The big game
has finally come upon us. After a long and rough NFL season it has finally come
down to the final 2. Super Bowl LII is here. This year’s game features a rematch
of Super Bowl XXXIX between The New England Patriots of the AFC vs. The
Philadelphia Eagles of the NFC. There has been much build up to this game. Can the
Patriots repeat & capture a 6th championship in the Brady-Belichick
era or will the Eagles win their first Super Bowl in franchise history? I’m
going to give an answer to one of these questions.
Matchups
Patriots Offense vs. Eagles Defense
The Patriots offense will be toughly
tested in this matchup due to the tough scheme ran by the Eagles Defense. The Eagles
front four led by DT Fletcher Cox will bring the one element that can limit the
Pats offense and that’s getting pressure on Tom Brady up the middle. Teams that
have had success getting pressure on Brady up the middle as well as the outside
have had better shots at beating the Pats. The Eagles secondary is very
underrated led by All-Pro S Malcolm Jenkins. The Eagles will be helped by the Pats
not really having that big down the field deep threat. With that said the Pats
short passing game with a fully healthy Gronk, Brandin Cooks, & Danny
Amendola will truly test the Eagles linebacking core. Pats RB’s James White
& Dion Lewis ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will be the x-factor
on whether the Pats offense will steadily move the ball against the top 5 Eagles
defense. I feel the Eagles defensive team speed will be enough to keep the Pats
offense at bay.
Advantage: Eagles Defense
Patriots Defense vs. Eagles Offense
This matchup
is a bit of a toss-up with the Eagles coming off a VERY game against a top 5 Vikings
defense & The Pats defense being a more of a schematic type defense that
plays a bend but don’t break style & are very opportunistic. Most thought
the Eagles offense would drop off losing MVP candidate QB Carson Wentz but so
far that hasn’t been the case. Backup QB Nick Foles has played very well in his
2nd stint with the Eagles. The offense hasn’t missed a beat. The addition
of RB Jay Ajayi via trade has worked dividends for them and helping balance the
offense. The Pats D is stacked on the back end with DB’s Malcom Butler, Stephon
Gilmore, & Devin McCourty. The burning question for me is can the Pats
bring enough pressure on Foles to really rattle his game & force him into
bad decisions. Eagles receivers Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, & Nelson Agholor
can pose a threat, but the Pats have enough veteran experience & schematic
knowledge to slow the Eagles down.
Advantage: Patriots Defense
Coaching:
Bill Belichick Vs. Doug Pederson
Bill Belichick is the G.O.A.T of
head coaches in my opinion. I feel he is the master of making in game adjustments
& changing the game plan according to the flow of the game. Doug Pederson
has taken this Eagles team to heights that NO ONE expected from the at the season’s
beginning. Most didn’t predict this Eagles team to make the playoffs let alone
being in the Super Bowl. Both have done excellent jobs this season overcoming
big injuries. For the Pats big time weapon Julian Edelman went down in
pre-season with a Torn ACL. For the Eagles LT Jason Peters went down for the
year as well as QB Carson Wentz. The question I have is “Can Doug Pederson
adjust his game plan if it doesn’t go well?”.
Advantage: Bill Belichick
New
England Patriots
|
 |
Philadelphia
Eagles
|
|
***
|
Quarterback
|
*
|
|
**
|
Running
Backs
|
**
|
|
**
|
Wide
Receivers
|
***
|
|
***
|
Tight
End
|
**
|
|
**
|
Offensive
Line
|
**
|
|
**
|
Defensive
Line
|
***
|
|
**
|
Linebackers
|
**
|
|
***
|
Cornerbacks
|
**
|
|
**
|
Safeties
|
***
|
|
**
|
Special
Teams
|
**
|
|
***
|
Coaching
|
**
|
Super Bowl Champion Prediction:
Patriots Win:28-24
Super Bowl MVP: James White
No comments:
Post a Comment