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By Gabby Goodwin || Sports Editor

Shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles had successfully defeated the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game, the matchup in Super Bowl LII between the Eagles and the New England Patriots was set.

For the Patriots, this will be their eighth time competing in the Super Bowl during the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era. Winning five out of the seven presented Super Bowl opportunities, the Patriots seek their sixth title this Sunday.

As for the Eagles, they will be playing in their third Super Bowl in franchise history and hope to win their first NFL championship since 1960. In Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, New England beat Philadelphia by three points, finishing with a score of 24-21, making it the Patriots’ third NFL title.

Fifty-eight years ago, the Eagles beat Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXVIII, finishing with a score of 17-13. That game was the only defeat that a Lombardi-coached team ever suffered in the postseason. That being said, if the Eagles can find a way to beat the Patriots this Sunday, the team would have a wonderful legacy with postseason victories over Lombardi and Belichick coached teams, in addition to picking up their first Super Bowl championship.

With a wonderful 13-3 regular season, Eagles fans had high hopes for the season until quarterback Carson Wentz suffered an ACL injury which put him out for the season. Nick Foles, the Eagles backup QB, was next in line, and was able to prove himself during a Week 15 game against the New York Giants. However, in games against the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, Foles played poorly and the Eagles ended the regular season with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Consequently, doom set upon Philadelphia, at least that’s what Eagles fans everywhere thought. With a 15-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional playoffs, Foles was finally able to shake off his first-time nerves and lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl.

As far as the scouting report for the Eagles opposition on Sunday goes, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has five Super Bowl rings and has proved himself relentless time and time again. Leading his team from a 28-3 deficit to a 34-28 overtime victory in Super Bowl LI over the Falcons, Brady was able to pull off the comeback of the century. Again, trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-10 in the fourth quarter of the Patriots AFC title game, Brady threw two touchdown passes to win the game 24-20.

As far as Sunday goes, be prepared for a decisive last 15 minutes of play from the Patriots that won’t go unmatched by the Eagles, as a high-scoring game that could all come down to final minutes is in Super Bowl future.

Sophomore Gabby Godwin is the Sports Editor. Her email is ggoodwin@fandm.edu.

By TCR