Super Bowl LII

Super Bowl LII
Name	Super Bowl LII
Visitor	Philadelphia Eagles
Home	New England Patriots
Visitorabbrev	PHI
Homeabbrev	NE
Visitorconf	NFC
Homeconf	AFC
Visitorcoach	Doug Pederson
Homecoach	Bill Belichick
Visitorrecord	13–3
Homerecord	13–3
Stadium	U.S. Bank Stadium
City	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance	67,612
Odds	Patriots by 2.5
Anthem	Pink
Coin toss	Bradley Cooper
Halftime	Justin Timberlake
Mvp	Nick Foles
Network	NBC
Previous	LI
Next	LIII

Super Bowl LII was the championship game of the 2017 NFL season between the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFC and the New England Patriots of the AFC. Played on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the contest featured head coaches Doug Pederson and Bill Belichick and quarterbacks Nick Foles and Tom Brady. The game ended in a 41–33 victory for Philadelphia, marking the Eagles' first NFL championship and concluding a postseason that included matchups with the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Background

The matchup followed playoff runs by the Eagles, who defeated the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings en route to the title game, and the Patriots, who overcame the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jacksonville Jaguars—with previous seasons including championships in 2001 season, 2003 season, 2004 season, 2014 season, and 2016 season. The Patriots’ roster featured future Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and coach Bill Belichick, while the Eagles' roster included Carson Wentz (injured), Zach Ertz, Alshon Jeffery, Jason Peters, and defensive leaders Brandon Graham and Malcolm Jenkins. Pre-game narratives highlighted the Eagles' underdog role, the Patriots' dynasty status, and storylines involving Nick Foles's career resurgence, the NFL Draft selections such as Jalen Mills, and controversies surrounding player protests during the National Anthem performed by Pink.

Game Summary

Philadelphia built an early lead as Foles connected with receivers including Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and tight end Zach Ertz while utilizing a successful rushing attack featuring LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement. New England responded with Brady finds to Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski and a rushing presence from Sony Michel and James White. The game featured trick plays and strategic adjustments by Belichick and Pederson, including the "Philly Special" involving Trey Burton throwing to Foles on fourth down. Defensive efforts from Eagles players such as Malcolm Jenkins and Fletcher Cox pressured Brady, while Patriots defenders Stephon Gilmore and Duron Harmon attempted coverage. Special teams and turnovers, including a fumble by Chris Hogan and a strip-sack of Brady by Brandon Graham, shifted momentum late. Ultimately, Philadelphia maintained a multi-score advantage in the fourth quarter before New England narrowed the gap but failed to reclaim the lead.

Scoring Summary

First quarter scoring included field goals and touchdowns by both teams with contributions from kickers Jake Elliott for Philadelphia and Stephen Gostkowski for New England. The second quarter saw a mix of passing touchdowns by Tom Brady and Nick Foles, plus a memorable trick-play touchdown using Trey Burton. Halftime adjustments led to further scoring in the third quarter as Zach Ertz caught multiple passes for red zone production, while Brady and Gronkowski continued to connect. The fourth quarter featured Philadelphia touchdowns from receivers and short-yardage runs by Corey Clement, and New England touchdowns via Brady to Rob Gronkowski and rushing plays by Sony Michel; the final score was Philadelphia 41, New England 33. Key scoring plays included the Eagles' two-point conversion attempts and successful red zone execution by both offenses.

Records and Statistics

The game set and matched several postseason and Super Bowl records: quarterbacks Nick Foles and Tom Brady combined for a high total of passing yards; Brady's passing yards and completions added to his career postseason totals alongside records held by Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Foles was named Super Bowl MVP after multiple touchdown passes and a receiving touchdown, joining Bart Starr, Joe Montana, and Tom Brady among MVP quarterbacks. The contest featured the most total yards in Super Bowl history at the time, surpassing previous mark holders including San Francisco 49ers performances and challenging offensive records set by Jerry Rice and Steve Young. Individual statistical highlights included receiving yards by Julian Edelman and Alshon Jeffery, rushing contributions by Corey Clement, and sacks by Brandon Graham, with defensive metrics from Malcolm Jenkins noted.

Broadcasting and Media Coverage

NBC held U.S. broadcast rights with a production led by commentators Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, while the halftime show was headlined by Justin Timberlake. International rights involved networks such as BBC in the United Kingdom and CTV in Canada. Advertising sales featured spots from corporations including Amazon, PepsiCo, Budweiser, and General Motors, with creative work by agencies like Wieden+Kennedy and BBDO. Digital distribution included streaming on platforms operated by NBCUniversal and coverage by sports media outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated.

Aftermath and Legacy

Philadelphia's victory propelled individuals such as Nick Foles into increased endorsement opportunities and discussions about Hall of Fame candidacy, while the Patriots continued to pursue further championships under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, later appearing in subsequent title games including Super Bowl LIII. The "Philly Special" became a widely studied play in coaching circles, referenced in playsheets and coaching clinics involving NFL Coaches Association and college programs like Ohio State Buckeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide. Off-field implications touched on local economic impact for Minneapolis, tourism debates involving Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, and legal considerations around stadium security and event contracts with organizations such as NFL Properties. The game's offensive explosion influenced subsequent rule discussions within the National Football League and strategic evolutions among franchises including the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.

Category:Philadelphia Eagles Category:New England Patriots Category:2018 in sports