For the first time in their history, the Philadelphia Eagles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after pulling off the 41-33 upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota Sunday night.
And they did so with a backup quarterback at the helm of their offense as Nick Foles was thrust into the starting lineup when Carson Wentz suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on December 10.
Foles earned MVP honors in Super Bowl LII after completing 28 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns against one interception.
Here is a look at five plays that shaped the Eagles’ win over the Patriots.
FIRST TOUCHDOWN
Foles led a methodical march down the field on the first drive of Super Bowl LII, and it ended in a field goal, but the opposite proved to be true on Philadelphia’s second possession.
After the Patriots drew even with a Stephen Gostkowski field goal, Foles and the Eagles needed just three plays to go back in front, this time with a touchdown.
Alshon Jeffery’s 34-yard touchdown catch gave the Eagles a 9-3 lead with 2:34 left in the first quarter.
On first-and-10 from New England’s 34-yard line, Foles dropped back and out to his right, and while absorbing a big hit from an oncoming Patriots rusher, threw toward the back line of the end zone for Jeffery.
Jeffery won the jump ball, corralled the catch and held on through a crash to the ground for the game’s first touchdown.
RESPONSE SCORE
The Eagles answered the Patriots’ opening touchdown of the second half with a scoring pass of their own as Foles threw a touchdown to running back Corey Clement on their first possession of the third quarter.
Foles’ second passing touchdown of the game gave the Eagles a 29-19 lead with 7:18 to play in the third quarter.
Lined up to the left of Foles prior to the snap of the ball, Clement ran a wheel route while getting inside position against one defensive back and sprinted down the numbers to get behind a second defender before hauling in the throw in the back of the end zone.
Although it appeared Clement did not have full control of the ball as he slid into the camera men and women along the end line, the original call on the field was upheld after a replay review.
CLEMENT DELIVERS IN BIG WAY…AGAIN
On a third-and-three from Philadelphia’s 37-yard line early in a scoring drive, Clement got a good release off the line of scrimmage and caught a short pass from Foles on the right side of the field, which floated beyond the coverage of a Patriots defender.
After securing the catch along the sideline, Clement motored down the field for a 55-yard gain.
Clement finished Super Bowl LII with 100 yards and one touchdown on four receptions.
GAMBLING MAN
Eagles coach Doug Pederson is not afraid to take a gamble with his players, and that paid off with a fourth-down touchdown on a trick play with 34 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
After being stopped short of the goal line on three consecutive plays, the Eagles ran a trick play as Foles walked out of the backfield and lined up as a tight end on the right side while Clement took the direct snap from Cleveland Heights native Jason Kelce.
While running left, Clement pitched the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who aired out a throw to Foles. After lining up as the tight end, Foles ran an unguarded out route toward the right sideline and hauled in the touchdown catch, which gave the Eagles a 22-12 advantage.
GAME-WINNER
On one of the game’s deciding plays, the Eagles faced a third-and-seven from New England’s 11-yard line.
Foles took the shotgun snap and fired a pass to tight end Zach Ertz on the left side of the field. Ertz had separation from coverage and dove for the goal line with the ball. Although the ball came loose after hitting the ground, Ertz regained possession as he rolled from his side to his back.
A replay review upheld the touchdown call.
