HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT
A Tale of Two Quarterbacks. Both teams were No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences, but the narrative surrounding them could not be more different. In the NFC, Philadelphia was widely dismissed as a championship contender once Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14. But led by backup–turned–starting QB Nick Foles, who was contemplating retirement last year at the age of 28, the Eagles have been dominant. In the other corner, there’s Brady at 40 years old with five Super Bowl victories and four Super Bowl MVP awards.
The (Great?) Unknown. Eagles Coach Doug Pederson is one of only three NFL coaches who does not have ties to Belichick or his coaching mentor, Bill Parcells. Still, the Patriots are the best team in the NFL when it comes to preparation and confusing the opponent. New England’s offense was not only one of the league’s most prolific this year, finishing first in yards and second in points (28.6), but it was the NFL’s most efficient too. But they’ll have their work cut out for them against the Eagles’ second-ranked defense.
Knee-d to Know. Both teams have more than dabbled in politics. Brady has been seen in the past with MAGA gear, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft donated a million dollars to President Trump’s inauguration ceremonies. For the Eagles, DE Chris Long made headlines this season for joining Malcolm Jenkins and other teammates in protest.
Watch the Line. On the offensive side, Philadelphia boasts a versatile line that manhandles most opponents. All Pro tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce lead the way, and right guard Brandon Brooks has emerged as a star. They’ll be matched up with New England’s equally versatile, underrated defensive line. Look for New England’s Trey Flowers to be a game-changer. The third-year pro moves all over the field and could be a constant disrupter of Foles. On the flip side, for the Eagles to have any chance at victory, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Chris Long and company will have to hit Tom Brady early and often.
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