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Super Bowl: New England Patriots to face Philadelphia Eagles in Minneapolis

Last updated on .From the section American footballcomments168

Super Bowl 52
Date: Sunday, 4 February Time: 23:30 GMT
Venue: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, online and the BBC Sport app plus follow live radio and text commentary.

Tom Brady threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as champions the New England Patriots reached the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons.

The Patriots overcame the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 to book a showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Quarterback Nick Foles threw three touchdowns as the Eagles thrashed the Minnesota Vikings 38-7.

The Patriots will equal Pittsburgh's record of six Super Bowl triumphs if they win on 4 February in Minneapolis.

"It's pretty crazy," said five-time Super Bowl winner Brady, who had been struggling with a hand injury in the build-up to the match.

"It's pretty amazing to be on a team that wins these kind of games. It's so great."

Super Bowl 52 will be a rematch of the 39th staging of the annual finale to the NFL season, when quarterback Brady threw two touchdown passes and the Patriots won 24-21 for their third title in four seasons.

They could complete the same run of success in two weeks when they play in a record 10th Super Bowl.

The Eagles, whose other Super Bowl appearance in 1981 also ended in defeat, last won an NFL title in 1960 before the Super Bowl era began.

Brady inspires 'amazing' fightback

Tom Brady has won five Super Bowls
Brady secured his place in an eighth Super Bowl

Brady, who needed stitches for an injury to his right hand suffered in practice on Wednesday, completed 26 of 38 passes for 290 yards, 138 of them in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots clinched the AFC Championship.

"We said whatever it takes," said the 40-year-old. "That was a great second half. I'm just so proud of our team. Amazing."

The Patriots trailed by 10 points in the final quarter but Brady's touchdown pass to Danny Amendola reduced the deficit to 20-17.

Amendola then pulled off an acrobatic catch to secure the decisive touchdown.

"We've got a lot of guys that fight and never give up, that know how to play situational football," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I'm really proud of these guys."

Under-pressure Foles rises to challenge

Foles, who took over as Philadelphia's quarterback last month after an injury to Carson Wentz, completed 26 of 33 passes for a total of 352 yards as the Eagles scored 38 unanswered points.

"This moment, it's unbelievable. It's humbling," he said.

"The team was amazing. I'm a little speechless. It's amazing soaking this all in. We all believe in each other. Everyone was against us. We came in here and came out with an amazing victory."

Foles proved he can deliver in big games after some critics wrote off the Eagles's chances of winning the NFC title following Wentz's injury.

"I'm so happy for Nick," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "For everything he has been through and battled he has stayed true and stayed the course. We all believed in him."

Case Keenum's 25-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph opened the scoring for Minnesota, but Patrick Robinson returned an intercepted Keenum pass 50 yards for a touchdown to level the scores.

Former Patriot rusher LeGarrette Blount ran 11 yards for an Eagles touchdown and Foles supplied two touchdown passes to Alshon Jeffery and one for Torrey Smith.

The Vikings would have been the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.

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168 comments

  • Comment posted by Michael Lewis, at 07:03 22 Jan 2018

    Airbag, you're a moron. The popularity of the NFL is increasing in the UK and there is a demand for this kind of thing. You may find it hard to believe, but not everybody is like you

  • Comment posted by Wodjee, at 07:01 22 Jan 2018

    Looking forward to the Superbowl, but why on earth do the BBC insist on spoiling their own highlights show every year by revealing the winners in the headline? Just write something neutral like "Superbowl teams decided" - then if we wanted to know, we could look! Most people don't care, and of those that do, I think many would have recorded it or would be waiting for the highlights. Dumb.

  • Comment posted by DDN88, at 08:31 22 Jan 2018

    I used to play football, but got sick of other players going after my ankles, or recreating what they saw on TV and diving. For the last 5 years I've been playing this American Football in the UK and I absolutely love it. It's perennially disappointing when people dismiss it without trying to learn some of the rules. You don't have to love it, but the dismissive ignorance is pretty pathetic

  • Comment posted by jamesev, at 07:12 22 Jan 2018

    Posted by tobyerto on

    Why is this on the front page? I have no interest in this pathetic Mickey Mouse “sport”. Keep it where it belongs , tucked away far from view.

    =====
    Do you think the BBC is there just to pander to your interests.

  • Comment posted by PJH, at 06:26 22 Jan 2018

    Delighted to see a British player in the Super Bowl. Well done Jay Ajayi.

  • Comment posted by DTBLUE, at 08:25 22 Jan 2018

    In response to #27......they are not nancies and it is not health and safety. Those NFL players withstand tackles and blocks that have significantly greater power than in rugby. Yes they wear padding, but don't forget the 6' 6" 18 stone linebacker who can run 40 yards in 4.8 seconds and piles into you at full speed is also wearing padding, hence an even greater hit. Watch the game..it's great

  • Comment posted by Bean on the run, at 07:20 22 Jan 2018

    Insert negative comment here, bloody hell most people on here are so depressing you wonder how they function

  • Comment posted by LekuoM, at 07:05 22 Jan 2018

    @4 give it a try, what have you got to lose? Be aware though, you might have to do a bit of thinking. You ok with that?

  • Comment posted by Yabba, at 07:01 22 Jan 2018

    @Airbag - good to see you being true to your tag.

  • Comment posted by chosty, at 09:04 22 Jan 2018

    It's great to see sports that aren't football (soccer) getting some proper exposure on the bbc. This years American Football coverage has been great

  • Comment posted by Kerplunk, at 07:23 22 Jan 2018

    @tobyerto

    You sir are a fool. The BBC does not have to align with your beliefs and interests.

    I hope you're actually a troll and that your statements don't reflect your true views - if they do, that's pretty pathetic.

  • Comment posted by LekuoM, at 08:20 22 Jan 2018

    There is a distinct “What’s this!? We’ll have no foreign sport here! This is a local country for local people!” vibe in this thread.

  • Comment posted by Wobbly Orange, at 08:04 22 Jan 2018

    In truth I think the game goes on way too long. However, I was captivated by the Patriots Jags game last night and once you get into the game rules tactics etc it's fascinating a bit like a violent chess game. Loved the lateral passes late on in 4th and players give it everything. Its just Americana at its best. Enjoy it for what it is. Think I will watch the final.

  • Comment posted by Ook the Librarian, at 06:52 22 Jan 2018

    hope they remembered to pump the ball up ....

  • Comment posted by Rich G, at 09:15 22 Jan 2018

    As a former rugby player i always thought these guys were cowardly for wearing so much padding. However, having watched a lot of it this year thanks to Sky sports mix red zone and the Americas game series i have changed my mind. Some of the tackling and blocking is brutal and would not be allowed in rugby. Thoroughly enjoyed it so far, looking forward to the Super Bowl.

  • Comment posted by RedAndYellowBarmy, at 10:23 22 Jan 2018

    Eagles play the Falcons and everyone says "Eagles Cant Win Without Wentz"

    Eagles beat the Falcons

    Eagles play the Vikings and everyone says "Eagles Cant Win Without Wentz"

    Eagles promptly thrash the Vikings

    Eagles play the Patriots and everyone says "Eagles Can't Win Without Wentz"?

    Please keep underestimating this Eagles team. We thrive on it!

  • Comment posted by U16655229, at 09:18 22 Jan 2018

    56. How come there is suddenly so much coverage of American Footall, particularly on the likes of Sky and Talksport. There must be some agenda behind this, as I can't believe interest in this boreathon has suddeny increased to the level it is now being shown and reported on.

    Erm, Sky have been covering the NFL for 23 years.

    HTH.

  • Comment posted by Yabba, at 07:22 22 Jan 2018

    @tobyerto - can you explain how this is being forced on you?

  • Comment posted by Newtons apple, at 07:35 22 Jan 2018

    #7 I have no interest at all in what we call football, never have, never will and was lucky enough to discover rugby at school. What I don't do however, is go on to the soccer pages and declare what a boring, childish, Mickey Mouse game it is (Oh 0-0, what a great 'result').

    Feel bad for the Jags, Patriots get the calls yet again. At least the Vikings lost. Patriots for the title.

  • Comment posted by DJ25, at 06:40 22 Jan 2018

    This will be the year of the underdog! #FlyEaglesFly

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