Super Bowl LII

DateFebruary 4, 2018StadiumU.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MinnesotaMVPNick Foles, quarterbackFavoritePatriots by 5.5[1]RefereeGene Steratore[2]Attendance67,612[3][4]CeremoniesNational anthemPink[5]Coin tossHershel W. Williams, representing Medal of Honor recipients[6]Halftime showJustin Timberlake[7]TV in the United StatesNetworkNBC
Universo (Spanish language)AnnouncersAl Michaels (play-by-play)
Cris Collinsworth (analyst)
Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter)
Edgar López (play-by-play- Universo)
René Giraldo and Rolando Cantú (analysts- Universo)
Verónica Contreras (sidelines- Universo)Nielsen ratings43.1 (national)
56.2 (Philadelphia)
55.9 (Boston)
U.S. viewership: 103.4 million est. avg.[8]Market share68 (national)Cost of 30-second commercial$5 million[9]Radio in the United StatesNetworkWestwood One
ESPN Deportes Radio (Spanish language)AnnouncersKevin Harlan (play-by-play)
Boomer Esiason and Mike Holmgren (analysts)
Ed Werder and Tony Boselli (sideline reporters)
Álvaro Martín (play-by-play- ESPN Deportes Radio)
Raúl Allegre (analyst- ESPN Deportes Radio)
John Sutcliffe (sideline- ESPN Deportes Radio)

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Super Bowl LII was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2017 season. The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles defeated the American Football Conference (AFC) and defending Super Bowl LI champion New England Patriots, 41–33, to win their first Super Bowl[10] and their first NFL title since 1960. The game was played on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[11] This was the second time that a Super Bowl was played in Minneapolis, the northernmost city to ever host the event, after Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome during the 1991 season,[12] and the sixth Super Bowl held in a cold-weather city.[13]

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New England finished the regular season with an AFC-best 13–3 record, then extended their record Super Bowl appearances to ten, their third in four years, and their eighth under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Philadelphia also finished the regular season with an NFC-best 13–3 record but entered the playoffs as underdogs after starting quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury late in the regular season and was replaced by backup quarterback Nick Foles. Still, the Eagles advanced to their third Super Bowl appearance, having previously lost to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV and to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Several records were set during Super Bowl LII, including most yards gained in an NFL game by both teams combined (1,151), the fewest punts from both teams in a Super Bowl (one), and the most points scored by a Super Bowl losing team (33).[14] The game was settled after the Eagles converted a fumble recovery deep within Patriots territory to a field goal with 1:05 remaining to extend their lead to eight points, and Brady’s Hail Mary pass fell incomplete as time expired. Foles completed 28 of 43 pass attempts for 373 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, caught a one-yard touchdown pass, and was named Super Bowl MVP.[15] Foles’ touchdown catch later became known as The Philly Special and joined NFL lore.

The broadcast of the game on NBC had the smallest Super Bowl audience in nine years, with an average of 103.4 million viewers. Average TV viewership for the halftime show, headlined by Justin Timberlake, was 106.6 million American television viewers, 9 percent less than the previous year.[16]

Contents

• 1 Background
  • 1.1 Host-city selection
  • 1.2 Teams
    • 1.2.1 Philadelphia Eagles
    • 1.2.2 New England Patriots
  • 1.3 Playoffs
  • 1.4 Pre-game notes
    • 1.4.1 Operations
    • 1.4.2 Associated events
    • 1.4.3 Marketing
• 2 Broadcasting
  • 2.1 United States
    • 2.1.1 Advertising
    • 2.1.2 Lead-out programs
  • 2.2 International broadcasts
• 3 Entertainment
  • 3.1 Pre-game
  • 3.2 Halftime show
• 4 Game summary
  • 4.1 First half
  • 4.2 Second half
  • 4.3 Game statistics
  • 4.4 Box score
• 5 Final statistics
  • 5.1 Statistical comparison
  • 5.2 Individual statistics
• 6 Starting lineups
• 7 Officials
• 8 References
• 9 External links

Background[edit]

Host-city selection[edit]

The U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Super Bowl LII was held.

On October 8, 2013, the league announced that three venues would vie to host Super Bowl LII:[17][18][19]

• U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minneapolis hosted Super Bowl XXVI in 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which was torn down after the 2013 season and replaced in 2016 by U.S. Bank Stadium.
• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.[20]
• Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city has hosted 10 Super Bowls, including seven at the Superdome, most recently Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.[21][22][23]

On May 20, 2014, the league’s owners picked Minneapolis at their meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.[24][25]

Teams[edit]

The NFC was represented by the number-one playoff seed Philadelphia Eagles, while the AFC was represented by the number-one playoff seed New England Patriots, marking the fourth time in the previous five years that the Super Bowl had featured the top team from each conference.[26]

Philadelphia Eagles[edit] Main article: 2017 Philadelphia Eagles season Nick Foles in 2014.

The Eagles finished the regular season with a record of 13–3, the same as New England, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh, but the various tie-breaking provisions gave them the NFC’s top seed in the 2017–18 NFL playoffs. It was a substantial improvement for the team under second-year head coach Doug Pederson; the Eagles finished the two previous seasons with 7–9 records. In the 2017 season, the team scored 457 points (third in the NFL), while giving up just 295 (fourth) points.[27]

The offense was led by Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Wentz. In just his second season, he recorded a passer rating of 101.9, throwing for 3,296 yards and 33 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions. His top target was Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, who caught 74 passes for 824 yards and eight touchdowns. Other contributors were two receivers acquired from off-season free agency: Alshon Jeffery, who caught 57 passes for 789 yards and nine scores; and Torrey Smith, who had 36 receptions for 430 yards. Meanwhile, third-year receiver Nelson Agholor had the best season of his career, hauling in 62 passes for 768 yards and eight touchdowns, a higher total in each category than in his previous two seasons combined. The Eagles rushing attack also benefited from two recently acquired players, LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi. Blount, an off-season signing who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, gained 776 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Ajayi, picked up by a mid-season trade with the Miami Dolphins, rushed for 873 yards and caught 24 passes for 154 yards combined with the two teams. Philadelphia also had a superb offensive line, led by two Pro Bowl selections: Tackle Lane Johnson and Guard Brandon Brooks.[28]

The Eagles defense allowed the fourth-fewest yards in the league (4,904). Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career, recording 5​1⁄2 sacks and two fumble recoveries, and he had plenty of help around him, such as former Patriots defensive end Chris Long, who had five sacks and forced four fumbles, and defensive end Brandon Graham, who led the team with 9​1⁄2 sacks. Middle linebacker Nigel Bradham led the team in combined tackles with 88. The Eagles secondary featured Pro Bowl safety Malcolm Jenkins, who had 76 combined tackles and two interceptions, along with cornerback Patrick Robinson, who led the team with four interceptions.[29]

Philadelphia had stormed to the top of the NFC by winning 10 of their first 12 games, but suffered a major setback on December 10, when Wentz went down with a season-ending ACL tear and was replaced by journeyman backup quarterback Nick Foles, who was playing for his third team in as many years and his second stint with the Eagles. Still, Foles was able to lead the team to victory in that game, as well as the next two. The Eagles lost a meaningless week 17 matchup with the Cowboys led by third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld. Then in their two playoff games, Foles threw for a combined total of 598 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.[30]

New England Patriots[edit] Main article: 2017 New England Patriots season Tom Brady in 2016.

The Patriots entered the 2017 NFL season as defending Super Bowl champions. For the 16th time in their 18 seasons under 65-year old coach Bill Belichick, they recorded a double-digit win season, finishing the regular season with a record of 13–3, one of four teams (along with Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh) with that record. By virtue of the tie-breaking procedures, they were granted the AFC’s number one overall seed in the 2017–18 NFL playoffs. The previous season’s top wide receiver Julian Edelman went down in the preseason with a season-ending injury. Early season defensive struggles left the team with a 2–2 record after four weeks, and the worst overall defense in the league at that point.[31] The defense came together as a unit, and tighten up over the rest of the season however, with the Patriots going 11–1 after week 4. Their sole loss in the latter part of the season came in Week 14 to the Miami Dolphins, a division rival, though they were without star tight end Rob Gronkowski due to a one-game suspension for an unnecessary roughness call the prior week. The Patriots’ defense was improved by several late-season free-agent signings, including Eric Lee, a defensive end, previously from the Buffalo Bills, whom the Patriots signed in Week 12, and James Harrison, a perennial All-Pro for the Pittsburgh Steelers, whom the Patriots picked up off waivers after Christmas. In just six games for New England, Lee recorded 3​1⁄2 sacks, a safety, and an interception.[32] In his only regular season game with the Patriots, Harrison recorded two sacks.[33]

During the regular season, New England’s offense led the league in yards gained (6,307) and ranked second in points scored (458). The 40-year-old Brady finished his 18th season with a league-leading 4,577 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, earning him his 13th selection to the Pro Bowl and his third league MVP award. One change that helped make up for the loss of Edelman was the acquisition of receiver Brandin Cooks, who caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. Brady was also aided by the healthy return of Gronkowski, who had played just eight games in the previous season, finishing this year with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight scores. Receiver Danny Amendola added 61 receptions for 659 yards, as well as another 240 yards returning punts. With the loss of their previous season’s rushing leader LeGarrette Blount to free agency, Dion Lewis stepped up to take the lead, rushing for 896 yards and six touchdowns despite starting only eight games. He also caught 32 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns and added 570 yards and another touchdown returning kickoffs. Rex Burkhead chipped in 518 all-purpose yards, 30 receptions, and eight touchdowns. In passing situations, the team relied heavily on running back James White, who caught 56 passes for 429 yards and rushed for 171 on the ground. These backs were aided by the blocking of fullback James Develin, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection. On special teams, kicker Stephen Gostkowski ranked second in the NFL with 156 points and fourth in field goals made with 37, while veteran special team ace Matthew Slater earned his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl selection.[34]

The Patriots’ defense ranked only 29th in yards allowed (5,856), but ranked fifth in fewest points, giving up only 296. Defensive end Trey Flowers led the team with 6​1⁄2 sacks while also forcing two fumbles. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy had 73 tackles and 5​1⁄2 sacks. The Patriots also had a superb secondary, led by cornerbacks Malcolm Butler (two interceptions, three forced fumbles) and Stephon Gilmore (two interceptions, 47 solo tackles), as well as safeties Devin McCourty (97 combined tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery), Patrick Chung (84 tackles, one interception, two fumble recoveries) and Duron Harmon (four interceptions).[35]

Playoffs[edit]

Main article: 2017–18 NFL playoffs

In the playoffs, the Patriots earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage due to their status as the AFC’s first overall seed. In the divisional round, they defeated the Tennessee Titans 35–14, as Brady passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns. In that game, the defense amassed eight quarterback sacks of Marcus Mariota and held the Titans’ running game to 65 yards rushing.[36] They then defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24–20 in the AFC Championship Game, rallying from behind to win the game after the Jaguars jumped out to an early 14–3 lead and whose league-best defense stymied Brady and the rest of the offense for most of the first half.[citation needed] Down 20–10 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots comeback was sealed by two Brady-led drives, both resulting in touchdown passes to Danny Amendola, as well as a key defensive stop by Stephon Gilmore, whose acrobatic block of a Blake Bortles pass ended Jacksonville’s last chance to score. Rob Gronkowski was injured in the game with a concussion, leaving his status for the Super Bowl in doubt. Amendola was the breakout star for the Patriots during their two playoff wins, leading the team with 196 receiving yards, and serving as Brady’s primary target.[37]

Meanwhile, Philadelphia started off the divisional round by narrowly defeating the Atlanta Falcons 15–10, by stopping the Falcons on four consecutive plays after they had a first-down-and-goal situation on the Eagles 9-yard line during their final drive.[38] They then soundly defeated the Minnesota Vikings 38–7 in the NFC Championship Game. Despite the Vikings scoring on their opening drive, the Eagles defense held them to three punts, two turnovers on downs, two interceptions, and one lost fumble in their remaining drives of the game. Meanwhile, Foles had a great game, in which he completed 26 of 33 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns.[39]

Pre-game notes[edit]

This game was a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX. Only one player, Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady, remained on either roster from that contest.[40] Bill Belichick, the Patriots’ head coach in that contest, also remained in that position. Two Eagles, running back LeGarrette Blount and defensive lineman Chris Long, had been Patriots in 2017’s Super Bowl LI.[41] The Eagles were 1-4 against the Brady/Belichick era Patriots prior to this game (preseason notwithstanding), including Super Bowl XXXIX, their one win being a 35-28 win at Gillette Stadium in December during their relatively weak 2015 season, where after falling behind 14-0, they proceeded to rally for 35 points and hold them down to only two more touchdowns on their end to win, allowing them to finally get their first revenge for eleven years prior.

The Patriots were the designated home team for Super Bowl LII, because the AFC team is the designated home team in even-numbered years and the NFC team in odd-numbered years. As the designated home team, the Patriots chose to wear their road white jerseys with navy blue pants, becoming the sixth team to wear their white jerseys as the home team and the third team to wear white in back-to-back Super Bowls, following the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowls XII and XIII and again in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII.[citation needed] The Eagles therefore wore their standard home uniform of midnight green jerseys with white pants.[42] Twelve of the previous 13 Super Bowls had been won by teams wearing white jerseys. The last team to win a Super Bowl while wearing their home uniforms was the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV (who, coincidentally, had also worn green jerseys).[43]

Operations[edit] Security prescreening at the Mall of America before boarding the Metro Blue Line to U.S. Bank Stadium.

To coordinate the game and 10 days of events, the National Football League temporarily operated an events office within the Minnesota Vikings office building next to U.S. Bank Stadium.[44] More than 150,000 visitors were expected to attend events associated with the Super Bowl over ten days.[45] Among them were some 5,000-plus media members; media day events and press conferences were held at The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

No sales tax was collected on admission tickets to the game and related events, including parking.[46]

To increase security around U.S. Bank Stadium, the stadium’s light rail station was shut down for 48 hours before the game,[47] and a nearby homeless shelter was temporarily moved beyond the security perimeter.[48] The Blue Line of the light rail system was only open to ticketholders and passengers with a Gameday Pass, while the Green Line only ran to Stadium Village station on the University of Minnesota campus before continuing on with restricted access. Metro Transit ran shuttle buses between light rail stations, as well as regular bus service was moved for several weeks due to street closures.[49][50] Thirty activist groups organized a rally and protest against police brutality, corporate greed, and racist practices. 17 people blocked the Green Line train for 90 minutes before the game, and 200 protesters blocked an entrance to the stadium’s security perimeter.[51]

Under a 1998 agreement, the Patriots and Eagles owners split the tickets, and the league controlled the game presentation and entertainment in the stadium. The Patriots practiced at the Minnesota Vikings facilities in Eden Prairie while the Eagles used the University of Minnesota. The Eagles got the Vikings’ locker room and sideline. The Vikings had advanced to the NFC Championship Game before losing to the Eagles; until that point, the possibility of the Vikings advancing to the Super Bowl and thus becoming the first team to play the game in its home stadium was plausible. Had that happened, the Vikings would have used their own locker rooms and training facilities, while the AFC champion would have used the University of Minnesota.[52]

Associated events[edit] Nicollet Mall hosted the outdoor Super Bowl Live festival during the lead-up to the game.

The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee presented Super Bowl Live on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis.[53] This ten-day free[12] festival and concert series featured Sheila E., The Revolution, Morris Day and The Time, and The New Power Generation, musicians from Minnesota who collaborated with Prince, a Minneapolis native. Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Super Bowl Live also included performances by Idina Menzel, Soul Asylum, the Suburbs, Bob Mould, Sounds of Blackness, Dessa, VocalEssence, Mint Condition, and the Jets.[54] In addition to the concert series, Super Bowl Live featured a 200-foot (61 m) American Birkebeiner International Bridge on Nicollet Mall to showcase cross-country skiing, skijoring, fat-tire bicycle racing,[12] and snow tubing demonstrations.[55] There was also a snowmobile stunt show on February 3.[12]

The NFL presented the Super Bowl Experience at the Minneapolis Convention Center[53][44][56] from January 27 to February 3 with an entrance fee.[12] Kelly Clarkson performed at the Minneapolis Armory and a U.S. Bank Stadium lounge on the day of the Super Bowl.[57]

The Minneapolis Armory also hosted Jennifer Lopez, Imagine Dragons, and Pink concerts close to U.S. Bank Stadium.[58][59][60][61] Pink also performed the national anthem before the Super Bowl.[5] Halftime performer Justin Timberlake held a ticketed “listening session” of his newest album at Prince’s Paisley Park.[62] Dave Matthews Band performed at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul.[59] The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Mystic Lake Casino hosted Gwen Stefani,[63] the Chainsmokers, Florida Georgia Line, and Kygo.[64] Planners originally scheduled a 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) traveling nightclub for 9500 people,[65][59] but cancelled, moving its concerts into the main casino.[64] Ellie Goulding’s appearance with Kygo was cancelled at the same time.[66] The Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota, has the second-largest hotel in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and Prior Lake hosted Super Bowl-week events including winter activities, a