New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will define the NFL's champions in Minnesota

On Saturday, February 4th, US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will host Super Bowl LII: the great final from National Football League (NFL). New England Patriots, defending champions, will look for their sixth historic title when they face Philadelphia Eagles. This last team has not won a Super Bowl since 1960. Continuing with the tendency in the postseason, bets are against Philadelphia, and Patriots are favorite by 5 points.

Last Sunday January 21th, Conference Games were played. In the National conference, New England faced Jacksonville Jaguars, at Gillette Stadium, in Foxboro, Massachusetts, Pats home field.

Jaguars, who lead at halftime 14-10, dominated the game. New England Patriots were guided by its stellar quarterback Tom Brady. They played an amazing last quarter, scoring 14 points. The team took the lead (that lost after the first drive in the first quarter) after trailing by ten when there just three minutes to be played.

On the other hand, American Conference final faced Philadelphia Eagles, which hosted the game against Minnesota Vikings. These last ones were looking to become the first team to host a Super Bowl at home.

Despite Philadelphia lost its starting quarterback Carson Wentz -who was looking to become the Most Valuable Player of the year- at the end of the regular season, they scored 38 points with no answer against one of the best defensive teams in last years.

Vikings made a lot of mistakes in both sides of the field. After they scored a touch down in their first offensive series, Philadelphia intercepted a pass threw by Case Keenum. Starting there, Nick Foles, Eagles’ backup quarterback, and his team, scored 31 more points without any answer. This was enough to eliminate any hope to receive the Super Sunday at home.

This Super Bowl is a rematch of XXXIX edition, when New England won its third historic title in four years, something that just Dallas Cowboys had made. This victory started the Pats’ dynasty, after they defeated Saint Louis Rams, in Super Bowl XXXVI and then Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Besides the rematch, there are some other characteristics to be remarked. For example, New England is looking for a third title in four years, since the first time they won the Super Bowl.

Pats won their fourth Super Bowl when they beat Seattle Seahawks in XLIX edition, starting a new era. As Rams in 2002, Seattle was a recent champion (they defeated Denver in 2014). Last season, New England beat Atlanta Falcons after scoring 31 points, in the greatest comeback in Super Bowl History. That time, Pats also beat second-year head coach Dan Quinn, as they did when they won against Panthers in 2004.

Philadelphia is looking for another title, last in 1960. Along these years, Eagles had reached the Super Bowl twice, losing both. First, in 1980 Eagles faced Oakland Raiders, and second time they played against New England, when they felt by just three points.

This is also the 9th time out of 10 that the two teams that finished as first seeds, per each conference, reached the Super Game. The only team that couldn’t make it was Dallas Cowboys, when they felt during the first playoff rounds last year.

LatinAmerican Post | Jesus Koyoc
Copy edited by Marcela Peñaloza