Super Bowl Predictions: Some rooting for Philadelphia, but majority picks another New England win
Live into your living room, local bar and/or friend’s house for a party filled with people who will watch only this football game all season, Super Bowl LII (aka Super Bowl 52) will beam into your life Sunday - all day really, but kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. PDT - from the cozy domed confines of Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium with everyone’s favorite or most-hated New England Patriots facing the Philadelphia Eagles.
One is a franchise winless in its previous two Super Bowls and represents a fan base infamous for once booing Santa Claus.
The other is a franchise making its record 10th Super Bowl appearance, known for its coach and quarterback, who are regarded for their all-time greatness and all-time awkward press conferences.
Led by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick - names that are going to be referenced about 27 times in the following predictions - New England will look to become the first franchise to win back-to-back championships since, well, New England. The Patriots have become the standard for winning in the NFL, persevering despite personnel changes, age, homicidal tight ends and alleged controversy and disharmony from within. Looking for their sixth Super Bowl trophy, the Patriots have plenty of talent such as super jock tight end Rob Gronkowski (if he clears concussion protocol), linebacker D’onta Hightower, defensive back Devin McCourty, receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive back Patrick Chung and running back James White (who should have been last season’s Super Bowl MVP). But for many it’s all about Brady and Belichick. And for the Eagles that might be too much.
Buoyed by the sensational sophomore season of quarterback Carson Wentz, the Eagles are in the big dance. But Wentz incurred a season-ending injury and Nick Foles has filled in. Fact is, Foles has put up exceptional numbers, but many still look at him as the biggest reason the Eagles will falter or the punchline of a joke about the great Brady having nothing more to do than defeat the lowliest of Foles. The Eagles are a talented squad, though, bolstered by a defense led by safety Malcolm Jenkins and led offensively in reality by a stellar offensive line with the likes of Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson keying it and tight end Zach Ertz having emerged as one of the best in the game.
So the big game is upon us, perhaps with fewer juicy story lines and less anticipation than prior games.
It is a rematch of the 2004 championship in which Brady and Belichick emerged with a thrilling 24-21 triumph.
So perhaps the biggest question is whether history will repeat itself - not just in the sense of New England beating Philadelphia, but the Patriots simply winning as many have become conditioned to expect. Or will the Eagles make history with their first Super Bowl win, igniting the City of Brotherly Love into a fury of celebratory rage the likes of which probably hasn’t been seen since last week?
Our Times Community Newspapers North sports staff, area football coaches and players offer up their prognostications on who will emerge with Vince Lombardi’s trophy clutched above their smiles.
Sports Staff
Andrew J. Campa: “I don’t remember ever being less excited about a Super Bowl. Brady beat Marcus Mariotta and Blake Bortles to reach the Super Bowl and now needs to topple Nick Foles for another title. I remember when you used to have beat good teams and great QBs to get to the Super Bowl. I miss Peyton Manning. New England 28, Philadelphia 20.”
Grant Gordon: “The Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. It puts butts in seats in front of TVs. Still there seems to be less anticipation for this one than any in a very long time. Part of it is likely that people are sick of New England. Part of it is likely that Philadelphia emerged from an NFC in which all but one team had not been in the playoffs the season prior, so nobody really looked all that impressive. So it goes that I think this Super Bowl will be a blowout as the Patriots are the more-experienced and better-coached team and also seem to be more talented and have more depth. And so Vermont and New Hampshire get to celebrate another championship as the Patriots prevail 48-23.”
Charles Rich: “The Patriots continue to dazzle. While the Eagles are vastly improved, the Patriots have the ultimate No.1 weapon in Tom Brady. New England 27, Philadelphia 23.”
Jeff Tully: “I think the Eagles offense will provide its share of problems for the Patriots. Talent-wise, Philadelphia looks to be the deeper team, though it will likely have to withstand a late surge by Brady and New England. Eagles 26, Patriots 24.”
Sports Staff: New England 3, Philadelphia 1
Football Coaches
Jim Bonds, St. Francis: “As much as they say ‘defense wins championships,’ and I do believe that, I think this game will come down to which QB makes the fewest mistakes. I have to go with Tom Brady and the Patriots to win 34-14!”
Adam Colman, Burbank: “The Pats should win. It’s gotten to the point where they are like the ‘Showtime Lakers’ and they have become the Yankees of football. ... It all starts with Belichick. He is the best coach in football and may be the best coach ever. He just gets that team ready to play year in and year out and he’ll have them ready against the Eagles. Patriots 24, Eagles 21.”
Terrance Jones, Hoover: “I wouldn’t bet against Bill Belichick because he knows how to adjust on the fly. I wouldn’t bet against Tom Brady, either. The Patriots have a lot of smart athletes and they don’t turn the ball over much. New England 35, Philadelphia 21.”
George Maiale, Glendale: “I’m tired of seeing the Patriots winning the Super Bowl. They do tend to make things interesting, so they’ve been through it before and know what to do. It’s another day for them at the office. New England 24, Philadelphia 21.”
Fred Martinez, Bellarmine-Jefferson: “I just think the Patriots are going to win the game. Bill Belichick is just so good at adjusting to what is in front of him and I think he will be able to do that against the Eagles. I look for the Eagles to come out strong in the first half, but Belichick will make the needed adjustments in the second half and they will pull it out. Patriots 24, Eagles 20.”
Mike Reily, Burroughs: “If I went with my heart, it would have to be the Eagles. I would love to see them get it. However, it’s tough to bet against Brady and, if I go with my brain and if I was a betting man, I would have to go with the Patriots. The Patriots just seem like a machine and they have a ton of experience and have a ton of football IQ. Patriots 31, Eagles 24.”
John Rome, Glendale Community College: “Philadelphia’s defense has been pretty good throughout the playoffs, but I’m going with the quarterback and Brady is better. New England 27, Philadelphia 14.”
Jason Sarceda, La Cañada: “It’s going to be hard to stop Brady. Last week, Philadelphia’s D-line was monstrous. If they can pressure Brady, that will be the big factor. I’m hoping for a good Super Bowl and I think it will be a close game. New England 34, Philadelphia 28.”
Paul Schilling, Crescenta Valley: “[Crescenta Valley offensive and defensive coordinators Hudson and Dennis Gossard] are huge Patriot fans, so whenever they are in, I root for them. Also, you have to pick the team with the greatest coach and the greatest player. New England 27, Philadelphia 21.”
Russell White, Flintridge Prep: “Philadelphia is playing some good football right now. However, I just see the New England dynasty continuing and it’s going to be hard to bump the Patriots off because they’ve been there so many times before. New England 31, Philadelphia 10.”
Football Coaches: New England 10, Philadelphia 0
Football Players
Quran Bouldin, Hoover senior All-Area all-purpose player: “It would be nice to see the Eagles win and get revenge from losing to the Patriots the last time they met in the Super Bowl. I know the Patriots will win because they don’t have many faults in their offense. New England 24, Philadelphia 21.”
Brian Erickson, Crescenta Valley senior All-Area linebacker: “I think the Eagles are going to win. They have a solid team this year and haven’t been to the bowl in a long time, so it’s their year to shine. [Final score will be] 38-31 Eagles.”
Nick Davis, Flintridge Prep, senior All-Area all-purpose player: “The Patriots are my pick. They are more experienced and while the Eagles quarterback Foles is a great player, he won’t be able to out-play Brady on offense. New England 24, Philadelphia 14.”
Teddy Gallagher, Glendale Community College freshman All-American Metro Conference linebacker: “The Patriots will out-coach the Eagles and Tom Brady will be Tom Brady. They run away early to win it again. New England 38, Philadelphia 20.”
Eric Helbing, La Cañada senior All-Area all-purpose player: “I’m going to take the Eagles. I want to see [Nick] Foles resurrect his career. Philadelphia 31, New England 28.”
Chris Ibarra, Glendale junior All-Area linebacker: “The Patriots are my favorite team. They made the adjustments in the second half against Jacksonville [in the AFC Championship] and their defensive backs are playing well now. New England 31, Philadelphia 14.”
Ronald Jurok, Bellarmine-Jefferson senior All-Area all-purpose player: “ I think the Eagles are the underdog and I always like to root for the underdog. Eagles 26, Patriots 20.”
Ben Peters, Burroughs senior All-Area running back: “Tom Brady is going to take home his sixth ring and the Patriots are going to win. ... He’s just that good. I’m surprised that the Eagles even made it this far. I don’t look for it to be too close of a game. Patriots 28, Eagles 17.”
Darius Perrantes, St. Francis junior All-Area Player of the Year: “[I’m predicting the] Eagles. I don’t like Tom Brady or the Patriots. I’ll be against them always. I say Eagles, 42-35.”
Matthew Porras, Burbank senior All-Area quarterback: “I’m hoping the Eagles win. The Patriots always win and, like Alabama in college, I just don’t want to see them win again. I think the Eagles have to stop Tom Brady in the fourth quarter to win it. Eagles 24, Patriots 21.”
Players: New England 5, Philadelphia 5
Final Prediction: New England 18, Philadelphia 6
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon