Matchups for the Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots:
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When the Eagles (15-3) have the ball
The Patriots must be wary of a balanced offense that tore apart Minnesota
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England. Forget about Nick Foles (9) being a backup quarterback; his postseason
performances, particularly in the NFC title game, have been strong.
Foles will try to get TE Zach Ertz (86) involved early; he was unstoppable against the Vikings. Indeed, the Eagles have three tight ends they are
comfortable going to, including Brent Celek (87) and Trey Burton (88). That
places an onus on safeties Devin McCourty (32), as reliable as any player at
that position in the league, and Patrick Chung (23).
Philadelphia’s wideouts supposedly were a weakness heading into the season. Not quite. Alshon Jeffery (17) is a clear No. 1 target with excellent hands and
the ability to get open all over the field. That frees up vastly improved Nelson
Agholor (13) and veteran Torrey Smith (82). They will challenge the Patriots’
solid cornerbacks, Malcolm Butler (21) and Stephon Gilmore (24).
New England’s defensive backs will need a bolstered pass rush, something the Patriots manufacture with a variety of players, from Trey Flowers (98) to Geneo
Grissom (96) to Lawrence Guy (93) to rookie Adam Butler (70) to the rejuvenated
LB James Harrison (92). Philly is most staunch at center with Jason Kelce (62)
and right tackle with Lane Johnson (65), both All-Pros.
One thing the Eagles are sure to try to keep New England’s offense on the sideline is getting Jay Ajayi (36), former Patriot LeGarrette Blount (29) and
rookie Corey Clement (30) some open space for runs. New England LB Kyle Van Noy
(53) figures to have a busy day unless Philly falls behind.
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When the Patriots (15-3) have the ball
Tom Brady (12) has won five Super Bowls, four times as game MVP. Never mind that he is 40, he’s playing as if he’s in his prime – hey, he might be – and
will test Philadelphia’s versatile defense from the outset.
Oddly
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no QB who paced the NFL in that category has won the Super Bowl in that season,
going 0-5. Brady couldn’t do it, and the others were Peyton Manning, Rich
Gannon, Kurt Warner and Dan Marino.
It’s essential that the Eagles get in Brady’s face throughout. That means DLs Fletcher Cox (91), the best defensive player in this postseason, Brandon Graham
(55), rookie Derek Barnett (96) and former Patriot Chris Long (56) must apply
pressure. That’s doable but not easy against an offensive line without any
stars, but with plenty of skill. LT Nate Solder (77) and C David Andrews (60)
are the key guys up front.
Philly must be alert not only for all of Brady’s targets – WRs Brandon Cooks (14), Danny Amendola (80), Chris Hogan (15), RBs James White (28) and Dion Lewis
(33) – but for Lewis and White in the running game. Both are shifty and flexible
and have Brady’s trust.
The Eagles’ secondary, often criticized for its inconsistency
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CBs Ronald Darby (41), Jalen Mills (31) and Patrick Robinson (21) haven’t faced
this kind of offense.
Perhaps most critical among all matchups is whether All-Pro TE Rob Gronkowski (87) has recovered from a concussion. His confrontations with veteran S Malcolm
Jenkins (27) could be telling.
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Special Teams
Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski (3) rebounded from a rough 2016 to have a strong season. He made 37 out of 40 field goals in the regular season, going 4
for 4 on kicks of 50 or more yards. He is one of the league’s most clutch
kickers and is third in career postseason points in NFL history.
Lewis is the only player in this game to have returned a kickoff for a touchdown this season. He ranked fourth in the NFL with 24.8 yards per
return.
Amendola is also a threat on punt returns. He averaged 8.6 yards per return during the regular season, including a long of 40 yards, and had a big one
against Jacksonville in the AFC title game.
Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott (4) set a postseason club record with a 53-yard field goal and has longer range than Gostkowski. But he is less reliable on
extra points, having missed four.
P Donnie Jones (8) ranked 17th in net average and Kenjon Barner (38) filled in nicely after Darren Sproles was injured. Barner’s best punt return went for
76 yards.
Coverage units are solid despite losing special-teams captain Chris Maragos.
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Coaching
Philly was in attack mode from the outset against Minnesota, and that’s a good reflection on Doug Pederson and his staff. Pederson knows he can’t back off
against New England, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is known for being
aggressive.
Not much has to be said about a New England staff that is 5-2 in Super Bowls. A twist, not unprecedented but interesting, has both coordinators, Matt Patricia
on defense and Josh McDaniels on offense, bound for head coaching spots
elsewhere. Don’t look for it to have any effect on this game.
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Intangibles
The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl; their previous NFL title was in 1960. They have that extra edge that perennial underdogs – even in home playoff games
as the No. 1 seed – would carry. Their confidence is soaring after they tore
apart the stingiest scoring defense in the league for the conference
championship.
New England probably doesn’t need anything in this category. But the Patriots always seem to find some extr Brian Anderson stepped to the plate in the bottom
of the ninth inning with the game tied, one out and the bases loaded.
The Marlins’ rookie took the situation in stride like a veteran.
Anderson hit a game-ending sacrifice fly to lift the Miami Marlins over the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Wednesday night.
”In a situation like that, the pressure’s not on you
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within myself and get something in the strike zone, something I could
elevate.”
J.T. Realmuto had two hits and scored twice for the Marlins, who have won three straight for the first time since winning four in a row April 28-May
1.
Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run home run and Buster Posey had three hits for the Giants, who entered the series winning eight of 10 but have dropped the
first three games against last-place Miami and eight of the last nine in the
series.
”Yyou can’t take any team lightly,” McCutchen said. ”This is the big leagues and regardless of their record or how many fans are in the stands, you’ve got to
be ready to go.”
Reyes Moronta (2-1) allowed the first two hitters to reach in the bottom of the ninth, prompting manager Bruce Bochy to call on Hunter Strickland.
Pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck hit a hard grounder down the first-base line, but Posey
was able to dive to keep the ball in front of him, preventing the Marlins from
scoring.
However, Strickland got himself into a 3-1 count against Anderson with one out. Anderson connected on a flyball to center field caught by Gorkys Hernandez,
whose throw home was too late to catch Miguel Rojas.
”He didn’t crush it, but he got it deep enough,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
It was the Marlins’ third walk-off win of the season.
San Francisco’s Evan Longoria broke a 3-all tie with a hit in the seventh off Tayron Guerrero. It was Longoria’s team-leading 11th go-ahead RBI of the
season.
The Marlins responded with a two-out RBI double in the eighth by Justin Bour off Sam Dyson, tying the game at 4.
It was the third time in the game the Marlins trailed but bounced back to draw even.
”We’re doing what we’re hoping
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having a hard time holding it.”
Drew Steckenrider (3-1) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth.
Andrew Suarez allowed five hits and two runs in five innings for the Giants, pitching in his hometown in front of a number of friends and family members. He
struck out three and walked two.
”I just didn’t really have a feel for a lot of pitches later in the game,” Suarez said. ”I just think with all of the humidity and sweating so much, the
ball was a little slick. But you have to compete and keep throwing strikes.”
Miami’s Caleb Smith pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs.
He also had two hits at the plate.
”That was pretty fun,” Smith said. ”I’ve been working on it.”
McCutchen’s two-run blast in the first was his seventh of the season.
The Marlins tied the game at 2 on base hits by Cameron Maybin and Lewis Brinson in the fourth.
The teams traded runs in the sixth. Austin Jackson gave the Giants a 3-2 lead before Bour tied it with a base hit.
ROOF OPEN
The retractable roof was open for the 15th time this season, the most in a year since Marlins Park opened in 2012.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: 1B Brandon Belt (appendix) is likely to have a couple rehab starts with the goal of joining the team on the next homestand beginning June 18
instead of playing this weekend in Los Angeles. … RHP Johnny Cueto (left ankle)
will have another bullpen session Friday. … RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder)
will have a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday with a pitch limit of
60-65 pitches.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Dereck Rodriguez (1-1, 5.25 ERA) will start Thursday’s series finale. Rodriguez, the son of former Marlins catcher and Hall of Famer Pudge
Rodriguez, spent a lot of time around the Marlins when his father helped lead
them to a World Series title in 2003.
Marlins: RHP Dan Straily (2-2, 4.08) is 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA in five career starts against the Giants.
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