Official Super Bowl LII Game Day Thread

[Guiness]

Does anyone have thoughts on why both defenses uterly collapsed? NE got one stop all game with the interception, and the Eagles defense only fared marginally better, with 2 stops if you don't count the last drive.

[ThunderDan]

Does anyone have thoughts on why both defenses uterly collapsed? NE got one stop all game with the interception, and the Eagles defense only fared marginally better, with 2 stops if you don't count the last drive.

NE got 2 stops. The INT and forced a punt on a 3 and out.

[Carolina_Packer]

Does anyone have thoughts on why both defenses uterly collapsed? NE got one stop all game with the interception, and the Eagles defense only fared marginally better, with 2 stops if you don't count the last drive.

They brought Dom Capers in the consult with Matt Patricia? Just a guess.

[gbgary]

terrific game. i was SO hoping the hail mary would fail. lol

the phi didn't take their foot off the gas the whole game and i think that 4th down call with 5 mins left was the key.

[Teamcheez1]

terrific game. i was SO hoping the hail mary would fail. lol

the phi didn't take their foot off the gas the whole game and i think that 4th down call with 5 mins left was the key.

Entertaining yes, good football, no. Worst defense I have ever seen in a Superbowl.

[pbmax]

Even the great defensive wizard Marty Schottenheimer could only stop Dan Marino in the playoffs for a half before Marino, Shula and whoever figured out the TE was going to be wide open. 2 weeks gives the defense enough time to innovate that much, but it eventually reveals itself.

There were no dominating defensive physical performances to help make it up. Eagles had speed to the edge, Patriots clogged up running lanes pretty well except for one big Blount run. RPO hurt the Patriots during the season and it hurt them last night. Eagles had a limited secondary and Brady torched it.

[call_me_ishmael]

At the end of the day, the same thing that doomed the Patriots was the same thing that doomed the Packers. They didn't have a good pass rush. In the case of the Pats, they traded it all away the past few years.

[RashanGary]

Foles had a bunch of amazing touch mid/deep throws. And his guys somehow caught them. He must throw a really nice, catchable ball. NE didn’t get out coached. They got out played. Congrats to eagles!

Brady has to get old at some point, but he looked fine last night. Damn.

[pbmax]

Even the great defensive wizard Marty Schottenheimer could only stop Dan Marino in the playoffs for a half before Marino, Shula and whoever figured out the TE was going to be wide open. 2 weeks gives the defense enough time to innovate that much, but it eventually reveals itself.

There were no dominating defensive physical performances to help make it up. Eagles had speed to the edge, Patriots clogged up running lanes pretty well except for one big Blount run. RPO hurt the Patriots during the season and it hurt them last night. Eagles had a limited secondary and Brady torched it.

Maybe one came close:

ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Tom Brady was 0-of-5 with a sack-fumble when Brandon Graham got pressure Sunday. When any other Eagle pressured Brady he was 6-of-10 for 172 yards and a scramble for 6 yards.

[mraynrand]

Maybe one came close:

ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Tom Brady was 0-of-5 with a sack-fumble when Brandon Graham got pressure Sunday. When any other Eagle pressured Brady he was 6-of-10 for 172 yards and a scramble for 6 yards.

This seems like the stat a guy like Capers would cling to if he gave up 613 yards. Well, that and the final score.

[Fritz]

This seems like the stat a guy like Capers would cling to if he gave up 613 yards. Well, that and the final score.

Clearly I was not the only Packer fan watching that last night and thinking "Gee, this is like watching a Packers defense," whether it was the Philly defense or the NE defense on the field.

The thing that stood out most was how much time each QB had to throw. Often the running backs made their own creases or bulled forward (not to say there weren't running lanes), but the amount of time Brady and Foles had to pick out their receivers - holy smokes, it was like watching a Packers' (lack of) pass rush!

Kind of reminded me of that Arizona playoff game a few years ago, when only one team made one big defensive play, and that was the difference in the game.

[Guiness]

Clearly I was not the only Packer fan watching that last night and thinking "Gee, this is like watching a Packers defense," whether it was the Philly defense or the NE defense on the field.

The thing that stood out most was how much time each QB had to throw. Often the running backs made their own creases or bulled forward (not to say there weren't running lanes), but the amount of time Brady and Foles had to pick out their receivers - holy smokes, it was like watching a Packers' (lack of) pass rush!

Kind of reminded me of that Arizona playoff game a few years ago, when only one team made one big defensive play, and that was the difference in the game.

Was the big play a helmet to helmet hit, and the refs kept their flags in their pockets?

I know it was 2 seasons ago, but how much difference would Chandler Jones have made out there last night?

[smuggler]

Strictly speaking, helmet to helmet isn't prohibited in the open field, just the crown of the helmet. But they never call it either way. Biggest play of the game was the interception on the bobble by Alshon Jeffrey. It let New England stay in the game for basically the entire rest of the way, when otherwise Philly would have ran away with it. At least a 10 point swing and could have been a 14 pointer.

[pbmax]

I'm betting Stubby would have had Randall play only on ST too.

Speaking of the lesser of two evils, who do you start when two outside CBs have shortcomings that the opposition will try to take advantage of?

Doug Farrar says Bill probably did not like either of his choices at CB. Links to a report that Butler had some practice reps taken from him starting with the playoff bye week. Both choices (Butler or Rowe) presented problems on the outside and neither is a true natural fit at slot.

Let this serve also as a reminder why FAs from other teams are often terrible choices; no one knows their shortcomings like their original team. Everyone remembers Larry Brown, right? The headline for this piece oversells the idea that there was a more correct choice. The piece details why Belichick was worried about both.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2757835-benching-malcolm-butler-was-bill-belichicks-biggest-super-bowl-mistake?share=twitter

[woodbuck27]

Strictly speaking, helmet to helmet isn't prohibited in the open field, just the crown of the helmet. But they never call it either way. Biggest play of the game was the interception on the bobble by Alshon Jeffrey. It let New England stay in the game for basically the entire rest of the way, when otherwise Philly would have ran away with it. At least a 10 point swing and could have been a 14 pointer.

Yes. That was hugh.

It's 'a fact of life and football and DEFENSE', how one significant play changes things dramatically.

How many times do we as fans know it's necessary for any Teams 'D' to make the big Stop or get the Big Turnover !