After two weeks of hype, Super Bowl LII is here.
The Patriots will take on the Eagles Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in a battle of the two No. 1 seeds. New England is going for its second straight title and three in the last four years, while Philadelphia hasn't ever won a Super Bowl in the modern era.
The Eagles aren't the same team as they were earlier in the year, as they lost starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a torn ACL in December and have dealt with other significant injuries as well.
New England may not be the most talented Patriots team to ever reach the Super Bowl, but the one constant is Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, who continue to put the Patriots above the rest of the NFL.
Patriots vs. EaglesSunday, Feb. 4, 20186:30 p.m., NBCPatriots -4.5, over/under 48.5
3 keys to the game
Protecting Tom Brady
If the Patriots lose, it will likely be because the Eagles were able to frustrate Brady. Whether it's sacking him a bunch or forcing a turnover or two, that is what it will take for the Eagles to come away with a win. Philadelphia has one of the best defensive lines in the league and they rotate eight or nine players in, so it won't be a case of wearing them down as the game goes on. New England's offensive line will need to come to play.
Feed Rob Gronkowski
Gronkowski is fully healthy for the game, as he was removed from the injury report Friday and should have a big game. The Eagles finished 20th in the league this season covering tight ends, and the Patriots should look to take full advantage. Travis Kelce had a monster game in Week 2 and Washington's tight ends did towards the end of the season, so big games can be had against this defense. Without Julian Edelman to rely on, Gronkowski will in all likelihood by Brady's top target.
Defending the RPO
There's a reason why you can't listen to anyone discuss the game and not hear the phrase RPO come up. The run-pass option is a major part of the Eagles offense and the Patriots will need to defend it. This will be on the Patriots' edge rushers and linebackers, but with two weeks to prepare, they should have a good idea of what it will take.
Fun facts
1. The Eagles are 11-0 this season when rushing for more than 107 yards, but 0-3 when they don't.
2. Brady led the NFL with 4,577 passing yards in the regular season. No player has ever won a Super Bowl when doing so (0-5).
3. The Patriots are 15-0 in the playoffs against teams they didn't play during the regular season since 2001.
4. According to Pro Football Focus, the Eagles ran the most RPOs in the NFL this season (181), while the Patriots defended the fewest (39).
5. When scoring more than 21 points in the playoffs, the Patriots are 22-1 in the Belichick era.
Prediction
Patriots 24, Eagles 17
Don't be surprised if the game is close for most of the first half and the Patriots get off to a slow start because that is typically what happens in these games, but experience will win out. Belichick will certainly out-smart Doug Pederson on a play or two and could be the difference of the game. Dark-horse for MVP: Danny Amendola.
