New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles to Face Off At 2018 Super Bowl

Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games -- one a comeback, the other a blowout -- gave us the lineup for the Super Bowl that will pit the New England Patriots against the Philadelphia Eagles.



Quarterback Tom Brady, with 12 stitches in his hand, led the Patriots in a 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to put them in the Super Bowl for a record 10th time.



Philadelphia didn’t need a comeback, the Eagles dominated the Minnesota Vikings after the Vikings' touchdown on the opening drive, winning the NFC championship 38-7.



Super Bowl LII (52), with all its pageantry, commercials and parties, is set for Feb. 4

Here’s how to watch Super Bowl LII:

 When: Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018

 Who: The New England Patriots vs. the Philadelphia Eagles

 Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

 National anthem: Pink will sing the national anthem

 Halftime entertainment: Justin Timberlake will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show

 What time: 6:30 p.m. ET 

 What channel: NBC will broadcast the game 

 Odds: The Patriots are favored by five points, according to OddsShark.</s>Thirteen years after squaring off in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida, the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will take to the field for Super Bowl LII on Sunday, February 4.

The Patriots came from behind to knock off the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 in the AFC Championship on Sunday, while the Eagles surprisingly blew out the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship.

New England comes into the championship tilt in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the established dynasty, while Philadelphia has reached unexpected success in Doug Pederson's second year as head coach with backup quarterback Nick Foles at the helm.

Quarterback Tom Brady will be looking to lead the Patriots to their sixth championship, while the Eagles, who have embraced the role of underdogs, are in search of their first NFL title since 1960.

The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the eighth time since the turn of the century. Quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick have been a part of the team for each of those eight trips. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, that total is the most by any quarterback and head coach in NFL history.

The defending NFL champion struggled with the Jaguars defense for three quarters in the AFC Championship before they used a comeback led by Brady and wide receiver Danny Amendola to win 24-20.

Brady's fourth-quarter comeback was his eighth in the postseason, which is a playoff record in the Super Bowl era, per the NFL's official Twitter account.

Brady, who has led the Patriots to five Super Bowl titles, threw the game-winning score to Amendola in the back of the end zone with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter.

Although Brady will receive praise for his play in the fourth quarter, the player who made the biggest play on Sunday was defensive back Stephon Gilmore, who swatted away a fourth-down pass intended for Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook from quarterback Blake Bortles.

Sunday Night Football's official Twitter account provided us with a screenshot of the moment Gilmore tipped the ball away from Westbrook.

The Patriots have faced eight different opponents in the Super Bowl in franchise history, with the New York Giants and the Eagles being the only teams they've squared off against twice.

New England is 1-2 in Super Bowls against NFC East teams, with both of the defeats coming at the hands of the New York Giants.

The Eagles are more used to experiencing heartbreak in the postseason than success like the Patriots have achieved.

Philadelphia has won NFL Championships before, with the most recent victory coming in 1960, but it's never come out on top in the two Super Bowls its played in.

Foles led the Eagles into their first Super Bowl since 2004 with an incredible performance in the pocket that was highlighted by a deep touchdown pass to Torrey Smith in the third quarter that helped extend the advantage to 24 points. The NFL's official Twitter account gave us a look at the score.

The backup signal-caller hooked up with seven different wide receivers, with Alshon Jeffrey being Foles' top target, as he caught five balls for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles defense also made a massive impact on the NFC Championship, as it forced three crucial turnovers.

Defensive back Patrick Robinson started the scoring for the Eagles with a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown that started on the left side of the field and ended in the right side of the end zone. The NFL gave us a glimpse of the return that ignited the home team at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

A forced fumble by defensive end Derek Barnett that was recovered by fellow lineman Chris Long set up Philly's third touchdown before the end of the first half.

On February 4, the Eagles will try to reverse their poor Super Bowl history that features a defeat to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV and the heartbreaking 24-21 loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.

The Eagles will approach Super Bowl LII as underdogs once again like they did in their first two playoff contests. Philadelphia has been cast in that role because of the absence of starting quarterback Carson Wentz, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL against the Los Angeles Rams on December 10.</s>PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles will play in their first Super Bowl in 13 years after defeating the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game.

The Eagles will play the defending champion New England Patriots, who earlier defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship.

The last time the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl was in 2005. Coincidentally, it was against New England. The Patriots won that game 24-21.

The #Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl, and we couldn't have done it without the best fans in the NFL. Send us your photos/videos with your reaction to the NFC Champs!#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/TEPFFouMJv</s>The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots will meet in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis, Minn. They won the NFC and AFC Championships, respectively, on Sunday.

New England overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-10. The Eagles routed the Minnesota Vikings, 38-7.</s>The defending NFL Champion New England Patriots will face the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Bowl on Feb. 4 in Minnesota — setting the teams up for a rematch of their 2005 league championship contest and giving Philadelphia a chance to avenge the sting of that loss.

New England quarterback Tom Brady rallied his team in the final minutes for a comeback victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the American Football Conference championship. Brady threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola with just 2:48 left on the clock, putting the Patriots at 24-20.

The Associated Press notes: "Brady, who was questionable for the game with a right hand injury, showed no ill effects and completed 26 of 38 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns, including the big one on the Pats' five-play, 30-yard drive in the final minutes."

Later, the Eagles overcame the Minnesota Vikings as Philadelphia's quarterback Nick Foles tossed three touchdown passes, chalking up an unassailable 38-7 lead against the Vikings for the National Football Conference title.

"The Vikings looked to tie the game — or at least kick a field goal — late in the first half, but [quarterback Case] Keenum was sacked by Derek Barnett on third-and-5 from the Philadelphia 16. [Chris] Long recovered the fumble. Foles proved his mettle on the ensuing possession as he tossed a spectacular 53-yard touchdown pass to [Alshon] Jeffery on third-and-10, giving the Eagles a 21-7 lead with 1:09 remaining in the half. Foles was able to move around long enough to be able to deliver the deep pass."



"The Patriots kicked off the season as the consensus Super Bowl favorites with odds around 5-2 and, after a few early hiccups, remained the team to beat at Las Vegas sportsbooks for the majority of the season. The Eagles were 40-1 to win the Super Bowl at the Westgate SuperBook in September. They got off to a 10-2 start but lost quarterback Carson Wentz to a knee injury in early December. Backup quarterback Nick Foles stepped in and led the Eagles to back-to-back wins in the playoffs. Philadelphia was an underdog in each of its playoff games, against the Atlanta Falcons and Sunday against the Vikings."</s>The Super Bowl 2018 odds have been released as the Philadelphia Eagles will challenge the New England Patriots in two weeks. Tom Brady and company will look to add another Lombardi Trophy to the franchise’s collection. Meanwhile, for their third-straight playoff game, the Eagles will find themselves as underdogs. Not only that, they are being labeled the biggest underdogs in the NFL Championship game in eight years.

According to ESPN’s David Purdum, the Super Bowl odds first set by Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas have Brady and the Patriots as favorites by 5.5 points on the spread. Several sportsbooks listed the Eagles as six-point underdogs including Caesars Palace and Station Casinos, while the Wynn went as high as 6.5 points for their betting odds on the big game. The Eagles find themselves the biggest underdogs in the Super Bowl since 2009 when the Arizona Cardinals were seven-point underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.

At the Odds Shark website, an over/under points total of 48 points has been listed as the early consensus. The website also has moneyline prices for both teams with New England ranging from -210 to -240 favorites and Philadelphia as +180 to +200 underdogs. The site predicts that New England will win the game straight up and also cover the spread, while the points total will go under the 48 points.

The Philadelphia Eagles reached the big game by winning two-straight playoff games as the underdogs in terms of the betting odds. While both games were played on their home field, Philadelphia found themselves as 2.5-point underdogs against the Atlanta Falcons and then underdogs by at least 2.5 points against the Minnesota Vikings. The team and its fans relished the role, proving they are far from underdogs. In Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, they obliterated the visiting Vikings, 38-7.

For Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, this marks their 10th appearance in the Super Bowl. New England was able to come back against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game after being down at halftime. Ultimately, Brady was able to guide the team to a 24-20 victory at Gillette Stadium. The NFL’s reigning champions will now look to win their sixth championship in the team’s history.</s>For both the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, the NFC Championship Game all comes down to pressure.

Built off the strength of their defensive lines, the two teams have stepped to the verge of Super Bowl LII by harassing quarterbacks and disrupting run games all season long. And reaching the game's biggest stage likely depends on each offense's ability to find an answer for that pressure.

For Case Keenum, the challenge is a fitting penultimate obstacle in the Vikings' pursuit of the Super Bowl.

In filling in for Sam Bradford, Keenum has thrived in the face of an oncoming rush. By consistently side-stepping defenders and remaining cool in the pocket, he has kept Minnesota's offense efficient (ranking third in third-down conversion rate at 43.5) and relatively mistake-free (third-fewest giveaways with 14).

But last week's slip-up against the New Orleans Saints almost proved lethal. Keenum had just a 5.1 quarterback rating when under pressure, according to Pro Football Focus, and needed a last-second, 61-yard touchdown strike to Stefon Diggs to advance.

Part of Minnesota's problems started up front. The Vikings moved Mike Remmers to left guard and had Rashod Hill fill in at right tackle, and both players frequently struggled at the spots.

The Eagles might only exacerbate those issues. Fletcher Cox and Timmy Jernigan are tough for even the most seasoned offensive linemen to handle, and Philadelphia has a steady rotation of edge players (Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Derek Barnett and Chris Long) to wear out opposing tackles.

The Vikings, however, can follow the blue print set by the New York Giants, who racked up 434 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air in Week 15 by emphasizing slants and crossing routes. Much of this effort might come down to Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen, who is listed as questionable with a lower back injury.

More: For Vikings' skill-position players, underdog mentality continues into NFC Championship Game

Here are three other matchups that will define Sunday's conference championship games:

New England Patriots RBs Dion Lewis, James White and Rex Burkhead vs. Jacksonville Jaguars LBs Telvin Smith and Myles Jack

Rob Gronkowski is the most problematic matchup for Jacksonville, as the four-time all-pro looms as the big-play and red-zone threat capable of breaking down the defense. Yet the Jaguars can't derail Tom Brady without an answer for the consistent barrage of short passes to running backs.

With Burkhead's potential return, the Patriots could have enviable flexibility. Lewis and White combined for 13 catches last week, and New England could frequently deploy empty sets to get its running backs matched up in space. That could force Jacksonville's hand with linebacker Paul Posluszny, who is stout against the run but is a liability in coverage.

Smith and Jack have the speed and range to match up with opposing running backs, but recent lapses should be cause for concern. How the Patriots fare on this front also could be the determining factor in whether the offense is able to negate the Jaguars' formidable pass rush.

More: Jaguars at Patriots AFC Championship Game preview: Three things to know

More: No 'forced marriage' here: Jaguars' Shad Khan rewarded for pairing Tom Coughlin, Doug Marrone

While the Eagles got enough out of Nick Foles in a divisional-round win against the Atlanta Falcons, the stats belie the quarterback's role in the offense's success. Just six of his 30 attempts went 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, with a bulk of the damage in the passing game coming from yards after catch on quick hits. A similar approach likely won't be tenable against the Vikings.

Minnesota's top-ranked defense is adept at taking away the short passing game from opposing quarterbacks, and its secondary is full of sure tacklers. While more deep throws might seem like the answer, Foles is ill-equipped to deal with an imposing front four. The lone answer for Philadelphia might be to establish the run and hope that it opens up sporadic opportunities for big gains through the air.

After seeing his workload ramp up late in the season, Ajayi could be in for his first 20-touch day with the Eagles. Joseph, however, has led the charge for the NFL's second-ranked run defense. Ajayi will need center Jason Kelce to hold his own, but the running back will need to find his way to the second level.

Derided throughout the Jaguars' run to the playoffs, Bortles has largely provided the steady, mistake-free play that has been asked of him. Though Jacksonville will ride its rugged running game and defense once again, keeping pace with New England depends on reliable outings on third down as well as the occasional big play through the air.

Bortles has executed on both those fronts at times this season. What could trip him up, however, is a New England pass rush that has 18 sacks in its last three games, including eight last week against the Tennessee Titans. If the Patriots force the Jaguars into obvious passing downs and take away the play-action element, Bortles will be hard-pressed to make consistent connections with a lackluster receiving corps.

Given his solid protection from the offensive line and noteworthy ability to evade the rush, Bortles has been difficult to corral, with just a 4.4% sack rate on the year (tied for sixth-lowest of any starter). While no New England player had more than 6 sacks this season, a deep and diverse group could keep Jacksonville off-balance. Keep an eye on a potential matchup of top rookies in Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise, who had two sacks last week, and Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson.</s>New England Patriots To Face Philadelphia Eagles At Super Bowl

The defending NFL Champion New England Patriots will face the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Bowl on Feb. 4 in Minnesota — setting the teams up for a rematch of their 2005 league championship contest and giving Philadelphia a chance to avenge the sting of that loss.

New England quarterback Tom Brady rallied his team in the final minutes for a comeback victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the American Football Conference championship. Brady threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola with just 2:48 left on the clock, putting the Patriots at 24-20.

The Associated Press notes: "Brady, who was questionable for the game with a right hand injury, showed no ill effects and completed 26 of 38 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns, including the big one on the Pats' five-play, 30-yard drive in the final minutes."

Later, the Eagles overcame the Minnesota Vikings as Philadelphia's quarterback Nick Foles tossed three touchdown passes, chalking up an unassailable 38-7 lead against the Vikings for the National Football Conference title.

"The Vikings looked to tie the game — or at least kick a field goal — late in the first half, but [quarterback Case] Keenum was sacked by Derek Barnett on third-and-5 from the Philadelphia 16. [Chris] Long recovered the fumble. Foles proved his mettle on the ensuing possession as he tossed a spectacular 53-yard touchdown pass to [Alshon] Jeffery on third-and-10, giving the Eagles a 21-7 lead with 1:09 remaining in the half. Foles was able to move around long enough to be able to deliver the deep pass."

"The Patriots kicked off the season as the consensus Super Bowl favorites with odds around 5-2 and, after a few early hiccups, remained the team to beat at Las Vegas sportsbooks for the majority of the season. The Eagles were 40-1 to win the Super Bowl at the Westgate SuperBook in September. They got off to a 10-2 start but lost quarterback Carson Wentz to a knee injury in early December. Backup quarterback Nick Foles stepped in and led the Eagles to back-to-back wins in the playoffs. Philadelphia was an underdog in each of its playoff games, against the Atlanta Falcons and Sunday against the Vikings."</s>AP

The Eagles were underdogs against the Falcons. They were underdogs against the Vikings. They are sure to be underdogs against the Patriots, too.

Philadelphia has embraced the role.

The Eagles left no doubt who the best team is in the NFC, dominating the Vikings 38-7 on Sunday night. They didn’t even have to wait until time expired for the Gatorade shower, dousing coach Doug Pederson at the two-minute warning.

Philadelphia left Minnesota with no chance for a miracle comeback, with not enough “Seven Heavens” in the Vikings’ playbook for this. After the Vikings took a 7-0 lead, it was all Eagles, all the time.

The Eagles scored 38 consecutive points. They finished with 456 yards as Nick Foles completed 26 of 33 for 352 yards with three touchdowns and a 141.4 passer rating.

Eagles fans taunted the Vikings and honored Foles with a Skol chant of “Foles” during the second half. The backup quarterback has gone 4-1 in relief of Carson Wentz, who went on injured reserve after injuring his knee in Week 14.

Foles now has as many career playoff victories — two — as Tony Romo and Alex Smith — and one more than Jay Cutler and Carson Palmer.

While the understudy became the star Sunday, the entire Eagles team can take the curtain call.

Torrey Smith caught a 41-yard touchdown pass after dropping a pass on the Eagles’ first drive. Alshon Jeffery caught touchdown passes of 53 and 5 yards. Chris Long recovered a fumble and his hit on Case Keenum led to a 50-yard interception return by Patrick Robinson, who got a clearing block by Ronald Darby. LeGarrette Blount had an 11-yard touchdown run. Corey Graham had an interception. Derek Barnett had a sack and a forced fumble. Jay Ajayi had 73 yards on 18 carries.

The Eagles, who were 10 of 14 on third down, had no problem moving the ball and scoring points against the league’s top-rated defense. It was the most points, total yards and passing yards the Vikings have allowed this season.

Keenum and the Vikings offense has seen better days, too. Nothing went right after the first series when Minnesota marched right down the field to take an early lead on Kyle Rudolph‘s 25-yard touchdown catch. That was the sole highlight for the Vikings.

Keenum ended up with three turnovers, two interceptions and a fumble. He went 28-of-48 for 271 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

It marked the sixth consecutive loss in an NFC Championship Game by the Vikings and their fifth in a row on the road. They are 1-5 all time in road NFC title games.

The victorious Eagles are going to their third Super Bowl, trying to win their first against the team that beat them in their last appearance. They lost to the Patriots 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX to end the 2004 season. In Super Bowl XV, Philadelphia lost to the Raiders 27-10 to end the 1980 season.</s>(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky). Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie celebrates with Brandon Graham after the NFL football NFC championship game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 38-7 to advance to Sup...

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa). New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady smiles after winning the AFC championship NFL football game 24-20 over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass.

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson). New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds the AFC championship trophy after an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 24-20.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Oddsmakers like the chances of Tom Brady winning a sixth Super Bowl ring, making the New England Patriots nearly a touchdown favorite to beat the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sports books around Las Vegas opened the Patriots around a 6-point favorite Sunday to win their second straight Super Bowl. They also made New England a big favorite to win the Super Bowl next year in Atlanta.

But the closest thing to a lock in this gambling city is that betting on this Super Bowl will smash the existing record of $138.5 million set just last year.

"Sports betting couldn't be more popular than it is now," said Jay Kornegay of the Westgate Las Vegas sports book. "That combined with the fan base of the Eagles and the strong economy will mean a record handle on this game."

Bookmakers posted their opening lines early in the fourth quarter of the Eagles-Vikings game, with lines ranging between 5 and 6 1/2 points. The over/under in most books for total points scored in the game was 48.

Bettors didn't take long to weigh in themselves, with one gambler taking the 6 points and putting a big bet on the Eagles at the South Point resort before their rout of the Minnesota Vikings was even over.

"Our first bet was $10,000 on the Eagles," said Jimmy Vaccaro, oddsmaker at the South Point.

Bettors jammed into sports books Sunday for the two conference championship games, with millions wagered in person and millions more bet on phone apps. Bookmakers had a good day, with most winning money on both games.

That shouldn't change in the Super Bowl, where bookmakers have turned a profit every time except the 2008 game when the New York Giants upset the previously unbeaten and 12-point favorite Patriots.

At the Westgate, Kornegay said the opening line of the Patriots minus-5.5 points was made knowing there would be money coming in from both the Eagles' rabid fan base and by bettors who simply have a dislike for the dominance of Brady and the Patriots.

"This is the only event where we make a line that depends on public opinion," Kornegay said. "There's so much more money from the public on this game than you would get from the so-called sharks. They come in here and they just don't want to root for the Patriots."

Unlike the games preceding it, a lot of the money on the Super Bowl comes from so-called "prop" bets that often crossover to other sports. Some of the bigger sports books will put up several hundred prop bets later this week that will include the coin flip and other possibilities that having nothing to do with the final score of the game.

"It's much easier to do lots of props with Brady," Vaccaro said. "Either you love him or you hate him. Half the people bet on him to see him win and half bet to see him lose."

One of the more popular prop bets is whether there will be a safety in the game, and Vaccaro said about $15,000 was wagered on either side of that prop even before the second game ended Sunday.

Oddsmakers at the William Hill chain also made the Patriots a 9-2 favorite to win next year's Super Bowl in Atlanta, followed by the Eagles at 17-2.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In American football, the Philadelphia Eagles win the National Football Conference, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 38–7.