Super Bowl 52
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots look to repeat as Super Bowl champions as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Twin Cities in Super Bowl LII.

 

Philadelphia Eagles (15-3) vs. New England Patriots (15-3) at U.S. Bank Stadium at Minneapolis, MN

History

  • NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles are making their third Super Bowl appearance.
  • AFC champion New England Patriots are making their record 10th Super Bowl appearance.
  • The first meeting between two teams since 2015, the second time in Super Bowl. Patriots defeated Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl 39 at EverBank Field at Jacksonville, FL
  • Including the postseason, Eagles own 7-6 overall lead in series standings and came away with a 35-28 win in ’15 at Foxborough in teams’ last meeting.

Coaches

  • Eagles’ head coach Doug Pederson: 2-0 in postseason play.
  • Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick: 28-10 in postseason play (1-1 with Browns, 27-9 with Patriots).

Postseason History

  • Eagles: Making 25th overall playoff appearance (21st since the merger), 21-21 in postseason play (17-20 since the merger).
  • Patriots: Making 25th overall playoff appearance (24th since the merger), 34-19 in postseason play (33-18 since the merger).

Super Bowl History

Eagles

  • Making third Super Bowl appearance (0-2), losing Super Bowl 15 to Raiders, 27-10, at Superdome, New Orleans, LA, and Super Bowl 39 to Patriots, 24-21, at EverBank Field at Jacksonville, FL.
  • With a win over Patriots, Philly would become 20th different franchise to win a Super Bowl. With a loss, will become the seventh different franchise to lose at least three Super Bowls.
  • Won three NFL championships, defeating then-Chicago Cardinals in 1948 NFL Championship Game at Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Rams, 14-0, in 1949 NFL Championship Game at Los Angeles and Green Bay Packers, 17-13, in 1960 NFL Championship Game at Philadelphia.

Patriots

  • Making NFL record 10th Super Bowl appearance (45-4), losing Super Bowl 20 to Bears, 46-10, and Super Bowl 31 to Packers, 35-21, both contests at Superdome, New Orleans, LA, and Super Bowls 42 (17-14) and 46 (21-17), both to Giants, at University of Phoenix Stadium at Glendale, AZ and Lucas Oil Field, Indianapolis, IN, respectively.
  • Defeated Rams, 20-17, in Super Bowl 36 at Superdome, Panthers, 32-29, in Super Bowl 38 at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX, Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl 39 at EverBank Field at Jacksonville, FL, Seahawks, 28-24, in Super Bowl 49 at University of Phoenix Stadium at Glendale, AZ and Falcons, 34-28 (OT), in Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium at Houston, TX.
  • With a win over Eagles, Patriots would become the second-different franchise to win at least six Super Bowls, joining Steelers (six). With a loss, would become the second-different franchise to lose at least five Super Bowls, joining Broncos (five).

    Philadelphia Eagles

    Eagles By The Numbers

  • 13-3 regular-season record, won NFC East in ’17 (7-9 in ’16).
  • Including playoffs, outscored opponents 113-58 in the first quarter in 18 games in ’17.
  • Including playoffs, 31 takeaways in 16 games in ’17 (26 takeaways in ’16).
  • Scored 100-plus points in each of their four quarters in ’17.
  • Including playoffs, allowed 1,423 rushing yards (79.1 YPG) in 18 games in ’17; allowed 1,652 rushing yards in ’16 (103.3 YPG).

New England Patriots

Patriots By The Numbers

  • 13-3 regular-season record, won AFC East in ’17 (14-2, won Super Bowl LI in ’16).
  • Including playoffs, won 5 straight games.
  • Patriots: 54-14 vs. NFC teams dating back to ‘01 (59-16, incl. Super Bowls 36, 38, 39, 42, 46, 49 and 51).
  • QB Tom Brady: Including playoffs, 149 TD passes, 33 INT in last 66 games (56-10) dating back to ‘14; Four TD passes, two INT in first four games (2-2) in ’14.
  • Brady: 17-9 record last 26 playoff games, 54 TD passes, 28 INT (won first 10 playoff games, 14 TD passes, three INT).
  • TE Rob Gronkowski: 59 rec., 556 yards, 10 TD rec. in 12 career postseason games dating back to ’10.
  • Including playoffs, allowed 20 offensive TD in last 14 games (13-1); allowed 14 offensive TD in first four games (2-2) in ’17.
  • Patriots: Including playoffs, allowed 202 points in last 14 games (13-1); allowed 128 points in first four games (2-2) in ’17.
  • Patriots: Including playoffs, 36 sacks in last eight games (17 sacks in first 10 games in ’17).
  • Patriots: Including playoffs, outscored opposition 249-104 in the first quarter in 36 games dating back to ’16.

What To Look For

For the eighth time since 2001, the New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl and are in a position to repeat as NFL champions for the second time in their history. Coincidentally, Bill Belichick’s club was the last team to turn the trick (2003 and ’04). Meanwhile, the last time the Philadelphia Eagles won a league championship was way back in 1960. That was the first season in the history of the Pats. Brady and his team have made a habit out of making some super comebacks as of late. So it may be a surprise if New England jumps out on top early on. If the Birds are to pull off the upset, their deep and talented defensive front has to be the difference.