Credit: @NFL
For many football fans, the week leading up to the Super Bowl can bring some mixed emotions. The big game is one of the most watched television events every year and brings all kinds of people together to celebrate the sport of football. On the other hand, this time of year also means that football season is almost over and we’ll all have to wait until August to see our favorite players back in action.
Super Bowl LII should deliver tons of action for anyone who enjoys football. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are looking to lead a talented Patriots team to the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl win. On the other side of the ball, backup quarterback Nick Foles is looking to finish off an amazing season for the Philadelphia Eagles with a win, and the first Super Bowl title in team history.
Whether you are a fan who is excited about Sunday or bummed about the end of the season, let’s focus on the big questions everyone should have going into the big game in Minnesota.
Will Rob Gronkowski be 100 Percent Healthy on Sunday?
Patriot’s nation had been holding its breath ever since Rob Gronkowski left the AFC Championship game after taking a shot to the head from Jacksonville Jaguars’ safety, Barry Church. The elite tight end had been out of commission over the last two weeks with a concussion but just got cleared to play on Thursday. While the news of Gronk’s return is worrisome for the Eagles, it will remain to be seen if he will be 100 percent once he takes the field on game day. Tom Brady has plenty of talented receivers to throw to even without Gronkowski, but even against a great Philadelphia defense, the veteran tight end helps by creating plenty of mismatches all over the field. The Eagles finished the regular season with the fourth-ranked defense, and held opponents to only 18.4 points per game, giving them a fighting chance against the Patriots who had the second-ranked scoring offense. No tight end had more receiving yards this season than Rob Gronkowski (1,084 yards), despite missing three games, and should be quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite target Sunday as long as he is in fully healthy.
How are the Eagles Going to Fare With a Backup Quarterback in the Biggest Game of the Year?
In many experts’ opinions, the Philadelphia Eagles should play just fine on Sunday despite going without franchise quarterback Carson Wentz. It may seem like a long time ago now, but the Eagles were favorites to win the Super Bowl even before the league’s playoff picture was set. Before tearing his ACL in Week 14, Carson Wentz had led Philadelphia to an 11-2 record and was the favorite to become the league MVP, but after the injury, it seemed that all hope of a trip to the Super Bowl had been lost in the City of Brotherly Love. Luckily for the fans and the team, Nick Foles was able to step in and do a pretty great job at winning some crucial games. After scoring 19 points in Week 16, and getting shut out in Week 17, Philadelphia didn’t have a lot of momentum heading into the playoffs. Foles and the Eagles were able to win a close game against the Falcons in the divisional round, which gave the team enough of a spark to
blow out the NFC favorite Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the Conference Championships. This win showed everyone in the league that this squad, led by a backup quarterback, was more than deserving to make the trip to the Super Bowl. Surrounded by playmakers like Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, and Jay Ajayi, Nick Foles should have plenty of help putting up points against an exploitable Patriots’ defense. If the Eagles can win on Sunday, Nick Foles will be a Philadelphia legend forever.
Does Tom Brady Need to Win Super Bowl LII to Be the G.O.A.T.?
Love him or hate him, there aren’t too many bad things you can say about Tom Brady. Even after last year’s Super Bowl marking his league record fifth win in the big game, many football gurus still can’t fully commit to calling the Patriots quarterback the greatest of all time. Now at 40 years old, Brady is in the mix to be the league MVP for his stellar play in the regular season, but he will also become the oldest quarterback to ever play in a Super Bowl. Not only is the 18-year-veteran the winningest quarterback in NFL history, but he is also fourth in career passing yards, tied for third in career passing touchdowns, and has the third highest career passer rating. While Peyton Manning does have the most career passing yards and touchdowns, Brady still has time to break those records, and not much can compare to Brady’s five Super Bowl rings and now eight appearances in the big game. Considering a certain player to be the G.O.A.T. is all about personal preference, and while to many people, Tom Brady has already earned it, a win Sunday will probably make him the greatest football player in history, hands down.
Is This the End of the Brady, Belichick, and Kraft Era?
Over the last month or so, there has been a lot of speculation that the trio of quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick, and owner Bob Kraft could come to an end after the season. There have been reports that there is a lot of tension between the three men, and that the breaking point is near. This is a group that together has created one of the greatest sports dynasties in history, with five Super Bowl wins, and now eight Super Bowl appearances. The reported problem is that over time, the power hungry ego’s of each man has had a tough time coexisting with the others, and that after a few spats over the past year the future of the Patriots remains murky. With Brady set to be 41 next season, and Belichick already 65 years old, the duo can’t possibly have that much more time of being on top of the world. All three figures have said that there is no tension between them, but the organization is notorious for leaving the press in the dark about internal conflicts. With a win Sunday, it is entirely possible that Brady calls it quits while still on the top of his game, and Belichick will have had nothing left to prove after an 18-year career in New England. For the time being, it seems that both men will return for another season in the fall, but it should be known that Father Time never loses, and a 41-year-old quarterback is bound to fall from the top eventually. If this is truly the end of the Brady, Belichick, Kraft era, there is no better time to ride off into the sunset, but win or lose Sunday, the Patriots will still be the team to beat next season if the trio remains intact.
