In 2011, NFL Films made a documentary about the six quarterbacks drafted before the New England Patriots selected Tom Brady in the 2000 draft. Despite being picked late in the draft, Brady has defied the odds and is headed towards his sixth Super Bowl win.
Brady has looked as good as ever in his 40-year-old season. In comparison, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles won’t be able to hold up under 4th quarter Super Bowl pressure. While Brady will be playing in his eighth Super Bowl, Foles is playing in his first. If the Patriots can come back from a 28-3 deficit in last year’s Super Bowl against a team with the best offense in the league, the Atlanta Falcons, and an MVP quarterback in Matt Ryan, they can certainly beat an Eagles team led by a backup quarterback.
Two weeks ago, Brady was able to come back from being down 10 points in the 4th quarter of the AFC Championship against the best pass defense in the league this year. Brady and the Patriots were able to do this without the hulking tight end Rob Gronkowski. If the Patriots’ offense is fully healthy, they will shred the Eagles’ secondary. Slot receiver Danny Amendola is coming off arguably the best game of his career and shows no signs of slowing down. Other NFL teams fold when faced with the Patriots’ well-conditioned team in the 4th quarter.
The Eagles are a passionate team, but the Patriots are disciplined, and discipline matters far more on the biggest stage in professional football. Bill Belichick, the most calculated mind in NFL coaching, will make the biggest difference in this game. In numerous documentaries on the Patriots, one can see Belichick’s meticulous planning before a game, accounting for every scenario. Additionally, the Patriots offense is called by the brilliant mind of Josh McDaniels, whos success will likely gain him a head coaching job after this season.
The Patriots’ defense struggled at the beginning of the year but has now become a dominant force, especially with the addition of former Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison. Defensive end Trey Flowers has looked elite so far in the postseason, bringing pressure off the edge. The Patriots’ defense is also led by the tactical mind of Matt Patricia, who will most likely be the head coach for the Detroit Lions next year. The Patriots have one of the best red zone defenses in the NFL. This will lead to the Eagles settling for field goals when they need touchdowns to beat a team like the Patriots.
Sunday night, Tom Brady will hoist his 6th Lombardi Trophy after leading the New England Patriots to their second Super Bowl in a row.