Another season is in the books after the Eagles improbable 41-33 win over the Patriots last night. Here are some thoughts on the game from both sides.
1.YES! I know it is hard to believe around these parts, but Eagles coaching staff actually did out coach Bill Belichick and his staff.
2. Nick Foles was good enough to beat the Patriots. This arrogant notion that was being thrown around by Patriots fans and media alike that Foles wasn’t good enough to beat them was foolish. Jeff Hostetler, Mark Rypien, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have won Super Bowls. Nick Foles is just as good as any of them and he proved that in the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl.
3. The Patriots defensive performance was one of the worst defensive performances that I have seen in a Super Bowl in the last 25 years. New England couldn’t get off the field on third down and when they needed to make that key stop, they couldn’t. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia looked clueless last night. The look on his face told the story. They had no answers for what Philly was doing.
4. I still don’t understand how Malcolm Butler was benched for the Super Bowl? Talk about a bitter end to a great story. It wasn’t suppose to end this way for a guy who professed earlier in the week that would like to re-sign with the Patriots. Bill Belichick owes his team and the fans an explanation.
5. Give Eagles GM Howie Roseman credit for the way he constructed the Eagles roster. He balanced the draft and free agency to build a roster that will allow the Eagles to compete long term.
6. Chris Long and LeGarrette Blount weren’t good enough to play in New England but somehow were good enough to play integral roles on a Super Bowl team in Philly. In Bill We Trust!
7. The Patriots really missed Dont’a Hightower. His versatility and ability to play in all situations was sorely missed by the Patriots.
8. Super Bowl LII was a physical game. Both teams got banged up. It was a combination of the game being physical and this being the end of the season.
9. Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo both warrant consideration for head coaching job next off-season. Both men did a terrific job helping Doug Pederson craft one of the best offenses in the NFL.
10. Tom Brady is now 5-3 in Super Bowls. While he is still the greatest quarterback of all time, he is also morphing into Kareem Abdul Jabbar record wise. Jabbar was 6-4 in ten NBA Finals appearances.