Welcome to the Super Bowl LII live blog! We are just about two hours from game time as the Patriots try to capture their sixth Super Bowl title, which would tie them with the Steelers for the most in NFL history. The Eagles, who are making their third Super Bowl appearance (1980, 2004) have never won the Super Bowl, but they are looking to change that today. Nick Foles, the Eagles backup, has played great in the playoffs, as has Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has a 27-9 career playoff record (5-2 in the Super Bowl), is coming off the third MVP season of his career.
As we do every week, let’s take a look at the inactive players for tonight’s game:
Patriots- DT Alan Branch, RB Mike Gillislee, LB David Harris, OL Cole Croston, WR Kenny Britt, TE Jake Hollister, WR Bernard Reedy
Eagles- OT Will Beatty, WR Marcus Johnson, CB Sidney Jones, DE Steven Means, DT Elijah Qualls, RB Wendell Smallwood, DT Destiny Vaeao
Surprising to see Branch as a healthy scratch again, but he did not play up to his ability this season. Gillislee is another healthy scratch that just hasn’t been needed as much as the Patriots expected. OK, we’ll be back for kickoff, don’t eat too much before the game.
6:22 PM- The National Anthem is complete, and we are close to kickoff. Brady, Belichick, and the rest of the Patriots looked relaxed and focused; the Eagles looked pumped and confident, exactly what everyone should expect.
6:26 PM- Patriots win the toss and will defer, just the way they like it. Butterflies are afloat in many a belly in that stadium. This should be fun. Enjoy the game, hopefully the Patriots are hoisting their sixth Lombardi Trophy in three to four hours from now.
FIRST QUARTER
15:00- The Patriots kickoff, which was an ugly line drive. The Eagles get a strong return and start at their own 25.
14:47- Gain of four for Agholar, 2nd & 6…
14:08- Gain of two for Agholar, 3rd & 4…
13:29- First down reception for Alshon Jefery, Eagles have a 1st & 10 from their own 49…
13:05- Loss on the carry as Kyle Van Noy comes off the edge and hammers Blount; 2nd & 12….
12:30- First RPO play of the game goes for an incomplete pass, 3rd & 12…
12:00- Good play by Foles and the Eagles are driving, just what they needed.
11:36- Ertz makes the catch for a gain of seven, 2nd & 3…
11:01- Ajayi picks up four and the Eagles have another first down.
10:22- Van Noy with a great tackle makes the play go from maybe 20 yards to six; 2nd & 4…
9:42- The D-line bit hard on the screen, which is just bad instincts, and the Eagles have 1st & Goal from the five…
8:59- 2nd & Goal from the two…
8:29- False start on the Eagles, now they are facing 2nd & Goal from the seven…
8:03- Fake toss-bootleg by Foles is incomplete; Harrison didn’t bite, rushed the play.
7:58- The Patriots tighten up in the red zone and force a field goal attempt…
7:55- Field goal, Eagles. Good drive for the Eagles, especially the 3rd & 12 conversion, but the Patriots defense stepped up when they needed to. The false start was a killer penalty too. Eagles 3, Patriots 0
7:45- After an incomplete screen pass, Brady hits White in the flat for a gain of 13. 1st & 10…
7:30- Philly is called for 12 men on the field, 1st & 5 from the Patriots 45…
7:00- Chris Hogan picks up 25 on the catch, 1st & 10…
6:37- Hogan for four more on the end around, 2nd & 6…
6:15- Brady hits Gronk for 10, 1st & 10 from the Eagles 13…
5:30- James White with the nice catch for a gain of five, 2nd & 5…
4:59- One yard gain on the run; don’t run, spread them out and chuck it. 3rd & 4…
4:20- Incomplete pass to Gronk (he was held) and the Patriots will go for three.
4:18- Field goal, Patriots! Gostkowski squeezes it in from 26-yards out, and this game is tied. Seriously, just throw the ball, Philly won’t stop it. Patriots 3, Eagles 3
4:12- Philly takes over at their own 23.
4:02- Eight yard gain by Agholar, and he looks like a major part of the gameplan today. 2nd & 2…
3:18- Blount takes it 36 yards and the Eagles are in business again; awful run defense right there. 1st & 10…
2:34- Touchdown, Eagles. Great catch by Jeffrey, and a great thrown by Foles. They are making this look easy, and it is time to get Rowe out of the game and put Butler in. This game couldn’t have started better for the Eagles, but the Patriots always keep battling. Jake Elliott missed the extra point, which could loom large. Eagles 9, Patriots 3
2:30- Good kickoff coverage by the Eagles, and the Patriots will take over at their own 17. Philadelphia is impressive so far; they have great athletes everywhere on the field.
1:59- Gronk is called for a false start after a strong run on 1st down, and then an incomplete pass on 2nd & 8. 3rd & 8…
1:26- Danny Amendola is such a smart receiver, and Brady knows it. Huge play, Patriots now at the Eagles 30, 1st & 10…
:56- 13 yard catch by Hogan, 1st & 10…
:31- Six-yard run by White, 2nd & 4…
:00- Three-yard run by White to end an offense-filled 1st quarter. The Patriots are facing a 3rd & 1 to open the 2nd quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
15:00- Dumb play by Cooks, just stupid. CUT BACK! Patriots are forced to go for another field goal, and the kick was missed because of an AWFUL snap. This is a very bad start for New England, and I hate to say this, but they can’t get down every game and expect to win. Cooks with one of the dumbest plays I’ve ever seen killed that drive, nevermind the missed field goal. Yuck.
13:39- 3rd & 8 after the Patriots force an incomplete pass on 2nd down. Big play for NE…
13:16- McCourty with the breakup and the Eagles are forced to punt. New England needs to finish a drive right on offense, and they have good field position. Enough brain cramps, clean it up punch in a touchdown. Eagles 9, Patriots 3
13:11- Brandin Cooks is probably done for the night after Malcolm Jenkins led with his head and took him out on the catch. He looks like he is out cold; HUGE loss for the Patriots offense. He is being attended to on the field. Unbelievable how bad this game has started for New England.
13:00- Bad throw by Brady, 2nd & 10…
12:30- Lewis runs for six, 3rd & 4…
11:58- Why? Why Josh, why? That is DUUUUUUUUMB. Throwback to Brady after that fiasco on the last series with Cooks? Just run the damn offense. 4th & 5, Patriots are foolishly electing not to kick. Once again, this game will probably come down to the last play because the Patriots don’t know how to play in the 1st half of Super Bowls.
11:53- Incomplete pass on 4th down, and the Patriots look like they are they team that is playing in their first Super Bowl, not their 3rd in four years.
11:47- Enough is enough, put Butler in the damn game. 2nd & 11…
11:06- Four-yard run by makes it 3rd & 7…
9:51- Another first down for the Eagles, who are at the Patriots 43. 1st & 10…
9:40- Foles with a terrible throw to Jeffrey, who was wide open. 2nd & 10…
9:26- Jeffrey with another catch; Chung is covering him. Why is Gilmore not on him.
8:48- Touchdown, Eagles. Blount takes it 25 yards for the easy touchdown run. Hey Bill, do you think you might want to play your best players on Super Bowl Sunday? This is a dominating performance by Philly. They went for two and failed, but it doesn’t matter because they can do anything they want to this Patriots defense right now. Brady and the offense desperately need a scoring drive here, field goal or touchdown. Eagles 15, Patriots 3
8:34- Burkhead picks up 47 on the screen pass, 1st & 10 from the Philly 29.
8:12- Another sideways throw, this time for 3 yards. Yuck. 3rd & 8…
7:29- Wow. WOW. Screen, after screen, after screen, and Josh McDaniels is wondering why it doesn’t work on consecutive plays? Throw it to the seams, down the field, mix it up more.
7:24- Field goal, Patriots. Gostkowski drills a 45-yard field goal to but the lead to nine. Why didn’t they go for the field goal on the last series? Doug Pederson and his staff is outcoaching Bill Belichick and his staff. Eagles 15, Patriots 6
6:48- 2nd & 14, Eagles, from their own 20…
6:29- Smith picks up 11 on the catch, 3rd & 3…
5:46- The Patriots are getting killed on 3rd down, this time on the ground. Ajayi runs for 15.
5:01- Interception, Patriots!! Duron Harmon with the play off the tipped (almost caught) pass, and he returns it to the Patriots five yard line. Huge play to stop a driving Eagles offense; let’s see if the offense can put together a long scoring drive. Eagles 15, Patriots 6
4:56- Lewis runs for a gain of four, 2nd & 6…
4:19- Gronk drops the pass, 3rd & 6…
4:15- Hogan, who the Patriots should be looking to get the ball to, is held on the pass, giving the Patriots a much needed 1st down. They need to mix up their plays better.
4:06- Five-yard run by Lewis, 2nd & 5…
3:39- Great block by Develin leads to a nine-yard run and another 1st down. 1st & 10, Patriots, from their won 31…
2:55- Gronk interfered with, no call. 2nd & 10…
2:42- Hey, what do you know, throwing to a guy with a mismatch in Hogan? 43 yard gain, 1st & 10 from the 26.
2:06- Touchdown, Patriots!! James White with maybe the best RUN of his career, taking it 26 yards for the touchdown. Great blocking, broken tackles, what a play, and the Patriots are back in it. Gostkowski missed the extra point. Good lord, can they just put together a clean drive with zero mistakes? Gostkowski made the tackle on the kickoff, which was returned to the 30. Eagles 15, Patriots 12
1:46- 3rd & 3, Eagles…
1:26- Can the Patriots please get Richards off the field? 1st & Goal, Eagles, after Clement picks up over 50 on a blown coverage by guess who? Richards.
:45- Clement was stopped for no gain, but squirted free for four yards. 2nd & Goal from the Patriots 3…
:40- Clement is stopped after a gain on one, 3rd & Goal from the two. Huge play here…
:38- Gilmore just got away with what looked like DPI, and the Eagles will go for it on 4th & Goal…timeout, Eagles.
:34- Touchdown, Eagles. Foles makes the touchdown catch on the trick play, which is fine to run on 4th & Goal from the one. That is a kick in the ba**s to Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia. The Eagles take a 10 point lead. Eagles 22, Patriots 12
:27- Brady almost threw a pick, but Amendola made a great play. 2nd & 10…
:22- Dorsett picks up 20 on the play, timeout, Patriots.
:03- Brady forced to run, and the Patriots are now forced into a Hail Mary…
:00- Amendola takes a quick screen for 20, and that is the end of the half. The Patriots should be happy to be only down 10, because they played a terrible 1st half. Bad play calling, bad coaching, bad execution, and amazingly, they are right in this. New England gets the ball to start the second half. Eagles 22, Patriots 12
THIRD QUARTER
15:00- The Patriots take over at their own 25.
14:57- Brady missed Gronk on a wide-open play. Not good. 2nd & 10…
14:50- Gronk with the catch for 27 yards, big play. Patriots ate at the 50.
14:25- Gronk with another catch, this time for 24. Keep going to him. 1st & 10…
13:09- 2nd & Goal, Patriots…
12:26- Touchdown, Patriots!! Gronk with the six-yard catch, and the Patriots do exactly what they need to do to open the half. Gronk dominated the drive, and Brady, who made a terrible throw to open the series, recovered nicely. Eagles 22, Patriots 19
12:25- Bad coverage again, but the Eagles are called for holding and will start from their own 15. The Patriots defense needs to wake up.
12:08- Blount runs for three, 2nd & 7…
11:27- 3rd & 6 after the drop…
11:00- Bademosi with a bad missed tackle. Can we please see Malcolm Butler in there? He has to be better than Bademosi. 1st & 10…
10:13- Blount running wild. The Patriots defense stinks today, plain and simple.
9:23- Incomplete pass on the fake pitch, 2nd & 10…
9:14- The Eagles are getting to the next level with ease in the run game, which is what I previewed this week. I said it would be the key to the game, and that is exactly what is happening. This LOS is getting dominated, and once the Eagles get in space, they’re the best in football. 3rd & 1…
8:30- Another 3rd down conversion. New England cannot stop Nick Foles and the Eagles offense right now. I get the feeling Alan Branch could have helped today. 2nd & 6…
7:25- Incomplete pass, Eagles now facing 3rd & 6….Pats need a stop.
7:18- Touchdown, Eagles. Wheel route to Clement, and once again the Patriots give up a big play on 3rd down. He didn’t have control, but there is no way in hell the refs will turn this over for New England, no way. Eagles 29, Patriots 19
7:13- Lewis takes it out to the 25, and the Patriots need to go score again.
7:07- Lewis gains one on the run, 2nd & 9…
6:32- Eagles called for holding, which gives the Patriots a first down.
5:45- Hogan with a gain of 15, 1st & 10 from their own 48…
5:14- Four-yard run by Lewis, 2nd & 6…
4:38- Four year run by Lewis, 3rd & 1…
3:56- Another 1st down catch for DA, and the Patriots are now at the Eagles 26. 1st & 10…
3:23- Touchdown, Patriots!! Hogan makes the catch from 26 yards out, and the Patriots cut the lead to a field goal again. The Eagles can’t stop the Patriots, and vice-versa. Whoever gets a stop is going to win this game. Eagles 29, Patriots 26
2:53- ANOTHER catch by Agholar. Non-existent Patriots defense continues to let up huge chunk plays.
1:58- Gain of two for Blount, 2nd & 8…
:34- After another 1st down pickup, the Eagles throw an incompletion. 2nd & 10 from the Patriots 23…
:29- Seven yards on 2nd down, 3rd & 3…too many manageable 3rd downs tonight…
:00- That is the end of three, and the Eagles are facing 3rd & 3. The Patriots need to keep the Eagles out of the end zone on this drive, enough is enough. Eagles 29, Patriots 26
FOURTH QUARTER
15:00- 3rd & 3, Eagles…
14:53- Huge stop for the Patriots, and the Eagles are forced into a field goal attempt. it’s about time. 42 yard attempt…
14:50- Field goal, Eagles. It wasn’t a complete stop, but holding them to three is huge. Let’s see if Brady and the offense can keep on rolling and get the Patriots first Super Bowl regulation-time lead since 2014. Eagles 32, Patriots 26
13:36- Two strong runs by Burkhead, and the Patriots have a 1st & 10 from the Patriots 39…
13:02- Three yard run by Burkhead, 2nd & 7…
12:22- Here we go with the short LOS passes again, 3rd & 3…
11:44- DA with another huge 3rd down conversion, 1st & 10, Patriots, from the Eagles 48…
11:14- Amendola with another huge catch, and the Patriots are setup at the Eagles 18…
10:48- Amendola again, this time for nine yards, 2nd & 1…
10:04- White with a gain of five, 1st & Goal…
9:22- Touchdown, Patriots!! Gronkowski makes the catch on the fade route, an amazing catch at that. Gostkowski connects on the extra point, and the Patriots FINALLY have a lead. Patriots 33, Eagles 32
9:22- The Eagles offense takes over at their own 25. 1st & 10…
8:35- 3rd & 6 after the incomplete pass on 2nd down. Huge play here…timeout, Patriots.
8:07- Ertz with the catch for the 1st down.
7:40- Patriots get a strong push, 2nd & 8…
7:00- Seven yard gain by Clement, 3rd & 1…
6:35- HUGE stop by the Patriots, and James Harrison is the man who blew it up. I hate the playcall. Eagles are going for it…
4:52- The Patriots have been so bad on 3rd down tonight, and now they are struggling on 4th too. First down, Eagles…timeout, Eagles.
4:37- 2nd & 9 after the run stuff on Blount, 2nd & 9…
3:56- Harrison was held but it wasn’t called, and Foles continues to make plays. Call the damn hold!
3:14- Agholar with another catch, and the Eagles are at the Patriots 20. I’m sorry, but the decision to bench Malcolm Butler may cost this team a Super Bowl. 1st & 10, Eagles.
2:37- Agholar with ANOTHER 1st down catch. I’m beside myself; Butler better have done something really bad to be benched because he would help this secondary. I’m at a loss tonight, sorry guys. This is the first time I’ve legitimately questioned Belichick.
2:25- Incomplete pass to Jeffrey, 3rd & 7. Huge play, need to hold them to a FG attempt.
2:21- Touchdown, Eagles. It should have been overturned, but the NFL is petrified of their fan base, so they’ll give them the call. The Eagles will probably go for two on the play..no good, huge play by the defense. Eagles 38, Patriots 33
2:16- Seven yard catch by Gronk, 2nd & 2..
2:10- Fumble, Patriots, and the Eagles recover. That will probably do it, especially if the Eagles pick up a 1st down. Heartbreaking.
1:56- Blount runs for three, and the Eagles are facing 3rd & 5. They should throw the ball; all night they’ve smartly gambled and won, so why not continue? If they get a first, this game is over. I can absolutely see them not only throwing on the next play, but also going for it on 4th down.
:58- And the stupidity continues. A reverse on the return? The Patriots coaching staff got MANHANDLED tonight; Patriots’ fans should be angry because they should be winning this game. Awful adjustments.
:48- 3rd & 10, two gross plays, and the Eagles are going to win their first Super Bowl. Crushing loss.
:42- 4th & 10…
:26- 1st down, but they are still 78 yards away.
:20- Gronk for 10, Pats at their own 35.
:13- Gronk barely gets out of bounds, 1st & 10 from the 50. Hail Mary time. Break out your rosary beads.
:09- Incomplete. The Eagles win the Super Bowl, which they deserved because they made one more play than New England- the forced fumble with 2:21 to go.
FINAL SCORE- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 38, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 33
Thank you for joining us tonight, sorry it had to end in the most crushing fashion possible. Feel free to question two personnel decisions tonight- Alan Branch being inactive, Butler being benched, both awful decisions. Be sure to check out my pre-draft and free agency write-ups, and I look forward to providing the live blog again in the 2018 season.
