Super Bowl 52 might have been the best ever. Back-and-forth from the very beginning, coming down to the very last play. At the beginning of the 2017 season, did anyone think Nick Foles would be your Super Bowl MVP? Did anyone think that a team without their star quarterback and star left tackle would pull off upsets in all 3 of their playoff games? Did anyone think a backup tight end would throw a touchdown?
The Super Bowl brings us some of the most spectacular performances every year. 613 yards for the Patriots. 538 yards for the Eagles. An offensive showdown gave us one of the best football games of all time. Let’s take a look at some of the impact performances and some of the ridiculous stats of this year’s Super Bowl.
Patriots Receiving Corps
The Patriots star pass-catchers came to play Sunday night. Brandin Cooks was knocked out of the game in the 2nd quarter due to a massive hit after a big play, but that didn’t stop Brady and company from putting up ridiculous numbers. Brady spread the ball around to his 3 favorite targets, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, and Rob Gronkowski.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubcwz7UESnM]
Danny Amendola reeled in 8 catches for 152 yards, averaging 19 yards per reception. Chris Hogan played incredible as well, catching 6 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown late in the 3rd quarter. Rob Gronkowski, coming back from a concussion in the AFC Title game, further proved that he’s one of the best to play the position of tight end. After just 1 catch in the first half, Gronk was a HUGE part of the second half plan for the Patriots. He totaled 9 catches (his 15 targets led the team), 116 yards, and two touchdowns. He was a huge force in the near-comeback for the Patriots. The Patriots receivers showed up in a big way.
Eagles Running Backs and Offensive Line
Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount were a force to be reckoned with all night for the Patriots defense. They combined for 23 carries and 147 yards on the ground, with Blount reaching the endzone in the 2nd quarter to widen the Eagles lead.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEvECspbsDM]
Blount won the Super Bowl with the Patriots last year, but helped defeat them this year. The Philadelphia run game allowed Nick Foles to have the game that he did and wore down the New England defense.
Eagles center Jason Kelce led a dominant performance from the Eagles big boys up front. Nick Foles wasn’t touched all night and they helped Blount and Ajayi, who was acquired midseason in a trade with the Dolphins, to run the ball effectively. Watch Kelce’s key block on Blount’s touchdown.
Doug Pederson
A day after Sean McVay was selected as the NFL Coach of the Year, Doug Pederson may have showed that he should have been selected for the award. The 2nd year head coach led his team to a 13-3 record, lost his star left tackle, lost his franchise quarterback, and upset the Falcons, Vikings, and now the Patriots. He instilled confidence in backup Nick Foles, which led to his MVP-performance in the Super Bowl.
Doug Pederson was terrific on Sunday, and his 4th and goal call with :34 seconds left in the first half, where he decided to go for it, with a little bit of tricks up his sleeve.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDG3_ewrOWg]
The play had backup tight end Trey Burton throwing to Nick Foles for the touchdown, which may go down as the “Most Big Balls Call” in Super Bowl history. When people recall Super Bowl LII, they will think of this play and the crucial call Doug Pederson made.
Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz put on a show for the Eagles fans tonight. 7 catches, all which seemed to come in clutch moments, for 67 yards. His last catch was the most important of his life. With less than the 3 minutes left in the NFL season, the Eagles capped off an incredible drive with an 11-yard touchdown, as Nick Foles found Ertz on the 5 yard line, where Ertz turned and dove into the endzone, clearing the white line, and made Eagles fans see their dreams coming true.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cqhUvawoL0]
The play was reviewed, but the play stood, as Ertz clearly became a runner and the ball crossed the line. Had this been overturned, the football world would’ve exploded. Ertz came to play, and his late touchdown will be a moment Eagles fans never forget.
Tom Brady
Stop. Don’t get ridiculous. You can say what you want about the Patriots defense. But Tom Brady delivered one of the best Super Bowl performances ever. His only mistake, if you can even blame him, was his fumble when Eagles’ Brandon Graham strip-sacked Brady late in the 4th quarter.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phw6XZkgNEo]
Look at Brady’s statline: 28/48, 505 yards, 3 touchdowns.
HIs 505 yards shatters his own Super Bowl record from last year. He solidified that he is the greatest of all time. Despite the loss, Tom Brady showed out last night. The 40-year-old MVP of the league continues to amaze me and defy the odds with one of the most remarkable performances in NFL History.
Nick Foles
Do you think some dude got really drunk back in August and bet $2 on Nick Foles to win the Super Bowl MVP?
Nick Foles was clutch all night long. He looked like an NFL starter and made some amazing throws all night. Nick Foles threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns in the biggest game in Philadelphia Eagles history. The quarterback even CAUGHT a touchdown.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RvfdbhQ5tk]
I honestly don’t know what to think about Nick Foles’ performance tonight. He looked so comfortable and relaxed, trusting his receivers to make plays all night long. It may point to the brilliance of the Eagles’ staff, but Foles still went out there and outdueled the best of all time. Foles deserves the MVP award. His performance proved doubters wrong and brought Philly their first Super Bowl title ever.
