Super Bowl Pre-Gamin’: Patriots vs. Eagles – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread
While Super Bowl LII might be painted as a rematch by some, Tom Brady is the only player who remains from the last time the Eagles and Patriots met in the Super Bowl.
It’s a testament to the excellence, longevity, and stability Brady and coach Bill Belichick provide to the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are looking to capture their third Super Bowl in four years. If they pull it off, it will likely be because they were able to hold off the Eagles’ pass rush. Few teams generate pressure like Philadelphia, which produce pressure on 41.3 percent of opponents passing snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Fletcher Cox is a game-changing interior defensive lineman, while former Patriots defensive end Chris Long brings the heat from the outside.
If the Eagles are to win this game, quarterback Nick Foles will need to replicate his NFC Championship Game performance. Despite not having Carson Wentz under center, Philadelphia’s offense still thrives behind the 1-2 punch of LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi at running back and the downfield passing threats of Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Zach Ertz. The Eagles are balanced on both sides of the ball, which could give the Patriots fits.
Credit Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson for keeping his team together and Philadelphia’s entire front office for putting together a roster that was as deep as it was talented.
Game Info
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, 1st NFC East) – 5:30 p.m. CT, NBC-TV (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya), WSCR-AM 670/Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Boomer Esiason, Mike Holmgren, Ed Wereder, Tony Boselli)
Site: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Referee and crew: Gene Steratore (referee), Roy Ellison (umpire), Byron Boston (line judge), Tom Hill (field judge), Scott Edwards (side judge), Perry Paganelli (back judge), Jerry Brugman (down judge)
Odds: Patriots (-4.5), Over/Under 48.5 via Bovada.
Game Thread
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, we can do this again when the Bears resume play in August.
Coaches
Patriots Bill Belichick (250-118 overall, 28-10 in playoffs) vs. Eagles Doug Pederson (20-12 overall, 2-0 playoffs)
Starting Quarterbacks
Patriots: Tom Brady: 4,577 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 66.3 completion percentage, 102.8 rating
2017 Postseason: 61-91 (67%), 627 yards, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 104.9 passer rating
versus
Eagles: Nick Foles: 537 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 56.4 completion percentage, 76.7 rating
2017 Postseason: 49-63 (77.8%), 598 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 122.1 passer rating
Patriots Expected Offensive Starters
- QB Tom Brady
- RB Dion Lewis
- RB James White
- WR Danny Amendola
- WR Brandin Cooks
- TE Rob Gronkowski
- LT Nate Solder
- LG Joe Thuney
- C David Andrews
- RG Shaq Mason
- RT Cameron Fleming
Patriots Expected Defensive Starters
- LDE Ricky Jean-Francois
- DT Lawrence Guy
- DT Malcom Brown
- RDE Trey Flowers
- LB Kyle Van Noy
- LB James Harrison
- Elandon Roberts
- RCB Stephon Gilmore
- LCB Malcolm Butler
- S Patrick Chung
- S Devin McCourty
Patriots Specialists
- Stephen Gostkowski (kicker), Ryan Allen (punter, holder), Danny Amendola (punt returns), Dion Lewis, Matthew Slater (kick returns), Joe Cardona (long snapper)
Eagles Expected Offensive Starters
- QB Nick Foles
- RB Jay Ajayi
- WR Alshon Jeffery
- WR Nelson Agholor
- WR Torrey Smith
- TE Zach Ertz
- LT Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- LG Stefen Wisniewski
- C Jason Kelce
- RG Brandon Brooks
- RT Lane Johnson
Eagles Expected Defensive Starters
- DE Vinny Curry
- DT Tim Jernigan
- DT Fletcher Cox
- DE Brandon Graham
- OLB Mychal Kendricks
- MLB Najee Goode
- OLB Nigel Bradham
- CB Jalen Mills
- CB Ronald Darby
- S Rodney McLeod
- S Malcolm Jenkins
Eagles Specialists
- Jake Elliott (kicker), Donnie Jones (punter, holder), Kenjon Barner (punt returner), Kenjon Barner, Corey Clement (kick returns), Rick Lovato (long snapper)
