Super Bowl LII is an intriguing match up of two teams that are polar opposites in the Eagles and Patriots. So, how do they match up on paper?
Let’s compare them by position and see who has the edge.
Offense
Quarterbacks:
Edge: Patriots: Come on. No offense to Nick Foles but comparing him to Tom Brady is ridiculous. Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, Foles is a fringe starter. Could Foles out play Brady in this game? Sure. The chances of that happening however are slim.
Running Backs:
Edge: Eagles: Both teams rely on a stable of backs that fill different roles. Dion Lewis has had a terrific season for the Patriots but fellow backfield mates Rex Burkhead and James White have been inconsistent. After a strong start to the season, Mike Gillislee disappeared.
The addition of Jay Ajayi gives the Eagles the edge in this head to head match up. Ajayi is the best running back on either team and could be a major factor in this game. The Patriots are full aware of LeGarrette Blount can do in short yardage and goal line situations. Rookie Corey Clement could be a factor in this game in the passing game.
Wide Receiver
Edge: Push: The Eagles receiving corp is multi-faceted. They have size and speed. Alston Jeffery, Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholar all create match up problems. They can attack all three levels of the field.
The Patriots receiving corp could also present problems. Brandin Cooks can fly and can change the complexion of a game on one play. Chris Hogan has been a non-factor in the playoffs. Danny Amendola is the most clutch playoff performer at the position in the last five years. He was tremendous in the AFC Championship game.
Tight End
Edge: Patriots: I am giving the Patriots a slight edge here because Rob Gronkowski is the bench mark at the tight end position right now. Eagles tight end Zach Ertz isn’t far behind however. Ertz had a big year statistically catching 74 passes for 824 yards and eight touchdowns.
Both tight ends are good blockers and both can create match-ups from different alignments. You have to figure both Gronkowski and Ertz will figure heavily into their team’s game plans.
Offensive Line
Edge: Push: Coming into this season, Philadelphia had the number one ranked offensive line in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. The Eagles offensive line did not disappoint despite missing all pro left tackle Jason Peters for most of the season. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has done a terrific job of blending west coast offense blocking schemes with spread offense blocking schemes.
The Patriots offensive line did a terrific job in the running game but were inconsistent in pass protection, an area which could impact this game.
Defense
Defensive Line
Edge: Eagles: Fletcher Cox is the best all around defensive lineman in the game today. He is a disruptive force both against the run and as a pass rusher. Fellow defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan is also disruptive and he does a good job of penetrating and re-creating the line of scrimmage. Defensive ends Brandon Graham and Vinnie Curry consistently get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and force teams to have to help out their offensive tackles in certain situations. Former Patriot Chris Long has been a good addition to the Eagles defensive line rotation. He has been a difference maker in the playoffs.
The Patriots defensive line isn’t as heralded but they are stout against the run and they do a good job of stiffening up in the red zone. The Patriots must find away to get pressure on Nick Foles and throw off rhythm, especially when the Eagles utilize their RPO’s.
Linebackers
Edge: Eagles: The Eagles are fast and athletic at linebacker. Mychal Kendricks and Nigel Bradham can play in all situations and they can match up with tight ends and running backs underneath.
The Patriots aren’t as athletic at linebacker but Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia get a lot out of their linebacking corp, especially Kyle Van Noy. New England will have to blitz their linebackers more than the Eagles to get more out of them.
Defensive Backs
Edge: Patriots: The Patriots have a distinct advantage in the secondary both in terms of talent and experience. Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore form one of the best cornerback tandems in the league. Safeties Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon and Patrick Chung are versatile safeties that can match up and do a lot of different things schematically.
The Eagles secondary is young and has had its ups and downs but they’ve played well in the playoffs. Tom Brady and company will come out throwing in an effort to exploit them early.
Coaching:
Edge: Patriots: Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in league history so obviously the Patriots would have the edge here. That being said, Doug Pederson and his staff have a tremendous job this season leading the Eagles to a 13-3 season. Pederson and his staff have done an even better job in the playoffs. This will be a terrific coaching match up.