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Super Bowl 2018: Philadelphia Eagles win maiden title, celebrate hard

The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl over the Patriots and their fans celebrated long into the night.

Will Swanton and Eric George
28 min read
9:42PMFebruary 05, 2018.
Updated 11:51PMFebruary 05, 2018
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles holds his daughter after winning Super Bowl 52. Picture: AP.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles holds his daughter after winning Super Bowl 52. Picture: AP.

The Philadelphia Eagles have won their first Super Bowl title, defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 at US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, in a game regarded as one of the best in NFL history. Read on below to see how it all unfolded.

9.37pm: Philly fans flip cars, loot stores in celebration

Hours after the Philadelphia Eagles won their maiden Super Bowl title the streets of

‘The city of Brotherly Love’ descended into chaos.

Looting, car flipping and jumping off the awning of the Ritz Carlton the activities du jour as lawlessness gripped the city and no doubt alcohol-fuelled mob

Thousands of police officers had been deployed in anticipation, but although initial celebrations captured on television appeared good-natured, the preparations didn’t prevent scenes of chaos chronicled on social media.

Windows were smashed at a Macy’s department store near City Hall, where people were spotted carrying away parts of window display mannequins.

Climbers were also seen scaling the City Hall gates- while police moved in after a group vandalised a gas station.

5.54pm: Shattered Brady vows “I’ll be back”

Tom Brady says he will return for another season at age 41. Picture: AFP
Tom Brady says he will return for another season at age 41. Picture: AFP

The Superbowl was effectively won when New England Patriots quarteback Tom Brady was sacked Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham but Brady, a five-time champion isn’t going to quit.

“I expect to be back,” Brady told reporters after the game.

“It’s 15 minutes after the game ended, so I would like to process this. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be back.”

Pressed further about whether he would play next season, he added: “I certainly hope so.”

It is the third time Brady has tasted defeat in the NFL’s showpiece occasion, following losses to the New York Giants in 2008 and 2012.

“It’s tough to lose these games. You play to win and sometimes you lose. Wish we could have done a better job.” Brady blamed a failure to get more points on the board in the first half for the defeat.

“First half, we had a lot of yards but just didn’t have a lot of points. That came back to bite us in the end.” Brady said he had been attempting to pass when he was robbed of the ball late in the fourth quarter, effectively ending the Patriots challenge.

“I was just holding the ball trying to get it downfield,” Brady said. “Those guys had a good rush and got in there and made a good play at the right time.”

Will Swanton 2.22pm: History made in Minneapolis

The Philadelphia Eagles celebrate defeating the New England Patriots. Picture: Getty Images.
The Philadelphia Eagles celebrate defeating the New England Patriots. Picture: Getty Images.

The Philadelphia Eagles have won their first Super Bowl on a raucous night at Minneapolis. Tom Brady was sacked by Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham in the tense final minutes as the legendary New England Patriots quarterback was trying to orchestrate one of his trademark comeback victories in front of 67,612 mostly pro-Eagles fans at US Bank Stadium.

The Eagles led by 10 points at halftime and six points at three-quarter time but Brady started commanding the field to put the Patriots in front.

He threw three second-half touchdown passes but it was not enough as Eagles quarterback Nick Foles played a superb hand all night. The crowd was virtually entirely behind the Eagles and they got the result they wanted as the Patriots — the team America loves to hate — had their colours lowered.

The Eagles were trailing by a point when Foles threw a bullet pass for a Zach Ertz touchdown that became the match-winner in the 41-33 victory. The Patriots trailed by five points with two minutes and 21 seconds to go. A touchdown from Brady would get the job done but Graham monstered him, the ball was turned over and that was all she wrote.

Eric George 2.19pm: Eagles win first Super Bowl

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sits on the field after fumbling. Picture: AP.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sits on the field after fumbling. Picture: AP.

Tom Brady was able to make things interesting with a few long completions, but 90 yards in a minute with no time-outs was asking too much.

The Philadelphia Eagles have won their first Super Bowl 41-33 by the thinnest of margins, avenging the memories of their loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX.

This deserves to be remembered as one of the best matches in the NFL’s history. Whoever lost would have felt disappointed after that performance. Ultimately, though, the Eagles were a more complete team, and were able to eke out a handful of decisive plays in a match where so little split the two teams.

Eric George 2.07pm: Brady’s turnover blunder

Brandon Graham comes up with the decisive play of the game, as the Eagles pass rush finally gets a hand on Brady, and strips the ball from his hand. Hard to see how Philadelphia loses from here, and it would be fitting if that excellent defensive front that’s toiled away all year ended up sealing this one.

Eric George 2.02pm: Lead changes hands ... again

The Eagles hit the front with Nick Foles’ third touchdown today. It was a nervous wait as head referee Gene Steratore took an eon to confirm the call. The Eagles couldn’t quite complete their two point try, though.

The ball game is now in Tom Brady’s hands again. He needs to engineer a touchdown to win the match, and the two minutes and twenty seconds he’s been handed are more than enough to get it done.

Eric George 1.52pm: Philadelphia’s conundrum

We’ve already commended the Eagles for staying aggressive in this contest, and coach Doug Pederson again backed in his backup quarterback in a big fourth down, and Foles delivered once more with a huge pass under pressure.

Neither punter in this match has taken a single snap, a sign of just how confident both offences have been. Will the Eagles settle for a field goal to take the lead with less than three minutes left, or push for a touchdown?

Eric George 1.42pm: Patriots hit the front

New England have almost entirely abandoned the run in the second half, which has been a fixture in their big matches. Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead are still getting touches, but it’s largely on screen plays.

Danny Amendola has lived up to his playoff reputation, with seven catches for 139 yards so far. Chris Hogan, who has struggled with injuries for large chunks of the season, has also been excellent.

The Eagles got caught with only one defender covering Rob Gronkowski in the end zone again, which resulted in a Gronkowski touchdown, again.

New England has pulled ahead for the first time, 33-32.

Eric George 1.30pm: Giants stars back on the big stage

Quick break to appreciate one of the best ads we’ve seen today: The New York Giants’ Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. expressing their love through the language of dance.

1.29pm: Tourism Australia behind Dundee trailer

Dundee - Trailer

Remember the Crocodile Dundee trailer that surfaced online, hinting a new addition to the franchise was in the works? Turns out it was all a part of Tourism Australia’s $38 million campaign targeting the US audience, aired during the Super Bowl.

Read more here

Eric George 1.27pm: Epic finale looms

Jake Elliott kicks a field goal during Super Bowl LII. Picture: Getty Images.
Jake Elliott kicks a field goal during Super Bowl LII. Picture: Getty Images.

Both teams are just locked in on offence now, with Foles and Brady seemingly slinging the ball around with abandon. We’ve already broken through the record for most yards in a Super Bowl, with a quarter to go!

The Eagles seem the more likely to break this stalemate courtesy of a far more potent pass rush, and a more balanced offensive unit. Foles has played his part almost perfectly through three quarters. If he can take care of the ball, this could go down as one of the most improbably heroic performances in Super Bowl history.

Jake Elliott moves the Eagles further in front with a field goal. The upset is well and truly on.

1.16pm: Patriots respond

You didn’t think they’d lie down, did you? Brady fires one to Chris Hogan and New England are right back in this one, trailing by three. Incredibly, Brady has over 400 passing yards already, and we haven’t even started the fourth quarter.

Eric George 1.03pm: Philly’s touchdown controversy

Corey Clement celebrates. Picture: Getty Images.
Corey Clement celebrates. Picture: Getty Images.

The clearest difference today remains the Eagles’ ability to churn out yards on the ground. New England has mixed in some big runs today, but Philidelphia has been able to consistently get big chunks with LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi. It’s allowing them to keep a tight rein on the pace of this match, and could help open up opportunities against a tired defence in the final quarter.

And now it’s time for the biggest controversy of the game: Nick Foles hits Corey Clement with an absolute pearler of a throw in the end zone, but the ball is bobbled as Clement steps out. Adjudications on what is and is not a legal catch have plagued the NFL this season, but in this case the touchdown stands. 29-19 Eagles.

Eric George 12.50pm: Gronk’s time to shine

Rob Gronkowski during Super Bowl LII. Picture: Getty Images.
Rob Gronkowski during Super Bowl LII. Picture: Getty Images.

It’’s been all Rob Gronkowski to start the second half. The New England tight end only had one catch in the first two quarters, but caught all four of Tom Brady’s passes on the Patriots’ opening drive in this third quarter, including the final touchdown throw.

With Brandin Cooks ruled out for the remainder of the match, Gronk should get plenty of attention down the stretch. 22-19 Philadelphia, and time for the Eagles to return serve in what has been a surprisingly uptempo contest.

Will Swanton 12.33pm: Timberlake’s Prince tribute

There was a lot of opposition to the move but Prince featured nonetheless, footage appearing on a large sheet as a backdrop to Timberlake playing the music icon’s I Would Die 4 U, the stadium was bathed in a purple glow. The move hasn’t pleased Prince’s nearest and dearest, but it went down a treat with the masses here, at least. Timberlake ends the halftime spectacular with the 2016 hit Can’t Stop The Feeling ! with dancers filling the field. Not bad from Timberlake. His second half was better - and the Patriots need theirs to be.

A projection of Prince is shown during the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. Picture: Getty Images.
A projection of Prince is shown during the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. Picture: Getty Images.

12.21pm: Halftime show begins

Justin Timberlake performs during the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. Picture: Getty Images.
Justin Timberlake performs during the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. Picture: Getty Images.

Justin Timberlake is out there now, dancing his way through the crowd and performing some of his hits including SexyBack and Until the End of Time. Still no sight of any other performers ...

Eric George 12.10pm: Philly stunner

Philadelphia wraps up its half on offence with a trick play on fourth and goal: a double pass play that ended with quarterback Nick Foles catching the ball in the end zone. Tom Brady couldn’t quite catch the ball when New England tried something similar earlier.

Good to see the Eagles not settling for a field goal. Jacksonville were heavily criticised a fortnight ago for not staying aggressive when they had a lead on the Patriots, and it looks like Philly aren’t going to make the same mistake today.

Eagles fans should be very pleased with that first half. They deserve every part of that ten point lead, and absorbed a lot of big plays from New England that could have hypothetically rattled the confidence of a less experienced side. The Patriots will get the ball back to start the third quarter, and now have a very long half time break to draw up some of Bill Belichick’s famed coaching adjustments.

Eric George 11.55am: Patriots aren’t done with ... yet

James White rumbles 26 yards after a nice deep shot to Chris Hogan, and suddenly the Patriots have roared right back into this match.

Unfortunately Stephen Gostkowski’s nightmare performance continues with a missed extra point. What is going on with kickers in this stadium?

Eric George 11.49am: Harmon’s stunning play

A good looking Eagles drive comes undone on the first truly unbelievable play of the day, after a deep shot to Alshon Jeffrey is bobbled and somehow lands in the waiting arms of Patriots safety Duron Harmon.

Philidelphia’s dominance on both sides of the ball is really starting to make a difference though. New England needs to find a way to slow down a very dominant pass rush that’s really limiting their ability to call anything other than fast developing pass plays.

Eric George 11.36am: Patriots’ search for points

Tom Bradylooks on during the first half of Super Bowl LII. Picture: Getty Images.
Tom Bradylooks on during the first half of Super Bowl LII. Picture: Getty Images.

Plenty of credit here should go to Nick Foles’ surrounding talent on offence. Offensive line is opening up big holes, as on that big LeGarrette Blount touchdown run. Receivers are making big plays down field, especially Jeffrey. Foles has absolutely outperformed what you’d normally expect from a backup quarterback, but this has been a comprehensive performance so far from Philly, especially up front.

New England now desperately needs some points before halftime. A good indicator of how the Patriots feel about their current situation: the coaching staff is already reaching for trick plays normally reserved for big situations in the second half.

Eric George 11.23am: Cooks knocked cold

Trainers look over Brandin Cooks. Picture: Getty Images.
Trainers look over Brandin Cooks. Picture: Getty Images.

Ugly hit on Patriots’ wide receiver Brandin Cooks should end his Super Bowl. He’s out cold on the field after being wiped out by Malcolm Jenkins. Cooks is the best deep threat New England has had all year, and leads the league in drawing penalties downfield. He’s been ruled out and it should allow Philadelphia to compress their coverage and choke up the first fifteen yards downfield.

Eric George 11.16am: Gostkowski’s costly miss

New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Picture: AP.
New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Picture: AP.

You simply can’t afford many mistakes when playing the Patriots in these big matches. The Eagles left a point on the field when Jake Elliott shanked his point after try, and blew their defensive coverage downfield of a key third down that turned a sack into a forty yard pass.

They are having more success generating pressure on Brady though, which is a good sign.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a special teams fiend, can’t be happy about that missed field goal from Stephen Gostkowski at point blank range. A shocking mistake which opens the door for a healthy Philidelphia lead.

11.15am: Trump Super Bowl party in full swing

US President Donald Trump greets cheerleaders at his Super Bowl party. Picture: AFP.
US President Donald Trump greets cheerleaders at his Super Bowl party. Picture: AFP.

US President Donald Trump’s Super Bowl party is underway. Held at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, the President was greeted by cheerleaders from Florida Atlantic University. Prior to the match he expressed his appreciation for US service members, who he said make occasions like the Super Bowl possible.

US President Donald Trump with cheerleaders from Florida Atlantic University. Picture: AFP.
US President Donald Trump with cheerleaders from Florida Atlantic University. Picture: AFP.

Trump says while many service members can’t be home to enjoy the American tradition with family and friends, “they are always in our thoughts and prayers.” He said they’re owed the “greatest respect for defending our liberty and our American way of life” and their sacrifice is “stitched into each star and every stripe of our Star-Spangled Banner.”

With AP

Will Swanton 11.09am: Philadelphia take the first-quarter lead

Nick Foles in action. Picture: Getty Images.
Nick Foles in action. Picture: Getty Images.

It took 7 minutes and 55 seconds before Brady finally got on the field. The Eagles led 3-0. The big screen showed footage from Rocky Balboa movies, which of course were set in Philadelphia. Eagles players were as revved up as the fans. Brady moved the Patriots upfield like they were pawns on a chess board but the Eagles’ defence held strong to force the incompletion.

It was 3-3 after both sides had use of the ball. Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has started with a steady hand in a match he never thought he would play when he spent most of the season as the second-string QB. His hand turned to magic when a long pass found wide receiver Alston Jeffery for the first touchdown. Great pass, great catch. The Eagles led 9-3. Brady attempted to reply but ran out of time at the end of the first quarter.

Eric George 11.03am: Butler MIA

Malcolm Butler, the Patriots cornerback hero of Super Bowl 49 has been a notable absence in this match so far. He’s part of the active roster for the Patriots today, and wasn’t listed on any injury reports.

This wasn’t missed by the Eagles, who just lobbed a deep touchdown over the head of his replacement, Eric Rowe, who was actually drafted by Philadelphia. Rather embarrassing.

11.00am: Hype surrounds ‘Solo’ trailer

Of course, the Super Bowl is so much more than just a game. The teaser trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story has been released mid-game, sending fans worldwide into meltdown.

Eric George 10.57am: Eagles need to break the shackles

Tom Brady attempts a pass. Picture: Getty Images.
Tom Brady attempts a pass. Picture: Getty Images.

The Eagles will need to get more juice out of their defensive line if they’re going to hang in this contest. So far they’ve stuck to the expected game plan of avoiding blitzes and only sending four defenders at Brady.

Although they were able to clamp down and hold the Patriots to a field goal there, it’s hard to see the Eagles walking away with a Lombardi trophy if they can’t hit Brady and start disrupting the short passing game that just marched down the field.

Eric George 10.47am: Philadelphia strike first

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has carried his strong form from the NFC Championship Game into the Super Bowl. Philadelphia went straight to the passing game from the first snap of the game, spreading out the New England defence and trusting their backup with the ball.

The Patriots look vulnerable whenever the ball gets into space, but did live up to their “bend but don’t break” reputation by holding the Eagles to a field goal.

Even without a touchdown, that seven minute drive was a terrific start for the underdogs.

Philadelphia lead 3-0.

Eric George 10.29am: Eagles defer to second half

Tails never fails! As New England won the toss, they’ve opted to kick the ball away and get the first possession in the second half.

The Patriots have never scored in the first quarter of any of their seven Super Bowls under Tom Brady. Time to see if the Eagles can engineer the long drives they need to keep Brady off the field, and the Patriots out of rhythm.

Will Swanton 10.28am: Pink shines, Patriots win toss

Pink sings the national anthem prior to Super Bowl LII. Picture: AFP.
Pink sings the national anthem prior to Super Bowl LII. Picture: AFP.

Pink has whipped the joint into a frenzy with a soaring rendition of the anthem. Battling the flu in recent day, she’s tossed away a lozenge or piece of game at the last second and brought the house down. No players knelt or sat during the anthem.

Recipients of the Medal of Honor have been on the field for the coin toss. Another rousing reception. WWII Marine Woody Williams has tossed the coin. The Eagles called tails. It was heads. There’s a history in Super Bowls of teams losing the toss but winning the match.

Will Swanton 10.16am: Teams enter the field

The Eagles have walked onto the field to an AC/DC soundtrack ... For Those About To Rock. Feels like it’s going to be a wild old night. Brady has run onto the field for the warm-up and headbutted his teammates - well, he’s knocked his helmet against theirs before their warm-up drills. The noise is truly incredible.

The ground announcer has said, “How many Eagles fans are there?” A deafening reaction. Less so for the Patriots. Brady has been wearing a glove on his injured right hand but there’s no sign of it tonight. The 40-year-old is the subject of a documentary being made, Tom versus Time. He says before today’s game: “Time is all we’ve got. Use it to do what you love as often as you can, for as long as you can.” There’s more ferocious jeering of Brady and the Patriots as they enter the field ahead of kick-off.

Will Swanton 9.50am: Eagles’ advantage in the stands

The crowd is 80 per cent behind the Eagles. A swarm of supporters wearing green jerseys have been snaking through the stadium on the way to their seats, chanting for the Eagles. They’re making all the noise, dominating. I’ve seen only two Patriots fans with “BRADY” written on their jerseys. They were in a corner of the arena having a quiet cup of coffee.

When Brady has run onto the field for his pre-game warm-up, there’s been a cacophony of jeering. When the Eagles’ QB Nick Foles has appeared, the stadium has erupted. It’s no-one’s home game … but it feels like an Eagles’ home game. Incredible atmosphere, a building atmosphere, and we’re still another hour from kick-off.

Will Swanton 9.42am: Pink’s health scare

The Star Spangled Banner will be sung by three-time Grammy winner Pink … if she isn’t feeling too crook. The singer has been battling the ‘flu since she arrived in snow-swept Minnesota, where the TV weather report this morning said, “It’s minus-one right now, feels like minus-20.” She got through a rehearsal and wrote on Instagram that she caught the bug from her kids. “Trying to practise the flu away,” she wrote. “I’ve been waiting to sing this song since 1991 when I saw my idol, Whitney Houston, own this song. And now, my chance had finally come. And it just so happens that this chance comes when I have … two small kids who literally cough into my mouth and rub their snot on my cheek.”

Pink rehearses for her Super Bowl performance as she fights a dose of the flu in freezing temperatures at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Picture: Instagram.
Pink rehearses for her Super Bowl performance as she fights a dose of the flu in freezing temperatures at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Picture: Instagram.

She said of her illness: “I’ve arrived at another one of my dreams which is slowly becoming a sort of nightmare. I will tell you, this is one of the biggest honours of my life, singing this song in front of my family, my military family, my dad and brother and step mama and family and the world. And the Eagles! I promise I will do my best, as I always do. As far as the gremlins that got me into this mess, you can cough at me for the rest of your lives. If it’s a contest, babies, you win.”

Will Swanton 9.30am: Veteran handed coin toss

Hershel "Woody" Williams will flip the coin at the Super Bowl. Picture: AP.
Hershel "Woody" Williams will flip the coin at the Super Bowl. Picture: AP.

The coin toss will be performed by Woody Williams, a 94-year-old World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Fifteen holders of the famed medal will be on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium when the former United States Marine does the honours in front of a global television audience expected to top 150 million. Williams is the only living Marine who has the Medal of Honor from World War II, which he received for his bravery in the battle of Iwo Jima. He said two things about today’s duties. Firstly: “To be honoured in this way, it’s just almost like a miracle. It really is, because you don’t ever dream or think that this kind of a thing could happen to you, and then all of a sudden you’re it. I hope we can maybe raise the bar a little bit of how important it is that we respect our country, that we respect our flag, that we remember and respect and pay tribute and honour to those who never got to come home.” The second thing he said about the coin toss was this: “I’ve been practising.”

Will Swanton 9.15am: Mystery surrounds halftime show

Justin Timberlake speaks during the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show press conference. Picture: AFP.
Justin Timberlake speaks during the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show press conference. Picture: AFP.

The biggest guessing game of the past week has been what Timberlake’s halftime show will include. He’s confirmed there will be no appearance by Janet Jackson after their Nipplegate drama in 2004. Reports surfaced that his set was going to feature a giant hologram of Prince, the Minnesota native who died last year. Prince did the Super Bowl’s halftime show in 2007, performing in torrential (but not purple) rain. As Prince once sang, Controversy! Because people in the purple’s camp are unhappy about it. Prince’s half-brother, Omarr Baker, tweeted a message that suggested the hologram should be prohibited. And Sheila E, the former touring mate and one-time fiancee of Prince, tweeted: “Prince told me don’t ever let anyone do a hologram of me. Not cool if this happens!”

Timberlake’s set has been kept under wraps despite multiple rehearsals at U.S. Bank stadium. At a press conference last week, he called Prince the “greatest all-round musician I can think of in popular culture.” Asked what could be expected tonight, he said, “A few things with this halftime show that they’ve never quite done before.”

Will Swanton 9.00am: How do both sides stack up?

EAGLES

Nick Foles speaks with head coach Doug Pederson. Picture: Getty Images.
Nick Foles speaks with head coach Doug Pederson. Picture: Getty Images.

New England’s superstar quarterback Tom Brady is being called the greatest in NFL ahead of Joe Montana. Joe Cool won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and three super Bowl MVP awards. Brady is on the verge of his sixth Super Bowl victory and if that happens, he’ll be short odds to win a third Super Bowl MVP. Brady won the NFL’s MVP award last night as he continued to cast a huge shadow over his opposite number today. The Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles is barely known outside America. He was the franchise’s back-up playmaker this year until Carson Wentz went down with a season-ending knee injury. Foles has stepped up to the mark. He’ll become a folk hero if he land the Eagles their first Vince Lombardi Trophy since 1960. And then? If a few Hail Mary passes come off? Post-career, Foles wants to become a pastor. “I want to be a pastor in a high school,” he said. “It’s on my heart. I took a leap of faith last year and signed up to take classes at seminary. I wanted to continue to learn and challenge my faith. It’s a challenge because you are writing papers that are biblically correct. You want to impact people’s hearts. When I speak to students, that’s such a time of young men and young women’s lives when there’s a lot of things being thrown at them. So much temptation in this world, so much going on with social media and the internet that you want to talk to them and address it and share all the weaknesses I have - because I’ve fallen many times. It’s something I want to do. I can’t play football forever. I’ve been blessed with an amazing platform and it’s just a door God has opened, but I still have a lot of school left to do and a long journey ahead.”

PATRIOTS

Tom Brady warms up during practice. Picture: Getty Images.
Tom Brady warms up during practice. Picture: Getty Images.

It’s all about Tom Brady, the most talked-about man in America this week. At 40 years of age, he can become the first NFL player to win six Super Bowls, confirming his standing as the greatest of all time. “Football is a game of emotion,” he says. “I don’t think you can sleep walk through a game. You’ll get your butt kicked. You’ve got to bring it. You’ve got to be excited. You’ve got to match energies. The great part of the super Bowl is that everyone is fired up. Everyone playing it, and everyone watching it. There’s a different level of intensity that goes with this game. The hardest hits I’ve seen are in this game. You play as hard as you can and you do whatever it takes to win this game. You don’t have a lot of time to stand there and figure things out. Whatever you see, you’ve got to cut loose. If the defence is playing the pass, you hand it off and gain yards. If they’re tight inside, you run it outside. If they’re outside, you run it inside. If they guard you short, you throw it deep. If they’re deep, throw it short. It’s a game of chess. The goal is to move the ball downfield and score points. That’s it.”

Rob Gronkowski during training. Picture: Getty Images.
Rob Gronkowski during training. Picture: Getty Images.

There’s attention on Rob Gronkowski for the Patriots. Concussion is an acutely sensitive topic in the NFL while multimillion-dollar lawsuits are being settled or contested with former players suffering from brain damage. Gronkowski had a serious concussion a fortnight ago, but announced on Thursday that he had been cleared by doctors to play the Super Bowl. “I’m ready to roll,” he said. Gronk says he will have 69 friends and family members in the stadium tonight. Gronkowski nearly had more media members at his press conference than Brady last week. “Just happy to be back out there with the boys,” he said. “I’ll be ready to go in the game full-go. Just super-excited to be out there with my teammates to play in one of the biggest games of my life.” Brady said of his man-mountain teammate: “Gronk is just a dominant player. He always finds ways to have space. He’s tall. He’s fast. He’s quick. He’s got incredible hands. I mean, look at the guy. I mean, it’s pretty nice to throw to guys like that.”

Will Swanton 8.40am: ‘Got a ticket?’

“Got a spare ticket?” That’s the question you hear the most on the walk through downtown Minneapolis to the stadium. There’s a Skywalk system that allows people to walk through the city without having to go outside and into the cold. It’s basically an enclosed bridge winding through town - and to US Bank Stadium.

A bundled-up man braves subzero temperatures looking for tickets around the site of the Super Bowl. Picture: AP.
A bundled-up man braves subzero temperatures looking for tickets around the site of the Super Bowl. Picture: AP.

All the way through it, people have sidled up and wanted to buy a ticket. The average price for a seat has been marked as $US5,000. Meanwhile, the players and coaches have all arrived at the stadium. When images of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick were shown on the giant screen, there was a deafening boo. It’s an incredible sporting temple that was opened in 2016 with a $US2 billion price tag. It’s as

comfortable, organised and state-of-the-art as you can get. It’s been snowing and bitterly cold in Minneapolis all week but it matters not a jot. We’re indoors. Two hours before kick-off, the 70,000-seat venue is about half full .. with Prince’s music blaring through the loudspeakers of his old hometown. Patriots fans seem relatively reserved. Eagles fans are raucous.

Will Swanton 8.30am: ‘We’ll keep haters hating’

Super Bowls make up 19 of the 20 most-watched TV shows in America. The exception? The final episode of MASH in 1983. Commercials on NBC are costing north of $US5 million for a 30-second ad. The game is being broadcast in Australia on ESPN from 10am. “We’re going to try to do our best to keep the haters hating,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. It’s the Patriot’s third Super Bowl in four years. They’re chasing their sixth championship since 2001 - in the NFL, that’s a lot. Quarterback Tom Brady can become the first player to win six Super Bowls. Coach Bill Belichick is in a record 11th Super Bowl.

The Eagles, representing Everybody, are underdogs but they’re more than capable of their first Super Bowl win. They won the NFL championship in 1960, but the first Super Bowl was not played until 1967. Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworksi said: “I don’t know if there are words that can really explain what Philadelphia would be like if the Eagles win the Super Bowl. It will be the biggest parade ever. I run into people all the time and it’s like, ‘I don’t want to die before the Eagles win a super Bowl. It’s the one thing I have in my life.’ There’s incredible passion for this team.”

Will Swanton 8.00am: Patriots v Everybody

Patriots versus Everybody. It’s on T-shirts and hats and most people’s lips. It’s the fine print to Super Bowl LII between New England and the Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota’s US Bank Stadium today.

The stadium’s slowly filling. Outside, Sting has started the NFL’s tailgate party and ex-Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker is in the process of finishing it. How big is this game? More than 100 million TV viewers in the United States alone. That’s a lot of eyeballs to be rolling at a Patriots win. They’re the most hated team in America. They’re successful and considered snooty.

“It’s no secret there’s people all over the country who want to see them fail,” says Eagles defensive end Chris Long. He won last year’s Super Bowl — playing for the Patriots he’s now disowned.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz throws before the game. Picture: AP.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz throws before the game. Picture: AP.

Part of the Patriot Games

The hype around Super Bowl LII is uncannily similar to the build-up to last year’s NRL grand final in that we have a legendary veteran player trying to cap an incredible career by getting another championship ring against a banged-up, beat-up, underdog side that has a groundswell of sentimental favouritism stemming from the global predisposition towards the tall poppy syndrome. Greatness is under-appreciated in situations like these.

The New England Patriots are the Melbourne Storm. The ­ferociously focused, football-lovin’, all-conquerin’ Tom Brady is Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater all rolled into one. He’s ­received more publicity in the past week than Donald Trump, which is saying something, and most of it has been an attempt to apply the mock. Brady plays with heart, soul, excellence and a classic ­degree of American hustle but the reaction has been this: Boo, Brady! Boo, Patriots!

“I’m always going to play to win,” says the tallest poppy in the NFL since Joe Cool was marching teams downfield with an almost mystical calm under the surname of Montana. “Being successful in the past doesn’t make you any less determined to be successful again. This is as big as it gets. This is the Super Bowl. I want to be out on that field. I want the ball in my hands. I know what I need to do. But there’s no guarantees.

“You play every Super Bowl knowing you might never get the chance to do it again. The past is the past for us. This is a completely new and unique situation and ­opportunity. Nothing is ever given to you. You have to earn every win you get in a Super Bowl. It’s challenging in every conceivable way. You cannot take the foot off the gas pedal for second. We can talk about it all we want but ultimately, you have to go out there and play. I grew up watching these games. To play in them is like nothing I could have dreamt of. I’m excited. I’m excited.”

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass. Picture: AP.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass. Picture: AP.

The prevailing and virtually nationwide mood is that the ­Eagles — the equivalent of the North Queensland Cowboys for their injury woes, the loss to injury of their chief playmaker and their passionate blue-collar supporter base — are the preferred Super Bowl champions. I think that’s a shame. Never mind the underdogs. Go the legends. Go the ­dynasties built by powerhouse franchises such as the Patriots and Storm. Go the writing of the next chapters in sporting history. When the Storm won again, the moment felt significant because of Smith, Cronk and Slater. Class had beaten arse.

Super Bowl LII will be a whole lot closer than the Storm’s 28-point win over the Cowboys. If the margin at downtown Minneapolis between the fibros and silvertails is more than three or four points, Brady himself will be stunned.

“I feel like I’ve answered a lot of questions this week,” the five-time Super Bowl champion grinned when he sat down for an interview. He predicted an ­occasion that would make the walls shake. It will be broadcast live in Australia on ESPN from 10am. Brady pointed out that while the NBA and MLB playoffs were best-of-seven, this was it in the NFL. The winner taking all.

“I’m getting a little rest because I know it’s going to be a long day and a long game,” Brady said of his game-day routine. “You’re getting worked up. You’re trying to find the place where you need to be mentally, emotionally and physically to perform at your peak. I spend a lot of time in my room. I know I’m about to go out and play the biggest game of the year, and one of the biggest games of your life. There’s a little bit of calmness but there’s also an ­energy building. I listen to a lot of music. Different artists, different playlists. Anything that gets me going. Jay-Z. U2. Pearl Jam. Jay-Z’s Interlude. I watch a lot of film of the opposition. By the time you get on the bus and head to the ­stadium, you’re revved up and ready to go.”

Brady is not an especially fast quarterback. He’s not particularly mobile. But he’s damn great at working in a small space, and doing it quickly. Touchdown plays are celebrated with his constant refrain: “Hell yeah!” He knows the Eagles’ desperation to get their hands on him — the American hassle coming his way. He’s played seven Super Bowls — the same amount as the entire 53-man Eagles’ squad — and just as Smith’s individual dominance was recognised by his Dally M Player of the Year award in grand final week in Sydney, Brady last night received the NFL’s MVP award after he ducked out of the snow, strode the red carpet and claimed the prestigious gong for the third time in his career. He was relaxed. Chillin’? Literally.

Hours earlier, Brady had been named the Associated Press’s MVP. We knew what his speech would be because during a function at the Mall of America last week, a Patriots’ official was photographed holding an A4-sized piece of paper marked: “BRADY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.” Most of the page was obscured by the man’s hand, but snippets of it were viewable. Parts of it read, “… honoured to be recognised … you really cannot take credit … without recognising the countless contributions of all …”

Brady became the NFL’s oldest MVP, and the oldest MVP in any of the three major American codes. He indicated his desire to continue playing until he was 45 after yet again winning his sport’s version of an Oscar at the University of Minnesota. He plays with heart, soul, skill, intelligence, excellence. American muscle.

“I just think I love the game,” he said. “It’s easy to do this when you love it. I think the point is, if you find something you love to do, it never feels like work. I found football, and I found it at a young age, and I just loved it.

“It’s hard to explain. I just love the preparation, I love the off-season, I love the film work. I think a big part of it is because my body feels good and I’ve worked hard at that. I think for a lot of older players, their body doesn’t respond.

“Football is no fun when you’re hurting. But it’s all pretty simple for me. I really do love what I do.”

Super Bowl ads aim low

After a year of political and cultural upheaval, Super Bowl advertisers appear to be pulling back from themes of unity in favour of in-game stunts and ads that aim for the heart — and in some cases even lower.

The stakes are high since a 30-second spot costs more than $5 million for airtime alone. The goal is to capture the attention of the more than 110 million viewers expected to tune in to the big game on Sunday — ideally by striking an emotional chord with the game audience that will rub off on brands. Next best: Simply drawing attention, even if an ad offends some people. Worst of all? Being forgotten immediately.

Each year, Super Bowl ads offer a snapshot of the national psyche. Last year, just after President Donald Trump took office, ads offered themes of inclusion. Airbnb showed faces of different ethnicities with the copy “We all belong,” and Coke re-ran an ad featuring “America the Beautiful” sung in different languages.

This year, following a year of heated debate over immigration, NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem and the #MeToo movement highlighting sexual misconduct, many Super Bowl advertisers are playing it safer by showcasing famous faces, focusing on inoffensive causes and trying to stand out with silly humour and stunts. Of course, a few are merely going straight for whatever will grab the attention.

AP

Some of the Super Bowl commercials:

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/us-sports/super-bowl-2018-new-england-patriots-v-philadelphia-eagles/news-story/d331727740ee2e93e11c9b35cf0ca7b0