Super Bowl LII Pick: All Too Familiar

Here we go folks, that bittersweet time for every football fan. As much as Super Bowl Sunday is a celebration of the NFL’s championship, it’s also the culmination of another football season. Come Monday, it’s all over for actual NFL football for another eight months until it all starts over again. Eight long months. So before we talk draft and free agency for the New Orleans Saints, lets break down this final game of the season.

The AFC Champion New England Patriots face the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the biggest spectacle in American professional sports. New England enters the game with a 13-3 record and they field the NFL’s top-ranked offense, while Philadelphia enters the game with a 13-3 record as well, and field the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense. It’s strength against strength in this matchup, and it should be interesting to see how it plays out. Lets now take a look at Super Bowl LII.

Two weeks ago I went 2-0

I told you so: Patriots over Jaguars and Eagles over Vikings!

What do I know: The NFC Championship game would be close?

SUPER BOWL LII -US Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, Minnesota

AFC Champion - New England Patriots

vs

NFC Champion - Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday, February 4th, 2018

3:30pm PST / 5:30pm CST / 6:30pm EST

NBC

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“I’m tired of the Pats always winning the Super Bowl”

The New England Patriots have been the winningest franchise in the NFL since the rise of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in 2001. For over a decade and a half, this duo and this franchise has basically dominated the NFL landscape. It’s so predictable that its almost become boring.

The comforts of home are gone for the Eagles. Here on the neutral field of the Super Bowl, the Patriots are most comfortable. Philly, and Nick Foles specifically, haven't played away from Lincoln Financial Field since December 18th, 2017, where they gave up 29 points at the New York Giants, who barely edged out Cleveland for the NFL’s worst scoring offense. Yes, many will point out how dangerous Foles and the Eagles offense looked in the NFC Championship against Minnesota, but this game isn't in Philly, and it will be against Belichick with two weeks of preparation.

Much like Blake Bortles crumbled under the pressure against New England after a monster performance the game before, the same fate will apply to Nick Foles here in the Super Bowl. Yes, Foles excelled against the NFC’s top defense in his last game, but this atmosphere is going to be extremely different. Also, Brady and the Pats looked good against the AFC’s top defense and now come into an atmosphere they are all too familiar with. Philadelphia will have success shutting down the Patriots running game, forcing Brady to beat them with their devastating passing attack, which he will do with surgical efficiency. Advantage, Patriots.

The Eagles’ defense will have the tough task of defending the combination of Lewis and White out of the backfield, both dangerous pass-catchers. They’ll have to contend with All-World tight end Rob Gronkowski and all the problems he presents to any defense. Ultimately, the Philly defense will be so tied up with the backs and Gronk in the passing game that it will open things up for Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks. This will be a monster game for Cooks, whose straight-line speed will torch the Eagles’ secondary when they think the other holes are plugged. Don’t be surprised when Cooks goes off for 11 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown in his best performance as a Patriot. Here’s a wild prediction: Three former Saints first round picks will be crucial to the game’s biggest play, when Brandin Cooks beats both Patrick Robinson and Malcolm Jenkins on a 53-yard TD reception.

While most tire of New England’s dominance, it should be seen as something to aspire to topple rather than to mock or scorn. Save the energy to look forward to the Saints being the ones to put a dent in that armor, rather than to fortify it with the spite that inadvertently strengthens it. If not for New England’s dominance and reputation, would the memories of the Monday Night trouncing of the Patriots in 2009, complete with the late benching of Tom Brady, still stand as important today? No, it would just be another win during that undefeated streak. Like it or not, it matters that they are dominant and it should make teams play smarter to take them down, because they won’t do it to themselves.

We’ve been spoiled by three consecutive Super Bowls that came down to the closing moments, this won’t be among them. New England will have firm control throughout, even after a garbage-time touchdown by Philly that cuts the game to 7, followed by a failed onside kick. Unfortunately, this game has no chance of being as memorable or fun as “28-3”. It’s a story all too familiar. It ends with Tom Brady at the podium with the Lombardi in hand for the third time in the past four years, waiting for a true contender to take it from their grasp. The New England Patriots will leave Minnesota with the Lombardi Trophy once again.

Super Bowl LII Champion: New England Patriots

Final Score: Patriots 28 - Eagles 21

Super Bowl LII MVP: WR - Brandin Cooks

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There you have it folks, another Super Bowl and another NFL season in the books. I simply can’t wait to get it all started all over again. Let’s get ready for the Saints’ march toward Atlanta, Georgia for Super Bowl LIII. Now it’s your turn, leave us your final score and MVP picks in the comments section below!