The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl LII after defeating the New England Patriots, 41-33, this past Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota. Many believed this was an upset, but other did not since Philadelphia matched up quite well with the Patriots. It was an intense, down-to-the-wire game that decided in the final minutes. But the Eagles came away with a huge win, in what was the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship in their history.
Here are three things that we learned from this instant classic at Minnesota.
This was Nick Foles’ final game with the Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Foles started the season as the backup of Carson Wentz and, hadn’t it been for Wentz’s injury, he could have easily spent the entire year on the bench. But when Wentz suffered an ACL injury, Foles knew it was his time to shine. He didn’t have a good performance in the regular season, but tore it up in the playoffs and stepped it up in the biggest game of the year. Foles completed 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also added a receiving score on a trick play that will go down as one of the best in Super Bowl’s history.
But Foles’ impressive performance poses a threat going forward for the Eagles. Wentz will come back from the injury and could be ready in time for OTAs or training camp. Wentz should be 100% ready for preseason barring any setbacks, and that’s when the Eagles need to make a decision. Will they keep Foles on the bench after his impressive performance? Will they bench Wentz, who is younger and has far more upside? The two of them can’t co-exist anymore, so it’s simple: one of them has to go.
Trading Wentz isn’t the smart thing for the future of the franchise, and Foles has already proven to have several ups and downs. The better alternative here would be to capitalize on Foles’ high value and get several Draft picks in return.
Is the Patriots dynasty set to come to an end after this loss?
The Patriots have been one of the great dynasties in the NFL of late and even if you hate them, it’s hard to deny their success. The franchise has been the class of the AFC in the past decade, and the numbers back them up. They have been in the AFC Championship Game in seven straight years, have reached the Super Bowl thrice in the last four years, and have two titles over that span. However, that dynasty is set to come to an end quite soon.
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady could leave the team this year, as there is some discomfort around the organization with the way things are going. Matt Patricia already became the new head coach of the Detroit Lions. Josh McDaniels will soon leave the team as well. And even key players – such as Malcolm Butler – might leave during free agency. There is a lot of time left before the new season begins, but don’t be surprised if the Patriots look like an entirely different team in the upcoming months.
LeGarrette Blount will play on a new team next season
LeGarrette Blount played an important role in the Super Bowl LII, registering 14 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. His score came on a 21-yard run during the second quarter, and in the end, his aggressive running played a key role for the Eagles. But even considering how good he was, don’t expect him to return to Philly next year.
Jay Ajayi will be the team’s featured back for years to come. And Corey Clement came out of nowhere to deliver an impressive performance when no one expected it. The rookie finished the Super Bowl with only three carries for eight yards but added four catches for 100 yards and one touchdown. He is only 23, and everybody knows youth means gold in today’s NFL. With him and Ajayi (24) on the roster, Blount suddenly becomes expendable. Even if he won the Super Bowl in two straight years with different teams.