbook. He received a touch down pass from Trey Burton’s pass with a minute to go in the half and Philly restored the advantage.It was 22-12 at halftime.
It was to and fro in the next 30 minutes. The Gronk making his mark alongside Chris Hogan’s TD catch sandwiched by a Corey Clement reception.Eagles at 29-26 headed with a field goal lead into the final quarter.This had all the chances of being a classic now. But no defence still.Despite a field goal put in, Brady and Gronk came back to manipulate New England’s next touchdown and take the lead 33-32. It was here that Nick Foles’ resolve was tested.Over the next seven minutes he would orchestrate a charge that ended with Zach Ertz catch and Philly had responded. Defences had clearly slept in this Super Bowl.
It was still an eternity of a time left on the clock for Brady to come back.With 2:21 left ,Brady tried to unleash the winning drive as so often he has in the past. This time the Philly defence hung on and stopped the Brady bunch. Philly retook the ball and converted another three which made it 41-33. It left Brady 65 seconds to come back still with potential eight pointer.He went for it on Hail Mary time as well but Philly had done enough. He had 505 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.They had stopped the “Mighty” one twice in the clutch and won their first Super Bowl !
The teams combined for 1154 total yards and 874 in passing, both records for post season.Amendola,Hogan and Gronk and Clement had 100 yard games. For his part, Nick Foles passed for 373 and three touchdowns and rightfully took the Super Bowl MVP trophy home as well.Philly’ s dream run ends with the most prized ring of all.Call it unlikely and against the odds. Maybe.They won’t be resenting that one bit of that for the off season.The wait is over.Philly is liberated.
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