Super Bowl predictions are great. The explanations behind them are better. Five coaches who faced the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles a total of eight times this season did not disappoint when I asked them to preview Super Bowl LII.
All five liked the underdog Eagles' chances. That doesn't mean they necessarily picked against Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
Here, in their own words, are what they see as the keys to the game, along with a pick on the final result from each:
1. Defensive coach: Brady is not Keenum
These are a stressful 13 days for [Eagles defensive coordinator] Jimmy Schwartz because of the way New England attacks off coverage vs. how Minnesota attacked off coverage. Does Schwartz give the big cushions on the outside the way he did against Vikings QB Case Keenum? Because if he does, Tom Brady is going to be much more aggressive and dynamic in attacking. New England will take the risks that Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur were reluctant to take with a lesser quarterback.
Minnesota typically throws easier inside routes against off coverage. Keenum was not going to call the run play and then wink at [Stefon] Diggs out there and say, "Oh, they are playing off, let's let nine other guys play run while me and you will throw it out there." With Minnesota, they commit a ton of resources -- eight-man protections, play-action and so forth -- so that when Keenum hangs the ball, the guy is extra-open. Brady will make the aggressive throws with tighter cushions and that ball will be whistling.
