This year, the Super Bowl features two teams that are different in every way. Doug Pederson is arriving to his first Super Bowl appearance as a head coach, in only his second year as the top man. Bill Belichick has been in 10 Super Bowls already in his illustrious career. Nick Foles is a backup quarterback who isn't supposed to be playing, let alone winning playoff games. Tom Brady is regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. So, how do the Eagles stand a chance of winning this game?
The battle of the trenches
The blueprint to beating any elite QB is to get consistent pressure, and to get it through the interior as well as the edges to negate their ability to step up in the pocket.
Jacksonville failed in this regard in the AFC Championship Game, as their famed defense only got nine pressures on Brady’s 42 dropbacks. New England’s offensive line has been holding up recently, with help from Brady’s fast release. However, they could meet their match in a powerful and deep Philly line.
The Eagle's hopes rest on their defensive line performing where Jacksonville didn’t. Fortunately, the Eagles have a deeper rotation of players, and they boast defensive tackles that consistently collapse the pocket. This is the key to winning the game. If they can collapse the pocket and beat the backup tackles of the Pats, they have a very strong chance of disrupting Brady as Miami did weeks ago.
However, in order to win, they’ll have to keep Brady on his back foot the entire game, not just the first one or two quarters, and they’ll have to do this all while rushing four, or Brady will pick them apart as he did vs. Jacksonville.
On the other hand, the Eagles boast the best offensive line in football. Getting pressure on Nick Foles will be hard, as will stopping the run.
Thankfully for the Pats, they are getting healthy on the defensive line, and their best players seem to be good to go for the game. Shutting down the run should be key for the Pats. If they can make the game about Foles beating them with his arm, they should feel good about their chances.
Can the Philly secondary hold up?
When Miami beat New England in week 14, they did so by winning the line of scrimmage, but also by playing man coverage and jamming receivers at the line.
By doing so, they didn’t give Brady any easy looks, allowing their pass rush time to get home. Brady went 24-43 in the game, was picked twice, and only successfully completed one play of 20+ yards, and failed to convert any third downs. If the Eagles can replicate this performance and gameplan, they have a good shot at holding the Pats to a low score.
So far these playoffs, the Eagles' corners and safeties have played well, helping to stop two offenses that had been playing well this year. Unfortunately, they do have clear weakness. They are prone to biting on rub routes, often falling for fakes and giving up big plays. Look to this as something New England will want to exploit.
Which coach will prevail?
Belichick is the best head coach in the league right now, and is a master of halftime adjustments, but Doug Pederson has more than proven his worth, designing gameplans that have allowed Nick Foles to shine in the playoffs. Each coach will need to scheme up gameplans that keep their opponents off guard, as both teams have a variety of offensive weapons available to them. Both feature multiple running backs and dynamic receivers, so where they decide to attack their opponents will be key in this game.
Dion Lewis will probably be featured heavily as a runner and receiver to help negate the Philly pass rush, as Brady will look for short routes that attack the middle of the field.
If the Eagles play like Miami did, they should know this is coming. Brady will probably not look for long developing routes, unless the pass rush of Philly has disappointed.
On the other hand, the Eagles will look to abuse New England’s linebackers that stick out as a clear weakness against receiving backs like Corey Clement. If they can use their running backs like the Jags did, they should have success moving the ball and dominating time of possession like they have done thus far this year.
