Super Show
There were 1,151 yards of offense, only one punt, only one sack, the most points scored by a losing team and the most combined passing yards in a postseason game in NFL history. Here's how it all went down inside US Bank Stadium.
A Super Bowl picture is worth 1,151 yards.
Each snapshot is crucial to capture the spirit of what will become one of the greatest Super Bowls in the game's 52-year history. On a night that touched negative temperatures in Minneapolis, the product inside US Bank Stadium burned through February, with the bird gang finally swarming Tom Brady. The Eagles and Patriots left everything they had on the turf in a 41-33 Eagles win. Nick Foles took the unusual career turn from backup quarterback to Super Bowl MVP. Brady threw for 505 yards -- in a loss. Both teams basically refused to punt and demanded a response score at each turn. Gronk kept spiking. Cornerbacks kept chasing (the Patriots curiously doing so without Malcolm Butler). The Eagles kept going for it on fourth downs. Only when Brandon Graham strip-sacked Brady with 2 minutes, 16 seconds left did the game not feel like a Big 12 shootout. The game belied football nature. In the end, the Eagles pulled off one of the NFL's most difficult feats: protecting a lead against Brady, who has 54 career fourth-quarter comebacks. He looked poised for a 55th. But this was the year of the Eagles and their ultra-aggressive coach, Doug Pederson, whose fourth-and-Foles trick call will age smoothly in Super Bowl folklore. These were the biggest moments from this year's biggest NFL stage, along with analysis to explain the essence of the moment. The Patriots' defense is among the league's worst at giving up yards but among the best at limiting them in the red zone. New England allows 3.8 yards per play inside the 20, and the stinginess showed with cornerback Eric Rowe -- the hero in a Week 15 victory over Pittsburgh -- winning the jump ball. The Eagles' 14-play drive was the second longest ever against a Bill-Belichick-coached Patriots team in the Super Bowl.Tim Rasmussen/ESPN Eagles cornerbacks are aggressive, largely because their defensive line is so good. But the Patriots' quick passing game can expose aggression. Tom Brady hit the Eagles with play-action passing and found Chris Hogan on a crossing route. New England opened the game running screen passes and misdirection plays, setting a tone for a monstrous half of nearly 700 yards of first-half offense between both teams.Andy Lyons/Getty Images So this is why Alshon Jeffery just got a $52 million contract extension. He's not speedy, but he knows how to score. This 34-yard grab -- the longest catch in Eagles Super Bowl history -- was Jeffery's third score in the playoffs. And Nick Foles was throwing like he has been here before. The man was dealing in the first half.Tim Rasmussen/ESPN Blown coverage by the Eagles gave Danny Amendola room to roam and Brady an easy read while avoiding a sack. Both teams opened the game a combined 3-of-7 on third down, but each third-down conversion was huge and facilitated scoring drives as the Eagles and Patriots traded shots.Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Malcolm Jenkins clearly got Brandin Cooks with a helmet-to-helmet shot, but Cooks turned so quickly into Jenkins that intent did not appear malicious. Cooks left the game as a result of the hit, leaving the Patriots with three receivers on the active roster. The next play, Jenkins executed a key pass breakup on running back James White to showcase his versatility.Getty (6), EPA (2), USA TODAY This might explain Brady going without a glove despite that injured thumb. The Patriots had this trickery in their arsenal and timed it perfectly. Brady handed off to White, who dropped it to a sweeping Amendola, who dropped a near-dime off the fingertips of Brady, who showed why his combine speed is still a punch line. A more athletic quarterback probably would have found the end zone. Andy Lyons/Getty Images Sweet payback for LeGarrette Blount, whose 11th career postseason touchdown came against the team he helped win Super Bowl LI. The Eagles capped a 65-yard drive with a big Jason Kelce block to the left, setting up Blount for a cut-and-go score, relatively untouched.Joe Amon for ESPN Here's your turning point: The Eagles got the the matchup they wanted -- Jeffery down the sideline for a jump ball in one-on-one coverage. Jeffery had the ball corralled with one hand, but the second hand knocked it away. As usual, the Patriots were in the right spot at the right time, as safety Duron Harmon was waiting for the easy pick. A surprise blemish in a dominant first half for Philly. The Patriots entered the game with a 16-0 postseason record under Bill Belichick when winning the turnover battle.Tim Rasmussen/ESPN Classic Patriots to go 90 yards in a hurry-up offense late in the first half to bridge the gap. White loves Super Bowls. His 21-yard rushing score over the left guard was his fourth touchdown in the biggest game, which is third all time behind Jerry Rice (eight) and Emmitt Smith (five). He broke at least two tackles on his way to the end zone.Tim Rasmussen/ESPN Doug Pederson just trolled the Patriots on his way to Super Bowl folklore. The Eagles' fourth-and-Foles conversions will be remembered for a long time. Field goals get you beat against New England, and Pederson knew it. So he drew up his best play on fourth down that left Patriots coordinator Matt Patricia barking into his headset. The Eagles showed motion before the snap, with Corey Clement taking a direct snap and flipping it to Trey Burton, who threw to the best quarterback receiver in the game, Nick Foles.AP Photo/Jeff Roberson When Rob Gronkowski wants to have his way with a defense, it's almost too easy. Gronk tore up the Eagles' secondary with four catches on five targets for 68 yards on the opening second-half drive, spinning cornerback Ronald Darby with an inside-out move on the 5-yard score. The Eagles got their hands on Gronk early in the game, but Gronk starts to shake free when big games are on the line.ESPN (3), Getty (3), AP Photo (2), EPA This Super Bowl is so good that even the catch rule can't muddle it. Clement's 22-yard score in the back of the end zone was upheld because Clement controlled the ball when his left foot first touched the turf. The play also accentuated Foles' ridiculous stretch. Foles was 22-of-28 with three touchdowns on third-down passing in this year's playoffs. The touch he put on the Clement score signaled he was ready for a shootout with Brady.AP Photo (3), ESPN, EPA Brady and the Patriots began imposing their will in the second half. New England opened with back-to-back drives of 75 yards. Brady's 26-yard score to Chris Hogan showcased the command -- the running back drew safety Malcolm Jenkins, leaving Hogan in one-on-one coverage for a nifty in-and-out move. Brady went 10 of his first 15 for 208 yards and a touchdown using play-action, the most such yards in Super Bowl history.Matt Becker/ESPN When Brady doesn't get sacked and pressure in the pocket fades, this is what happens: 12-of-15 passing for 181 yards and three touchdowns on the first three drives of the second half. The Eagles have one of the league's best defensive lines but started to show cracks late in the game. The Eagles insisted on playing a cornerback on Gronkowski, and he continued to make them pay with matching high-difficulty touchdown catches.Joe Amon for ESPN Gamblers gamble. Pederson played situational football with the fourth-down call, knowing a turnover would give the ball to the Patriots on a short field. That was a better move than punting it and letting the Patriots drive the length of the field. But the Eagles had moved the ball all game, so tight end Zach Ertz beat his man in the middle of the field.Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports There's too much time! The Eagles left 2:21 on the clock, which is a casual lunch hour for Brady. But the Eagles stayed aggressive all night, with Ertz winning on another slant route on third down. In a game with nearly 1,200 yards of offense, scoring quickly is a prerequisite. Ertz took three full steps before diving across the pylon and the ball coming loose upon hitting the ground. The league had to review that unquestionable play anyway.Tim Rasmussen/ESPN The Eagles' vaunted defensive line was denied for 58 minutes. Not 60. It was too good all year not to affect Brady eventually. Graham found an angle and burst through the middle with teammate Chris Long chasing off the edge. Seconds later, Brady was on his backside staring at the video board to watch Derek Barnett recover his fumble. Brady has 54 career fourth-quarter comebacks and looked poised for a 55th until the Eagles' defense finally rose up. And Graham was proudly beating his chest from the sideline, flanked by fiery teammates.USA TODAY (4), ESPN (2), AP Photo (2), Getty Even as seconds burned off the clock and the Patriots feebly tried to cross midfield, the threat of a brilliant Hail Mary lingered. Gronkowski wedged his 270-pound frame between about four Eagles defenders in the end zone. Brady left the pocket and launched before taking one last hit. The ball slipped through bodies on the way to the ground. And the Eagles could finally exhale when the ball bounced on the blue-painted turf.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 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