Excellent Super Bowl.
Excellent writing, Ben Shpigel
At long last local TV in Boston has shut up about the Patriots and Tom Brady.
For weeks it has been one long cringe-fest as the TV stations try to wring every last ratings penny out of pro football.
The NFL epitomizes the worst in America. The NFL is the Donald Trump of the sports world.
Is there no slop that the American public will not eat when when it is thrown in front of them by our mass consumption corporate overlords?
1
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html
Remember this?
To me it's the Super CTE Bowl.
1
I’m glad the Eagles won. Footballs shine has finished so much and one asks why do idiots wreck property when they win. Answer: Really stupid angry people. I hope the ones on camera, like the one next to the overturned car are identified and get arrested.
2
Who inflicted more CTE on whom?
1
I'm so glad the Eagles won. It was an exciting game and I loved every minute. But yo, why did Philadelphians mess up Broad Street so bad? I hope Amazon looks past it so they can build their new jawn in Philly.
Great teams!! Someone had to win, and the Eagles have done it. I don't think any Patriots fan, with such a winning team, can seriously begrudge the loss, as disappointing as it may have been. Next year....
2
Excellent game! Fly Eagles Fly.
3
To quote Ric Flair, "To be the best you have to beat the best". Hats off to the Eagles, who destroyed my Vikings. And hats off to the Pats who took their loss as gentlemen. To paraphrase Jack Nicklaus, true sportsmanship is how you handle a loss, not how you handle a win.
4
This was one of the best Super Bowl games in recent memory. Both teams seemed well-matched and played their hearts out. The Eagles wanted it more and got a lucky break, or two. They deserved the win.
Congratulations for a wonderful game.
7
Congrats to the Eagles - but the hit to Cook by Malcolm Jenkins was horrible. What price will he pay. Shame, shame, shame. This is what will do in football. There is a critical need to modify rules.
3
It was a terrible hit and I am very concerned about the brain injury that resulted from it. I don't think a rule change would have made a difference, however. When a player is running without looking where he is going in a fast contact sport, bad things are likely to happen. If he was looking ahead instead of over his right shoulder, he could could have avoided getting hit so hard and directly.
2
Really bad.and as a matter of fact Patriots Growlowski said yesterday he’s not ruling out retirement after his recent concussion. He knows how hard
2
What about Jenkins' responsibility to avoided the hard hit.
1
Little noted in the wake of this extraordinary title game:
• no personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct calls
• no pass interference calls
• total penalties: 7 for 40 yards
• the punters were bored to tears
• only one disabling injury, and that from a completely clean, legal tackle by a defensive back who put his shoulder pads where the ball was in an effort to dislodge it and only incidentally made helmet-to-helmet contact with a runner in space; the runner got up a walked off the field
• no fights or skirmishes, just Danny Amendola getting a little chippy before his teammates told him to cool it, which he did
That's the way it should always be, NFL. Awesome, awesome Super Bowl.
Except for the garish halftime show...
14
brady is great quarterback, and a friend of trump. my praise and respect is limited to the field.
5
Really!?
Don't think so. It was the Eagles receivers and the quarterback!
3
And they trash the town. What would they do if they accomplished something that really meant something?
2
I thought of the movie "Ocean's Eleven" last night, where Clooney and Pitt gather a team of talented men and topple a smug casino owner with their combined smarts, strategy, daring, and heart. The movie and the game last night were both deeply satisfying.
2
I was raised in Brooklyn and have lived in Seattle for a very long time.
I have always loved the Eagles .... since I was in the 6th grade.
I had gone to Philadelphia several times. I love the history, architecture and museums. The Barnes Museum has 86 Renoir's, more than any place in France. The Philadelphia Art Museum should be known for its amazing collection and not for the stupid Rocky Movie. I love the food, the symphony and the squares. U Penn is one of the top 5 universities in the country.I think Amazon should move their second headquarters there.
Well, back to the Eagles. They have the best uniforms and the best color......who doesn't love the American Eagle?
7
You'd never know that the state of New York has 3 teams in the NFL if one listens to local TV sports reporting here in the North country.
It's all Pats coverage.
With New England's loss, little will be said about it on the local sports news coverage and, thankfully no extended Gronk interviews.
Congrats Philly.
6
As a Buffalo-born and raised Bills Fan, I was so glad to see the Eagles take the trophy they truly earned. Pats fans are in a very sour mood here today. Too bad!
8
My voice is hoarse from yelling, not for my usual Cowboys. I gradually came to believe that the Deathstar could be defeated. The rebels could win. The busted down underdogs, working class heros and never has beens could go to the prom and wind up the spotlight couple. The bell tolls for thee. Much respect and a little envy.
6
Hey, I don't know nothing about football, but that was a pretty good game.
8
The Eagles do it in full Rocky Balboa fashion!
5
Thank god that football is finally over with....until August.
1
The half-ending play calling of Eagles Coach Doug Pederson is equaled only by the second-half beginning on-side kick of Saints Coach Sean Payton...
Bravo & Kudos!!
6
What a coincidence -- for two weeks, the Eagles practiced an old Texas high school play in which the QB goes out to receive a pass, and then the Patriots come up with the same play last night, but Brady can't make the catch. How did the Patriots know about it? Was Belichick in that ballroom, perhaps wearing a paste-on beard to disguise his identity? Or did someone get wind of it and pass the word to him? I think the Patriots thought it would be funny to run the play before the Eagles did, and that maybe it would take them off guard and work. But then Brady did not jump to catch a well-thrown ball. I am being cynical. There's no way the Pats would ever risk spying again, right? It's just not like them. And if they were just acting on a tip, so what.
6
Good article of a great game! We hosted a Superbowl party this year, and it makes for much happier guests when the game is exciting and the Patriots lose. Still... can't help but wonder how it might have changed the game if Malcolm Butler hadn't been benched by Belichick. After all, it was Butler who saved the game in their last Superbowl appearance.
2
Amazing game. The underdogs defeated the evil empire, kind of like a Star Wars screenplay. As a life long season ticket guy, that was a great night for us in South Jersey and Philly. Congrats to us!
4
Even a lapsed pro football fan like me could enjoy a great game like that and it's good to see the Patriots cut down a notch.
4
One of the most entertaining Superbowls ever. The two Eagles touchdowns that were reviewed were both good calls. Mighty Casey struck out on the last two drives. Great drama.
1
Well Done Eagles. From an always the underdog fan of Houston sports!
4
As a long-time fan of the Iggles, if you had told me in August all the injuries the team would suffer, finishing up with Nick Foles at quarterback, I might not have predicted a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.
But it feels great.
5
The trick play - passing to the QB for a TD - was used by Oklahoma against Georgia in the recent Rose Bowl game. With, I might add, the same result. Some pretty gutsy play-calling by Philadelphia all-in-all...especially on the 4th and short scenarios. Probably one of the best Super Bowl games I've ever seen.
8
This was a real life "Silver Linings Playbook" saga.
Thanks to so much of the country that was pulling for the underdog team to win.
I thought both teams played an amazing and exciting game that came down to the final seconds before the outcome was assured.
Kudos to both the beloved Eagles and the dynastic Patriots for the most exciting Super Bowl game I have ever witnessed.
3
Foles moved a lot after he got the hike, including roll-outs. Brady didn't really move around a lot, simply staying in the pocket. Could that have been a factor with front four of the Eagles? They knew that the Brady would always be found in the pocket, and that they could keep trying different ways to put pressure on him. And finally causing the fumble.
1
A Giants fan here. I'd always root for an NFC East team over the Pats, even the Cowboys. Kudos to the Eagles. What a weird but great game. Kept waiting for Eagle D to ramp it up with stunts and get to Brady. Only happened once, but it counted big time. Also, just heard that the most yards from scimmage EVER, playoffs or not, was yesterday. It was a high scoring game, but not when you consider the yards gained by both teams. There was a lot of coughing in the red zone, but for the Foles reception. Doug Pederson for MVP, what a great plan and outstanding preperation.
1
As a Cowboy fan, i respected the heart of the Eagles players and fans throughout the years.........Last night shows why....reggie, ronnie, frankie, jessie, and others.... The Eagles, finally, are Super Bowl champions.
2
The Eagles victory looked like something written for that wonderful television show, Friday Night Lights. Superstar quarterback gets injured. Hopes are dashed. The backup steps up and suddenly hopes are not only revived but realized in a triumph for the ages. The Eagles are number one and for now, the humble back-up Nick Foles leaves the Superbowl and deservedly, at least for the off season, QB1.
1
Not a big fan of football any longer but watched some of the excellent game yesterday until the hit on Cooks. The NY Times had run an editorial by an NFL wife who's husband's brain has given way to his years of concussions so it was interesting to see the lack of followup coverage on Brandin Cooks who took that "legal" helmet to helmet shot and had his brain rocked within its cranium... Concussion and left the field of play.
For those who missed the article, you might want to read: I'm the Wife of a former NFL Player. Football Destroyed his Mind. (Subtitled) He chose the sport, he did not choose brain damage. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/opinion/sunday/nfl-cte-brain-damage.h...®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=17&pgtype=sectionfront
No doubt the NFL was not interested in talking about or showing this hit later on in the show. As more and more studies come out, parents are going to have to look the other way when they let their kids go out and play the game. I grew up in a family that watched, played and enjoyed the sport. Out of habit now I follow the Oregon Ducks and check in on a few Pro games during the playoffs. Watching Cooks get his bell rung was enough to remind me of that opinion piece. We flipped the television off and went back to doing other things. Later we watched the last five minutes... Old habits die hard.
10
Fly, Eagles, fly. But stay tight, don't die. The world's going south, but the eagle still flies north. Stay tight, God bless, and say a prayer for all those who bet on "the favorite.zzzz." -Estaban Goolacki out
2
You're a lucky guy, Tony. I was also 13 in 1960, but I lived far out in the Northeast, and my folks wouldn't even consider my setting foot in "dangerous" West Philly. So I watched on our crummy black and white TV, which at least gave me a great view of Chuck Bednarik sitting on Jim Taylor at the Eagles 13 as time ran out.
2
Hey, I'm 70 too, and I listened to it on the radio! Couldn't afford the tickets.
1
I am very happy for the Eagles and their Championship season. The NFL has become Arena Football however.
President Trump has referred to Tom Brady, coach Belichick and owner Robert Kraft as “total winners,” and all three have publicly expressed support for Donald.
Many of us can not help but see yesterday's results as a rebuke to the administration, and a good omen going into the 2018 midterms.
29
Wow. Do you see politics in your morning coffee too?
Hey, Trump used black NFL players as props for his white nationalist propaganda as he campaigned for Republicans in the south and he could not help but take another shot at the players who have protested against police shootings of black people and Trump’s failed attempts to censor NFL players who protest. I am proud of the Eagles players who stuck up for what they believe in and refused to be silenced. They were right to waste no time in telling Trump, today, that they do not want visit the racist occupant of the White House. Trump brought ugly politics to the game and now those who are tired of it can have the last laugh (this season) along with the champion Eagles who put him in his place.
5
My young son Graham was excited to discover that one of the key players was also named Graham.
3
Didn't watch the game but watched the highlights this morning online. Very happy for the underdog Eagles—but it saddens me to hear their knee-jerk thanks to "god" and their "lord and savior, Jesus Christ" for their success.
I remember a New Yorker cartoon from many years ago in which a player says into the reporter's mic: "First, I'd like to blame the Lord for causing us to lose today."
(I just looked it up; it was a David Sipress cartoon.)
http://www.mbird.com/2012/01/from-the-new-yorker-15/
17
Ease up - my sense is they do not want to take all the credit and hero-worship. Those hardworking and sincere men attribute their success to something beyond themselves. It's actually a humble position when you consider how the sports world tempts winners toward pride and self-promotion.
3
I fail to see how humbling themselves should be discouraged, regardless of who they thank for their successes.
1
I understand their humility. I said I was "saddened," not angry, because of their need to ascribe their good fortune to an ingrained and intractable Medieval mythology.
1
I rooted for the Eagles to win Super Bowl LII, and I'm glad they won. The Eagles are a good, hard-working team, with a good coaching staff. That said --
I hope this long-awaited win will sow some civility into those "adult" Eagles fans who act like testosterone-ridden thugs, ceaselessly berating, at their home games, fans of the opposing teams -- sometimes picking fights with them beyond the endless heckling, even stalking them out of the stadium to continue the mocking and fisticuffs.
(Among all NFL fans, Eagles fans have one of the worst reputations -- perhaps the worst -- based on the childless behavior and physical abuse they heap on visitors.)
Note to those Eagles fans: Enjoy the win. It's good for your City of Brotherly Love. Now, learn something from it.
11
Another article today referred to Tom Brady as "the best player on the field." Really? He didn't even have enough class to shake Nick Foles's hand before leaving the field. Best player? Not last night.
26
What are you talking about? Brady embraced Foles and spent a few long moments talking to him closely after the game.
I stand corrected. I was wrong. Brady did not shake hands with Foles after the game. It was the two coaches who hugged and chatted for a few moments. Brady was gracious during the press conference afterwards, but I don’t know why he didn’t shake hands with Foles on the field. My bad.
4
Brady was not the MVP of the game. Foles was recognized as such and Brady, like his friend Trump, chose to avoid a situation that called attention to the fact that he came out the loser in this one. Thankfully, Brady is not nearly as nasty about it as Trump, but then, who is?
3
Why are the folks who cover sports at the NY Times its best writers? I'm a Giants fan, but great piece.
10
Great game. Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles for beating the Pats.
Those 2 plays were not controversial at all. The one where the runner is shown stepping out of bounds after he caught the pass, he had one foot down then caught the ball and his other foot came down and then his first foot stepped out of bounds. So it was already a touchdown before he stepped out of the end zone.
That other catch in the air the Eagles receiver has the ball in his hands and then crosses the plane. No question. Touchdown! Great game. Another nail biter.
25
I'm a long time Pats fan...In this game
I saw the 2001 Pats vs. Rams game where Brady [Foles today] beat out ' the greatest show on turf '. We'd never one a super bowl either. Brady had earlier in the season replaced an injured Bedsoe, like Foley for Wentz. We were hungry with nothing to lose just like Philly.
congrats...to the Eagles.
7
I'm not a big football fan, but it sure is better to be talking about this game than the silly games going on in Washington.
6
I've seen (on television) every Super Bowl played and many NFL Championships before that. To me the most exciting of them all was the Giants/Colts '58 NFL Championship game that went into overtime- until yesterday.
And hats off to Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth for the call.
Doug Pederson deserves all the credit he's getting, and his aggressive style won out in the end, but there's aggressive smart and aggressive dumb. It was a mistake for the Eagles to start chasing the extra point they lost after their first touchdown. It could have easily cost them the championship.
1
I listened to the 1958 Giants-Colts game on the tadio. Charlie Conner!y. A great game!
The Eagles earned it. They deserved their victory. The won bascially for two reasons: (1) the Patriots' defense was unable to pressure Nick Foles and the excellent Philadelphia o-line, and the Pats' secondary could not thwart the Eagles' passing game, and (2) the Eagles defense came up with a big strip-sack late in the game, ending a drive that had a very good chance of producing another touchdown and winning the game for New England.
And sure, give Nick Foles the game MVP, why not? NIck had a great game. But please, let's not publish a subhead (which has now, thankfully disappeared, it seems) saying that he "outplayed NFL MVP Tom Brady." Foles did no such thing. Just the basic numbers: Foles = 374 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT. Brady = 505 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT. Who outplayed whom? Let's get real, guys.
3
One stat you neglected to mention for Brady: a critical fumble that essentially lost the game for the Pats. So yes, Foles outplayed Brady.
9
Good points but the Foles INT wasn't his fault...
1
It was also kind of important that one quarterback caught a pass while the other dropped it.
1
All things being equal I would rather be in Philadelphia.
Great job Eagles!!
No waiting until next year
11
I dare Donald Trump to invite this year's Super Bowl champions to the White House, especially after Trump took another shot at the (black) players who have been protesting police shootings of black people and Trump’s attempt at censoring football players. The Eagles have some of the most dedicated social justice advocates in all of sports. I am sure they have some thoughts about Trump’s actions and policies that they will be glad to share when the time comes. I am glad they won for that reason, if nothing else. That it was a well played and exciting game makes it that much better.
24
What does the SuperBowl have to do with Donald Trump? Let it go.
Chris Long, Torrey Smith and Malcolm Jenkins of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have publicly rebuked Trump and his policies by boycotting the traditional White House visit.
The above was copied from an email I just received from the organization The Color of Change. They are asking for signatures on a document showing support for the boycott of the Whitehouse by at least some of the Eagles.
2
@binnewaterlake: Immediately before the game, Trump took another cheap shot at the black NFL players who protested social injustice in America and Trump’s attempts to censor and punish those players during the season. Trump has been using those black players as scapegoats for his racist rhetoric for months. Philadelphia has some of the most dedicated social movement players in the NFL. It is no surprise that they immediately responded to Trump’s dig at them yesterday by telling Trump, today, they want nothing to do with his hateful white nationalist agenda and they will not be visiting the White House while he is in it.
It would be great if Trump would stop bringing his ugly politics to every corner of American life. But because he does, it is great when people tell him that it is offensive and that they do not want to associate with him. If more people did that, we could make America great again.
4
What about the hit on Cooks?
Wasn't that a helmet-to-helmet foul?
1
Not every helmet-to-helmet touch is a foul. The rule says the foul "does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or helmet in the course of a conventional tackle." Otherwise, running backs would be getting that call on almost every carry.
Cook was a ball carrier, not a defenseless receiver at that point. The defender did lower his shoulder, but his head was actually kind of turned to the side. Cooks had his head facing away from the defender (trying to make a fake of some sort, I think), then made his cut and spun right into the defender's helmet. Like walking into a punch.
Great game, well deserved victory by the Eagles. Just a couple of plays made the difference--Eagles made their trick play, Patriots didn't. Eagles got their one sack at the right time and the right place, Patriots couldn't get to Foles at all. Pleased to see no call on that last play, since if anything Gronk did more shoving and pushing to create more space than anything the Eagles did. Pats usually get those calls, but this time they went the Eagles way, and they were correct--Ertz clearly caught the ball, brought it into his body, then extended the ball out over the goal line. The other won was more iffy, but I think you could say the receiver had control of the ball and just readjusting his grip as he fell. At any rate, not enough evidence to overturn the call on the field.
8
Cook was not looking where he was going and ran straight into a tackler running at him. He could have avoided the violent collision if he kept his "head on a swivel," or at least looked straight ahead. It was an awful hit. I hope he is careful to follow his therapy plan and fully recover before he even thinks about doing anything that could jostle his brain again.
1
No, it was a head-hunting play, of a type practiced by many defensive players. Designed totally to lay Cooks out. We've seen this all season long and the Eagles defenders are some of the chief culprits. Many other teams have players that do the same thing... witness the hit on Gronk by the Jags. Its this "head-hunting", launching yourself like a missile at an opposing player, that has absolutely to stop.... Until it does we will continue to see these kinds of injuries.
Sad to say, neither the Jags player or the Philly player was suspended or reprimanded at all. Both should have been immediately ejected.
A very satisfying win!
Equally satisfying was how Eagles players almost immediately started opting out of the trip to the White House.
25
The one up side of the Pats losing (to some there may be many), is that we won't be bombarded with superstar St. Tom and Patriots football fever for weeks on end here locally in Boston. It can be too obsessive, as it has been for the past several weeks on the upswing to the Bowl game. Good grief you'd never know that the world does not revolve around sports teams here. It was the ONLY news.
9
My only complaint last night was the SB lead-in to the heart-rending, utterly-depressing episode of "This is us". Most of the people at our party were big fans of that show, so we proceeded to watch it.
As a lifelong Eagles fan, I've suffered through 50 years of disappointing, heartbreaking finishes to their seasons. The first time my team came out as a winner, I relished it for about an hour till that show reminded me that we're all gonna die someday. What a buzzkill.
3
I am happy for the Eagles team and the City of Philadelphia, a city that has not gotten enough attention over the past couple of hundred years, except perhaps from the novelist John O'Hara and a Kate Hepburn movie. Now it is our Giants (twice) and the Eagles that have kept Brady's bunch from a 100% record in various Roman Numeral denominated games. Looking forward to a pleasant visit later this month.
7
I had been rooting for the Vikings the moment the Packers pretty much went under after Aaron Rogers' collarbone injury. I wanted the Vikings to play and win the Super Bowl because they have never been a bride, merely bridesmaids. But my attitude changed after watching the Eagles decimate Minnesota. I was hoping they would be the team to de-throne New England.
My favorite part of watching any Super Bowl game is when the winning team's victory is their first. Watching their pure glee, joy, excitement and love made me smile. Those Eagles took NOTHING for granted. They played their hearts out. And their tears of joy and achievement were contagious. I was crying alongside of them when the Vince Lombardi trophy was being carried to the podium.
I'm still sad the Vikings lost. But how the Eagles played and how they carried off this first Super Bowl victory is pretty darn sweet. I was never a fan before, but I am now, after watching yesterday's game. Each player and member of the Eagles organization is awesome, inspirational, and a wonderful role model on so many levels. You guys ROCK!
20
Thank you.
1
I am definitely not a BIG sports fan - or even university/college - because it's just a Robber Baron money game where young men are exploited for their athletic abilities and thrown away like garbage if they get injured.
The Green Bay Packers are owned by the City and profits go into the city/county/state coffers to benefit ALL the people. They are the only ones because the Robber Baron owners have forbidden anymore government-owned NFL teams.
The bottom line is that Robert Kraft's "boys" played Jeffrey Luries "boys" in the Super Bowl. It was a wonderful feeling to see the illustrious Tom Brady make the critical error in the last seconds of the game to lose it for Kraft. It would have been a wonderful feeling to see Luries boys get the trophy but I had to turn off the television when they all kissed the trophy. A real "godfather" moment.
Happy to see ratings are down for NFL games. This whole "money worship" thing needs to come to an end.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers
5
I don't like the Patriots either, and especially Brady, but you can't really say he made "the critical error." A sack is either the mistake of an offensive lineman, a great play by the defensive lineman, or good play by the secondary. In this case it was probably a combination of the last two, especially the lineman slapping at the ball.
Relatively rarely is it actually the qb's fault, like holding on to the ball too long, or scrambling into the wrong place, and this wasn't Brady's.
1
After their NFL division win a number of the Eagles gave some sizable contributions to the Philly school system.
1
"The Patriots, who had scored on their first three second-half possessions, now needed to go 75 yards in 2:21 for a dynasty-extending touchdown."
We should compare this scenario with Joe Montana and the 49ers similar drive while behind in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XXIII. Montana engineered a 92 yard game winning scoring drive in that one.
So let's stop crowning Tom Brady as the greatest of all time. Joe Montana never threw an interception and never lost a Super Bowl. In fact, he dominated two fellow hall of fame quarterbacks in the game. And Tom will be the first to tell you who inspired him growing up.
But you get no argument from me they are the two best of all time.
6
No one ever wins a football game by themselves. To blame Brady for the fumble that put the game away is to ignore the fact that the offensive line also has a job to perform. Whether a quarterback is the greatest ever depends not only on his personal statistics, but the quality of players on which they have to depend over the course of their career.
2
You forget that Tom Brady has played in twice as many Super Bowls as Montana. That’s twice as many opportunities for error. And if you had been following closely you would know that Brady has engineered plenty of heroic comebacks in the exact manner you described.
What was left out here was the analysis of what happens when the calls don't go New England's way, to the point where it is becoming more widely believed their games are fixed.
16
The annual gaudy debauchery of American decadence.
3
NYT has the best sports writers on the planet.
10
I hate Philly. They are bottom feeders; however, I hope this energizes Dallas to get their butts in gear. It shows how pathetic the Cowboys have been for over two decades.
Maybe you are too young (or were not yet born) but there was a time when the Dallas Cowboys were boringly doninant. The Cowboys had their years in the spolight already. The Pats have been in the spotlight for too long. I love it when underdogs win.
4
There are so many people, soooooo many, who love watching the Cowboys flail away, their egomaniacal owner acting as if he's some kind of know-it-all while his team loses. The whole "America's Team" bit is a ridiculous mantle to claim too, like none of the rest are Americans if we don't support that time, In fact, if there's any one team that I want to lose, it's the Cowboys, and know many a football fan who feels that way.
2
Nice to see a team that used deflated balls, and lies to get ahead the last time, and cheered on by a president who did the same in the name of greed, get beat by a team that had the moral conscience to kneel throughout the season in support of human rights. A lesson for next election: VOTE.
27
Football has elections?
great statement
2
Nick Foles for the win. A true example of how far hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, and humility can take you.
Hey, Eagles — you just got yourselves another fan.
23
Sports fans often have blinders on when thinking about how their team won. But we should step back and consider this: the Eagle defense was supposed to be amazing and would shut Brady down.... how did that work out? Brady passed for 505 yards... as a 40-year old! Fortunately for the Eagles, the long-suspect Pats defense couldn't do the job with the Eagles receivers. If they had stopped the Eagles on one of those drives, the outcome would have been quite different.
While I really like the writing in this article, a little more objective analysis would have been nice.
And I do not wish to take anything away from the joy Eagles fans are feeling. Many other teams have gone through this and their fans have had their brief time of euphoria.
1
Odd to see Patriots fans bellyaching about the two TD calls... now they know what the rest of the country feels about all the Patriots' controversial calls in their favor.
The Nick Foles TD reception play was brilliant. Up there with the onside kick by the Saints against the Colts a few years back.
Brilliant and well deserved to the Eagles from this sidelined Giants fan.
33
TO: Robert Kraft, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady
FROM: Foghorn Leghorn
RE: Yesterday's Game
Don't go away mad, little fellas....just go away.
10
Nick Foles is no Donovan McNabb nor Carson Wentz. But these Eagles are super.
"Third prize is three weeks in Philadelphia. Second prize is two weeks in Philadelphia. First prize is one week in Philadelphia" W. C. Fields
3
Americans can tolerate a consistent winner only so long before rooting for the underdog. Congratulations to the Eagles for a well earned victory. And they did it against one of the best teams in history - no small feat.
9
Lots of kudos to Brady and his accomplishments on the endless pre-game coverage yesterday, but nary a word about what may have been his greatest accomplishment during his storied career: defeating the ideal gas law, at least in the minds of New England fans.
4
I'm not an Eagle or Patriot's fan, but I watched every minute of it and I wasn't even in a pool. This was one of the best Superbowls in a long time and it was nice to see a humble guy like Foles get the MVP. He deserved it.
34
I hope that Doug Marrone, head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was watching closely, especially in the 4th quarter. And if he was, perhaps he learned that when playing New England (or any quality team, for that matter) you don't go all Marty Schottenheimer, get conservative, try to sit on a small lead, repeatedly run non-productive running plays into the middle of the line, and try not to lose. Coach Pederson showed yesterday that he understands that the way to beat good teams is to never take your foot off the gas pedal. This lesson should be absorbed by all NFL coaches, not just Marrone, but he was the most recent glaring example of the failure of the Schottenheimer approach.
6
Brady and the Patriots were deflated as time expired and the Phillies won. Congratulations, now just stay of the poles.
3
Credit where credit is due. Nick Foles was fantastic. He showed the poise, precision, and cool of, ahem, a young Tom Brady.
13
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles... from a New England Patriots fan. Great game, well played, sorry to see the Patriots lose, but I am happy for the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans.
24
As a lifelong Philly sports fan, one word sums it up...FINALLY!
9
Nick Foles certainly did the Westlake High School community proud! We are certainly proud of both Nick and Drew Brees. I'm not sure there is another high school in the country that can claim quarterbacks that are 2-0 in Super Bowls with the MVP awards to boot. Even more impressive is the fact these two outstanding athletes are even more impressive as human beings. Both are poster children for class and humility. As a parent I've always looked for role models for my children. I've always looked to identify bright, caring and athletic individuals. It is hard to beat Nick and Drew on those counts. Wouldn't it be nice if class and humility were as contagious as the flu....
18
Where is the sidebar article on the game broadcast? Would like to hear your take. You described Doug Pederson as having/needing "emotional intelligence." Can we ask the same of our game commentators? Chris Collingsworth, for example, gives absolutely no insight into game strategy, tactics or play calling. Listen to his replay commentary on the Burton to Foles TD pass. "Here we go?" And that's putting aside his knowledge of the rules when predicting replay reviews. That Ertz call was easy. Please NFL, if you are listening (doubtful), tee up Tony Romo for next year's Super Bowl. Otherwise, great game!
17
An amazing game and victory for Philadelphia... not to mention a very welcome diversion from the usual news cycle these days!
5
I am 70 years old. In 1960 I was 13. I used all my Christmas money $13.00) to attend the NFL Championship at old Franklin Field on Monday December 26 (the day after Christmas). The Eagles defeated the Packers in the only post season game Vince Lombardi ever lost. The bus ride was .18 cents from my home in W. Philly. I was home by 5 PM dinner. The half time entertainment was the Cardinal Dougherty High School Band. What occurred yesterday was nowhere near as simple or inexpensive an event. But I got to see our beloved team pull it off 58 years later. I am blessed !
224
I was 17 in 1960 when I was listening to that game on radio. When Chuck Bednarik made that final tackle (was it on Paul Hornung, I don't recall). I Still remember it like it was yesterday. Congratulations Eagles - you played a great game.
5
Tom, I'll be 80 in a few months. I listened to that game on the radio in the Bronx, where I was beginning the typing of my MA thesis. It was as exciting as any game up to superbowl three, when Broadway Joe brought the Jets fame.
5
Mr. Borrelli -
Being from Green Bay, watching the Packers in the early years of Vince Lombardi, and being a Lombardi fan first and a Packer fan second, I simply LOVED your comment. It's wonderful to read a comment from "back in the day" and being able to relate what those days and games were like from another vintage fan's point of reference.
I am so happy that after 58 years, you finally saw your team succeed and win the Super Bowl. There's no other feeling quite like it in football. The first Super Bowl win is always the sweetest. Sincere congrats Mr. Borrelli,
7
these new legends join the older players who last won it in 1960- like Concrete Charley; Retzlaff; the swamp fox; McDonald; the Dutchman; Brookie; MRP for all of them, gone but not forgotten. Too bad the game could not have been played in Franklin Field.
3
Dear Ben Shpigel:
"As lopsided as a three-legged table"? Because three points define a plane, a three-legged table cannot be lopsided. Fewer legs and it cannot stand; more and it can be unbalanced.
11
"Philadelphia is a grand old city with a grand old football tradition defined not by trophies hoisted but the cocktail of emotions — nihilistic despair tinged with unfounded confidence — produced by its beloved Eagles coming so close, so many times."
This is why I subscribe to the NY Times.
Ben, thank you for so beautifully describing in one sentence the hopes, dreams, and angst that fill the hearts of all Philadelphia sports fans.
33
I guess Brady forget to have some low level aid let some air out of the football.
5
He threw for over 500 yards. What he needed was for his defense to step up and to stop the eagles.
3
There has apparently been some controversy about the Ertz touchdown. I believe that Patriots fans, who benefited mightily from the "tuck" rule some years ago, have no basis for complaint when the "receiver becomes a runner" rule works against them.
26
Foles was widely rated as a mid-level back-up -- 13th-15th best in the NFL depending upon the listing you consult. That doesn't resolve the issue, but it certainly adds perspective to the Kaepernick debate.
3
52 years and counting as a Eagles fan. It feels relieved to wake up this AM as Champions. I started to believe during the Carolina game and saw offensive lineman in the end zone sharing success with the "star" who collected the touchdown. They were demonstrating their ilk as a team of no stars (or all stars).
When the presume MVP and "star" went down we all groaned, well not all, the top notch coaching staff and TEAM leaders knew better. They are a TEAM in all it's winning glory, nothing more/nothing less!
8
For once on a Monday morning, I don't feel the need to read about Trump and tweets, Congressional inaction, or divided party loyalties. The Iggles took one from the dynasty, and I think the dynasty might be cracking a little. Feels really good when a second year coach and a backup quarterback takes you to the promised land. Don't ever forget, though, that Carson Wentz set the table, and served us apps and the main course. Foles took us to coffee and dessert.
26
I'm a lifelong Pats fan, going back to 1980.
Teams and fans in all the other cities should take note: the Patriots lost the game and gave all the credit to the Eagles for playing and coaching better than they did.
What you didn't hear the Patriots say was what the Patriots hear from other teams and fans when they win: the Patriots cheated, the refs were on their side, the headsets didn't work, the Gatorade was warm and a whole bunch of other baloney.
Not a word like that, it's just the Eagles (or Giants or Packers in their other Super Bowl losses) played and coach ed better than they did, that's why the lost.
12
Wonderful game! Although I was hoping the Eagles could have been in victory formation with a two score lead and a minute left. But, instead of taking a knee, Foles drops back and tosses a TD. I wonder: Would Collinsworth call that running up the score or resort to the standard color man cliche, "Oooo, you don't want to leave any time on the clock with number 12 on the bench."
1
"The New England Patriots have always been losers. Small hands Tom Brady couldn't catch a pass that Baron would have run in for a TD. Wendy's commercial very UNFAIR to McDonalds. Melania is a 10, Giselle barely a three. SAD!"
10
Good sports writing!
7
This description of the game is pure poetry.
8
Eagles - 41
Patriots - 33
Brain-Damaged Players - TBD
4
As a New Englander I was rooting for the Eagles and I am delighted Kraft will not get his photo op with Trump again in the White House.
23
The evil is defeated.
4
I have no doubts that had Brady not had the ball batted down, that he would have marched to a touchdown. As it was, the Patriots' pass defense was, to say the least, inadequate.
My father was a dogged Philadelphia fan...he worked the games at Franklin Field as a security guard when he was in college. He saw Santa pelted with snowballs.
He took me to my first Phillies game to see Steve Carlton pitch in a season when Carlton won 27 games and the Phillies only won 50.
He told me he'd seen Jimmie Foxx play "True, it was World War II and he was pitching...but I saw him."
When we moved to Baltimore, my father got to celebrate some great baseball teams. But he never stopped following the Iggles, and often reminisced about Chuck Bednarick, "the last of the 60-minute men."
My father passed away in 1999, and last night, I was praying for him to intervene so his beloved Iggles could win their first championship since the year I was born. (And which my father always recalled as "the year the Iggls won the championship.")
Fly, Eagles, fly!
58
Yay, Iggles (Eagles)! I wish my grandfather were here to see this day. He was an Igs fan starting with the team's inception in the 1930s. I remember watching games with him on our Zenith TV (oh, so cutting edge) in the 1970s, when Dick Vermeil was coach and the Igs played at Veterans Stadium. Once a season Gramps would take this girl (me) to an Eagles game, and half the fun for me would be catching a glimpse of the "car eaters" on I-95 (the machines at this gigantic automobile demolition site that lifted cars up, crunched them, and flattened them like tin cans). Another highlight was stopping at a red light along the way and buying a brown paper bag of soft pretzels from a hawker on the street's median strip. If there was time before the light turned green, the pretzel guy would hand you a squeeze bottle of yellow mustard and you could squirt mustard on the rows of pretzels in the bag (the pretzels came stuck together in a row and you had to pull them apart).
Well, each year the Igs let us down, but Grandpop never wavered in his loyalty to the team and promised that there would be a parade for the Igs down Broad Street (and a day off from school for me) next year. So thanks, Igs, for the memories!
31
First Super Bowl where the game was better than the half time show, and most commercials.
43
I am a devout Patriots fan who cringed less about their loss than the numerous references that this is Trump's team. I despise Trump as do most of my Patriot friends. Let's keep politics out of this and simply leave it as a tremendous victory for the Eagles team and their fans. They were by far the better team. Congratulations Philadelphia.
37
Yours is one of the few comments I see talking about politics e.g. despising Trump?
2
I'll bet that if the Patriots had won, the Donald would have claimed a share of the victory.
The only reason I had to hope the Eagles won was that when there was the controversy over the national anthem, its owner stood with the play while Kraft stood with Trump.
13
The NFL has interjected jingoistic politics into the game by turning the national anthem and the flag into tributes to the military, rather than symbols of our diverse nation, and asking everyone to stand and honor their propaganda. It creates a spectacle ripe for exploitation by the likes of Donald Trump. Unfortunately, Kraft and Brady have tied themselves to Trump while the Eagles owner and players have not. The contrast makes the politics of this year's Super Bowl quite obvious. If you are unhappy with the result, I encourage you to let the NFL, Kraft, and Brady know of your displeasure.
1
Wonderful game tainted by ultra-stupid commercials and a extremely boring half-time show. Congratulations to the Coach, to Foley and to the whole team for this wonderful treat!
16
Fly, Eagles, Fly
On the road to victory!!!
E-A-G-L-E-S
EAGLES!!!!!
Thank you Iggles, what a season with a win well-fought for and deserved!!!
17
Congrats to Philly for winning a great game! Well done
Lots of Eagles fans beating on Brady today. Here's a better idea:
stop lighting your city on fire and flipping over cars. Remember, you've won 1 Super Bowl. That's good. When you've won 3 that's great. When you've won 5, that's legendary. So relax and get back to work.
7
What do you have against tradition? ;-)
4
Decades ago, my English teacher in high school told us if you want to read colorful writing that transports readers to an event, read good sports writers. Pay special attention to the verbs, she said.
The game was a great one, and Ben Shpigel's writing did it justice.
36
Nick Foles was not a total nobody coming into this game. He was the Eagles' starting quarterback in 2013 and threw 27 touchdown passes with only 2 interceptions for that year's NFC East champs. Sure, it was probably a flash in the pan, but it suggested that the Eagles had the ability to put points on the board, esp. against a Patriots defense which has been suspect all year long. One can think of him as Jeff Hostetler with more big-play ability - and like Hostetler in 1990, Foles now has a Super Bowl title after stepping in for his team's injured starter.
As for the Patriots, I think this loss pretty much insures that Belichick and Brady come back next year. The temptation would have been very strong for one or both of them to ride off into the sunset after a 6th title with 3 championships in the last 4 years. But the sting of defeat, coupled with speculation as to whether any of the recent off-the-field distractions dulled their edge heading into this game, will drive both of them back to try to block out the noise and rise to the top at least one more time.
3
"one of the greatest quarterbacks in history" ?
Come on, Brady doesn't share that title with anybody.
3
No one in recent memory, I'd agree.
However, I still look to Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas...Back in the days without rules to protect the quarterbacks and make passing easier.
Unitas would lead the Colts to victory and then come eat and drink with the fans after the game at local establishments.
It's difficult to compare quarterbacks from different generations and claim any one of them is the greatest of all time.
4
Joe Montana was also one of the greatest as was Brett Favre. Brady doesn't own the title..he's lost a bunch of Super Bowls too, or have you forgotten about that?
2
Dan T makes a good point. In the days of Starr and Unitas, pretty much anything went. You could spill grab a player by the facemask and spin him to the ground. And roughing the passer was pretty much unknown.
What made Unitas great was his willingness to stand in the pocket to the last second before releasing the ball even though he knew he was going to get hit hard almost every time.
I loved watching the Eagles D line pushing the Patriots blockers back into Brady on every play during the final drives. That's what won the game.
13
This win was needed and accepted with a city wide smile. Thanks Birds.
27
And most of the Pats fans are satisfied that, that if it had to end, it was Philly that did it.
Like the Sox versus Mariano Rivera in 2004, sometimes miracles do happen. The mighty are beaten, fair and square. If you want to win it all in the modern era, you need to go through the Patriots and both teams made it a battle for the ages. The Pats were gracious in defeat, though defeat it was.
11
Congrats Eagles!
To deflategate brady: you lost!!!
9
In a nation with Trump in the White House, nothing should come as a surprise. So the great New England Patriots myth is over. Crushed by an underrated team and its second-string quarterback. There may be gloom elsewhere in the country but it's always sunny in South Philly where the Rocky Balboa legend lives on.
18
While all the Philly players were winners, everyone of them contributed, I would tip my hat to coach Pederson...he believes in the one offensive idea that I totally agree with, that 4th down is meant to be played, not kicked. Being willing to run a play on 4th down should always be a likely option; as in so much of football strategy, coaches become more and more conservative as they move up the ranks. That was stated by the NYTimes article that showed going for a 2-point conversion is actually more often the smartest, most logical play. If a team is more willing to run a 4th-down play, their entire repertoire of plays changes...fewer desperation plays on third down in particular. Congrats to Pederson for his excellent game calling...he made the team into winners.
16
Good offensive game. won by a defensive play.
The win completely vindicates President Trump.
8
I guess the Patriots need to come with some better methods to cheat for next year.
23
Exciting Super Bowl? Of course. One of the best Super Bowls ever? No way. Football is not supposed to be a track meet or a basketball game. When neither team plays effective defense, except for basically one play with about two minutes remaining, no matter which team won neither would be worthy of being called a great Super Bowl champion.
3
I have been living in Philadelphia 22+ years. As a native of the Steel City across the state, I have always rooted for the Steelers. This year, however, I cheered for the Eagles, and could not be happier that they finally won the Big One. Philadelphia fans are delirious. So much for the pundits, including those with the Philadelphia Inquirer and the NYT, who predicted a Patriots victory. It was a great game. And the good guys won!
31
"And the good guys won!"
What the sports has anything to do with "goodness"? In fact all the team sports are based on deceit which is a bad thing in normal life but the main skill in team sports.
2
Humor usually depends upon momentary deceit. It's not a bad thing. Try it and see.
2
I turned the TV off in the 2nd quarter as a Patriot player lay motionless on the field after being blindsided with a hit albeit legal, by an Eagle defensive back. This game is just too dangerous especially for the young.
9
Wayne, that was a clearly illegal hit to the head. It just wasn't caught.
When there are such bad accidents TV stations almost immediately start an Advertisement proving how heartless and uninterested we are to the pain of others. It is a shame!
Actually it was a legal hit as explained by the commentator. He was not a defenseless receiver at that time
I noted that Foles thanked Jesus and Pederson thanked God for the win.
I remember a few weeks ago when Case Keenum attributed the Vikings miracle win as being due to Jesus.
I was wondering if when they lose, as Keenum did against the Eagles, they blame Jesus and God and think they did something that made them mad. I mean after all if either is responsibile for a victory then he or she has to be responsible for defeats. If not, I think I would become an atheist.
And if God and Jesus are so powerful, I wish they would forget about football and turn their attention to fixing all the real problems in the world. Of course,
it may be that all they care about are sports and that's why we continue to have wars, famine, and genocide.
22
I am not religious, but I believe when players thank the Lord or Jesus they are thanking them for giving them the hope and strength they need to complete. I don't think that they mean or think that G-d was rooting for them. Perhaps a religious person can explain better.
9
I might also have noted that the owners of the Eagles and Pats are both Jews so I wonder how Jesus would have decided whom to side with.
1
Too bad Jesus and God did not like Patriots last night , although they have a good name!
Brady needed his oversized ego deflated, beautifully done!
18
Unfortunately he looks younger than he is. This is a problem.
A well written article defining both the beauty of the gamesmanship and the marvel of words to describe the event and give a moment in time a frozen history. Thank you and to the endless die hard fans of Philadelphia and beyond for support and dedication to their teams effort to bring it all home.
To the entire Eagles organization, YOU ARE THE VERY BEST and we the fans are grateful to you the team. A great game. My young son told me his wife and kids will all be Eagles fans before he lost his voice from cheering.
10
So glad Phyllies finally won and Brady lost!
7
Millions of people watched as a player, Brandin Cooks, was blind-sided by an Eagles tackle. His head wobbled helplessly on his neck and he collapsed, lying still on the ground. He eventually made it off the field under his own power, but was announced to have suffered "head trauma" and could not return to the game.
How could his condition not be featured in the recap of the game? Did we all just witness another young, strong, healthy man get bashed into CTE, dementia and death? Where is the responsible reporting on this?
11
Responsible reporting doesn't speculate on the degree of injury that this player may have suffered, but instead reports the facts once they are known.
3
So the Eagles didn't have to trade all those draft choices to get Carson Wentz. They could have gotten Nick Foles for nothing.
5
It is highly entertaining to read all these New Yorkers who hate the overdog Patriots, but who, come spring, will turn to their beloved Yankees.
9
Old, You're not seriously equating the Patriots with the Yankees? Last time I looked 27 was more than 5. Only the Montreal Canadians even approach the titles the Yankees have.
7
apples and oranges, old blue
I'm not surprised The Philadelphia Eagles won! We've come to the age of mean spiritedness and nastiness! It's a fact that across all sports, especially Baseball and Football, their fans have been the most boorish, intimidating, taunting, and thuggish out there! Despite being a northeastern city, they even derided Jackie Robinson, when Brooklyn welcomed him into Baseball! Yes, their victory is a sign of the times, all the way up to The White House! Boo.
1
Nick Foles and the Eagles won! And it was exciting! What more could an Eagles fan wish for?
10
Great game. Foles TD catch is play of the year. Rare to see Billy boy get outcoached. Should have been against the Jaguars as they were the best of the AFC this year and were robbed of the championship. Gene always does a nice job.
6
To be the champs, you have to beat the champs.
I thought that the Pats were going to be exposed sooner or later. Too tired,too beat up and Brady too old, but I give them credit. They know how to put the ball in the end zone. They answer score for score and kept their best stuff hidden until needed. They don't expose your defense until the they need to in the end to win. The Eagles seemed to know that they needed to play the full 60 minutes unlike some other teams. They didn't take the bait and double up on receivers like Amendola. They gave the Pats the middle of the field and got tough in the red zone. Good game plan.
11
Brady is too old? I thought he just set a record for passing yards in a playoff game and had a higher game qbr than Foles? I guess you believe what you choose to believe.
2
I can see that Patriots fans are already undercutting the Eagles' victory, declaring it tainted, reinforcing their reputation as an arrogant (perhaps deservedly so) and sour (maybe it's the weather?) fan base. I found myself rooting for the Eagles, a team I've hated my whole life, mainly because I wanted to see a new team hoist the trophy. Good for all the Philly fans.
50
Let's keep in mind that the Patriot's are cheaters as well.
Silly - in these comments there's a lot of snark directed at the Patriots, and a lot of Pats fans congratulating the Eagles. Maybe you are reading another paper?
1
I'm a Patriots and Brady fan but I have to admit I was happy Philadelphia won. The build up of Brady and Belichick got to be too much. Happy to see a humble Nick Foles do well. I
67
Re; the "second sports major championship since 1983" quote: how can you ignore the Villanova men's basketball team, national champs in 2016 (and Final Four 2017, plus cruising with the #1 ranking toward the Big Dance again this year)?
5
Look at a map. Villanova is not in Philadelphia.
Say what? Villanova is as Philadelphia as hoagies and soft pretzels!
5
And the stadiums for both NY NFL teams are in New Jersey...
1
Let's see, who to root for: The Pats, a team termed Team Trump or Eagles, whose fans gleefully riot at the drop of a hat and punch horses in the face. There were no winners except for Foles.
4
Congrats to the Eagles, their fans, and Philadelphia from this displaced Giants fan. But please, please, please resist the urge to change all your security PINs to 4133. It will be easily hacked.
19
Amazing teamwork by the Eagles--it's so frustrating when teams rely on two members to run the game. Philly demonstrated that they had a talented TEAM, shown by the range of people who were celebrated. Congratulations! Best image of the night was at the end when they came together to bat away the touchdown; pure ballet.
69
Shish, I agree that the fumble-causing play at the end was one of the two best plays of the game, the other being the reverse with Foles catching the TD pass. But the fumble play probably outranks it simply because it was so obviously an absolutely over-the-top team effort - to see that entire defensive line and LB just converge, almost in a rage of effort...they were going to stop Brady, with no doubt in their collective minds at all. Just a fabulous effort, a game-winning team effort. And I believe a first-year player picked up the fumble...fantastic!
10
The arrogance of Belichek shines through - benching Malcolm Butler, trusting pencil-pusher Patricia, a trick play to Brady that failed.
Did I mention he got out coached, his defense got beat on 11-14 3rd downs and 2 of 2 on 4th downs, he lost his 3rd SB.
15
Tom Brady is the GOAT! His right hand was bleeding down his throwing arm throughout the game! He may as well tied his arm behind his back because his thumb had been practically cut off practising the week before the game. The Eagles came into Minneapolis with a playbook for disabling key players and they accomplished that within 20 minutes. There were two Eagle touchdowns that were questionable - the first catcher failed to have both feet on field - but his feet were off field when he completed his catch, and later the second touchdown (winning?) had the ball bounce all over the field before the Eagles catcher finally caught it and referees were totally confused but then claimed it was a "touchdown" . . . the referees were still completely confused with the whole ordeal. The eagles won?
Cris Collinsworth's bias for the Pats was obvious. Could we please have Tony Romo for the next one?
74
Collingsworth commentary an embarrassment.
25
...but you get sycophant Nantz with him!
3
Terrible bias commentary
10
lets be honest. Eagles won ,fair and square-good for them. They got two touchdowns that should have been called back(in fairness, they probably would have scored anyways);so lets end the myth that the Patriots get all the calls. But Foles did not outplay Brady-look at the stats-he outplayed the patriots defense. Now, Patriots fans can show they are honorable losers(and I am one), unlike their critics over the years
8
those two touch downs were just that, real honest solid effort touchdowns without question.
11
Certainly outplayed Brady in receptions!
nope, under the rules, no TDs- even commentators agreed. But I agree with running TD that was bobbled, but not reception-that was not Td even u under old rules. Plus knocking out pats receiver was spearing, never mind helmet to helmet . In the old days(I used to play defensive back), I would have been called, legitimately, for that. I know it was deliberate spearing by the way he led with his head.
We saw why the Patriots will be back in the Bowl next year. Their offense is so explosive that no lead is ever safe.
3
Except last night. And against Eli Manning.
3
A great game but somehow still, it seemed like the first post-football Super Bowl. The sport isn't the same, with injuries so much more apparent and sad. Also the close calls by the referees in the end zone. What are the rules to this game? It's a big business now as choreographed as the halftime show.
It was better as a sport.
6
This is a classic Philadelphia story. Written like a Hollywood movie. This town has always been the underdog. But when we triumph... how sweet it is!
43
even the underdog in the War of Independence and look how that ended??
An excellent fun game to watch. I was rooting for the Eagles. So much for being the underdog. And excellent gutsy coaching by Doug Pederson. Congrats to the Eagles and their fans!!!
34
I'm a Patriots fan, but even I was bored by the prospect of them winning again (oh, PLEEZ!). The Eagles played great, had a much better story on so many levels, and really deserved the win. Their trick play on fourth down and 1 was absolute genius.
164
It was a riveting game. We are so used to watching the Patriots drive down the field in these situations, it is surprising to see it end this way. Kudos to the Eagles this time! I didn't hear the Patriots sounding cocky prior to the game, they were looking forward to the challenge of facing a tough opponent.
13
It’s not Philly’s second major championship. The Flyers won the Stanley Cup two years in a row, 1974 and 1975.
15
Plus, there's Villanova men's basketball, twice national champions. It's time to return some focus to this year's team, too, which is #1 now and looking plenty strong enough to do it again.
6
Tom Brady overstayed his welcome. He needs to retire.
9
Phenomenal game. Congratulations to the Eagles. The first Eagles game I saw this season I said "Wow! That's a team that can make the Super Bowl." Glad to see the ending was a happy one.
There's one thing that concerns me though. In an effort to protect players, the NFL has implemented knew guidelines regarding concussions. If you're suspected to have a concussion, you're sent to the locker room for evaluation. Best case scenario, you're out for a few plays. If you have a concussion, you're out for the game at least.
Does anyone else see a problem here? I actually noticed the issue during the Patriots-Vikings game. Defensive players now have a pretty big incentive to generate concussions among their major offensive opponents. We saw this with Gronkowski in the Vikings game and again last night with Brandin Cooks. Granted, Cooks' injury did not appear intentional.
All the same, you have to figure the competitive player, even the competitive coach, now recognizes the competitive advantage of hitting an opposing player really hard in the head. A fifteen yard penalty can neutralize your opponents best offensive weapons for an entire game. That's not good.
I think we've found another example of good intentions that result in unintended consequences.
1
Agreed. It's a perverse incentive.
How about this as a counter pressure? If a defensive player causes an offensive player to leave the field because of a suspected concussion, the offending defensive player sits until that player returns.
Or better yet... maybe it's time to consider how we contribute to CTE by watching people get it.
5
True. College refs are not shy about ejecting players for "targeting." The NFL needs to do the same.
1
The players initiating head to head contact should be pulled from the game immediately. I know that the hit to Gronkowski was legal, but this game will never continue if plays like this are allowed. It's so disheartening to see these injuries week after week. How long can the NFL justify this?
1
Gronk dropped final pass, Brady fumbled away the game, Belly lost his 3rd SB....priceless!
16
Congrats to Philadelphia, the Eagles and their long suffering fans.
As a Lions fan, a team that hasn't even been to a Super Bowl and lost, we are still waiting for our magic. But nice to revel with you in yours.
Worried that Matt Patricia, Patriots defense coach, was exhibiting the losing mojo that follows the Lions around like the plague toward the end. Time will tell.
6
Journalistic writers love a paradox, even a concocted one. Despite being a "grand old city with a grand old football tradition, ... 57 years had passed with out a championship ... it was always something — always ... a backup quarterback who nearly retired two years ago."
Give the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles their due. This team, brilliantly led by their present quarterback, Nick Foles, beat the vaunted Patriots in one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all time. What may have happened in the past is irrelevant; the 2018 team was not there. Cheers, not negativity, are what the celebration calls for, and there is no "finally" about it.
18
yes, grand olde cities are not only about winning football or any sports championships, but about history, art, music, architecture, "firsts", cuisine and science.
"On any given Sunday...." The Eagles played with heart, resilience, and never gave up. So good to see them beat a pro-Trump coach & QB....
151
And Kraft, the owner of the Pats, is also pro-tRump. Congratulations to the Eagles.
61
A reminder that Trump has been friendly to Tom Brady and his family just as he was with the Clinton family. Kraft and Belichick endorsed DT; Brady stopped wearing the MAGA hat he was given.
2
And a nice essay by Ben Shpigel, with a poetic ending, which the Eagles much deserve!
68
Originally from Pittsburgh, as a Pennsylvanian, I puff with pride over Philadelphia's pasting of the Patriots. The Eagle has soared.
85
As a native Pennsylvanian in Seattle, I want Bezos to put Amazon 2 in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, despite being smart in writing code, Amazon employees are not very sophisticated and more into craft beers and country music than great symphony, museums, history and architecture........hence their pro-Austin nonsense.
I am not an Eagles fan or a patriots fan but this was the most entertaining Superbowl since the Saints won in 2010. Watch out eagles, they'll be there next year. All I really wanted to say was this is one beautifully written piece. The incredible marriage of insight and highlights with plenty of feeling was brilliant. Well done Ben.
132
While I’m a Bears fan, I couldn’t help but cheer for ten scruffy underdog Eagles. Their determination and remarkable victory deserve applause from us all.
Congratulations to the Eagles and the City of Philadelphia!
99
Like 90% of the nation I was rooting for the Eagles. But I got very frustrated at their game-end clock management. At about 2:35 they got a big first down on about the 12 and the receiver went out of bounds when he really could have stayed in and kept the clock running. Then after the 2-minute warning when the players and coaches had plenty of time to assess and discuss the situation, Ertz, after having first down yardage, dove heroically into the end zone when the smart play would have been to accept the tackle and get a new set of downs to run the clock down. These were players exercising every instinct that is built into their brains about winning football, but they came awfully close to costing Phila the game. But hey, they didn't, and finally the Pats have to say "close but no cigar."
7
That's how a sports article used to be written, but unfortunately not so much anymore. Very colorful article that told a story, instead of just reports facts. Well done.
173
I completely agree Pete. This fabulous sports article was on a par with the game itself. Nicely done Mr. Shpigel!!
22
It is the stuff of dreams: a coach whose only head coaching experience was at Calvary Baptist High School and a back up quarterback who was contemplating retiring just a couple of years ago ultimately win the Super Bowl. As a long time Eagles fan, this is a true Philadelphia story.
201
Well written article with one exception. IN your list of key players missed due to injury (second to last paragraph), you left out Jordon Hicks their starting middle linebacker. He was not only an excellent linebacker but the play caller on defense - a role especially important against Brady. (and they also lost their number 2 MLB, Joe Hicks to injury).
At our Super Bowl party last night, the relief was palpable. Surrounded by Philly branded beers (Yards and Victory), we savor this win like no other. GM Howie Roseman did a great job rebuilding in the aftermath of the Chip Kelly disaster.
This team has a few more years until they have to pay Carson Wentz the big bucks (he's still in his rookie contract). Until then they will be able to afford to keep many of the players that won yesterday. A few more years hopefully of great seasons.
Fly, Eagles Fly on the road to victory.
41
A hearty congrats to all Philly fans! Great team. Great game. Great story. See you next year!
Pats fan
2
Your article here about this Eagles victory, made me cry tears of joy for the Eagles and their fans! I'm a Chiefs fan! I started life as a Bears fan, of course, because I was 6 when the Bears created The Super Bowl Shuffle, which, of course, made me a Bears fan instantly. Plus, my Dad, in his humorous way, even though we lived in the middle of Kansas, never had told me about the Chiefs until I was about 10 years old and saw them on TV against the Jets once. After being a Bears fan, I switched to The Raiders when I saw how cool their logo was, but it was short-lived because I then found The Chiefs! So, we have Mike Holmgren, the Eagles have a Super Bowl. It's OUR TURN TO PLAY! CHIEFS VS. EAGLES, SUPER BOWL 53! Let's GO!
8
What makes the win so, so satisfying is the way the Eagles played: they showed that the cohesiveness and successful, wide-ranging execution of the Vikings game were not a one-off, fluke happenstance. This Philadelphian would have been really happy with a game where we eked out a victory. With this game, and this team's performance, I'm ecstatic.
60
Eagles are a fabulous team and deserved to win! Maybe it will dampen the irrational hatred of the Patriots. I hope so. If one can enjoy football because of the beauty of brilliant plays, teamwork, determination, etc. even a Patriots fan has to admire Pederson and Foles. They are here to stay and I even think there are similarities with Belichick and Brady. I wish Patriots haters could just judge them for their skill and grit and enjoy watching it rather than cursing it!!!!
19
Virginia: maybe football fans could judge the Patriots for their skill, etc., if they weren't so insufferable in victory AND defeat!
4
Nick Foles is an inspiration to every underdog and late bloomer in America.
For the guy who almost quit the game to outduel the greatest quarterback in history, win the Super Bowl MVP and be the first player to ever throw and catch a TD pass in the Super Bowl is beyond belief.
Charlie Brown finally got to kick the ball, and it totally split the uprights!
263
I have to agree with you BHD. It was great to finally see a Good Guy defy the odds, the haters and a tremendous opponent and be rewarded.
For anyone who has thought about quitting, remember Nick Foles' efforts this year. He was THE Underdog that reached deep into his soul and would not be denied!
Way to go Nick Foles: Never Give Up, NEVER Surrender!!
11
FINALLY! A Super Bowl that was better than the commercials and a team so deserving. The moment those Eagles took the field, they were sharp, eager, ready to rumble and were heck bent on taking home that Vince Lombardi trophy.
They were such a joy to watch.
The best Super Bowl play I saw in years was the "Philly Special". INCREDIBLE.
Congrats to the Eagles team and to the city of Philadelphia! This win is long, long over due.
312
Never, ever, count a "second-string quarterback" out! This season, "Rocky" Foles showed that he has the leadership, the skills, and the experience to be the "first string quarterback".
91
As a fan who's experienced the ups and downs of the team over the years, it seemed this team was going to win it all week. Confidence was really high- rare for most fans. Call it karma, call it a positive vibe, call us blessed, call it what you want but we all 'knew' we were going to beat the Pats. I know it sounds strange, but its true- ask any Philadelphian. I agree too that this isn't going to be a one and done team. I think the Eagles are going to carry this confidence forward.
99
I'm a New Englander, die-hard Pats fan... and I'll admit I was feeling it too. I got very, very worried watching the Eagles beat the Vikings, and that feeling never left me. You guys were primed to win it. Congrats.
9
This New Yorker knew too!
2
Born in Philadelphia and always a Philadelphia sports team fan wherever in the world I live, I know that underdog is the role that fits us fans and our teams the best. Cocky, like the Patriots, doesn't fly in Philadelphia. Besides the obvious joy of the Eagles' Super Bowl victory, what's even better is what terrific people these Eagles are: kind, well-spoken, socially conscious, and walking the walk of real role models. Trump says he's a Patriot's fan; I guess it's just not his year. huh? Thank heavens the Eagles proved that sometimes the good guys win.
226
to Me
I could not have said it better.
You can take the girl out of Philly, but you can’t take Philly out of the girl!
That said, I hope the fans in Philly look to the players as an example of how to win graciously. Philly, be on your best behavior, the world is watching.
Kudos to Jeffrey Lurie for his calm leadership
44
I guess i was kind of pulling for the Eagles given Trump's love fest with the Pats. But please explain to me the need for Philly fans to act like jerks when the city wins a championship?
2
Joan, you can always come home . . .