Big second half propels Eagles over Patriots in Super Bowl 52
Feb 4, 2018, 8:19 PM | Updated: 10:34 pm
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) dives into the end zone over New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) for a touchdown, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Philadelphia Eagles captured their first-ever Super Bowl victory, taking down the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl 52 on Sunday.
“If there’s a word (it’s) called everything,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. “That’s what it means to Eagles fans everywhere. And for Eagles fans everywhere, this is for them.”
It was a high-octane affair as the two teams set a new Super Bowl record for most combined total yards and passing yards — with still a full fourth quarter to play. They finished the evening with 1,151 total yards and 874 passing yards between the two.
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles became the first quarterback to throw for and catch a touchdown in Super Bowl history.
After connecting with wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey to take an early 9-3 first-quarter lead, Foles took a crack at receiving in the second, catching a one-yard pass from tight end Trey Burton. It was his first reception of his career.
Foles finished the night with 373 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-43 passing. He had one interception.
Patriots’ Tom Brady threw for 505 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-47 passing on his way to becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 10,000 playoff passing yards when he found tight end Rob Gronkowski for a five-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
But it was Foles who had the last laugh as he connected with tight end Zach Ertz for the 11-yard go-ahead touchdown with 2:21 to go.
“If they would have overturned that, I don’t know what would have happened to the city of Philadelphia,” Ertz said of the game-winning play. “But I’m so glad they didn’t overturn it.”
For his efforts, Foles was named Super Bowl 52 MVP.
“I felt calm. I mean, we have such a great group of guys, such a great coaching staff,” Foles said. “We felt confident coming in, and we just went out there and played football.”
Associated Press contributed to this report
