Super Bowl LII

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Philadelphia arrived in Minneapolis as underdogs after starting quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury late in the regular season. Before his injury, Wentz had led the team to an 11–2 start and was the media favorite for MVP. Backup Nick Foles took over, guiding the Eagles to their third Super Bowl appearance, having previously lost to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV and the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. The game set multiple records, including most combined yards in any NFL game (1,151) and fewest punts from both teams (one). Foles completed 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, while also catching a one-yard touchdown pass on a trick play to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.

In Their Own Story

The game's defining moment came via the "Philly Special," a trick play where Foles caught a one-yard touchdown pass. The contest was settled in the final minutes when the Eagles converted a fumble recovery deep within Patriots territory, leading to a field goal with 1:05 remaining that extended their lead to eight points. Tom Brady's subsequent Hail Mary pass fell incomplete as time expired. This loss made New England the fifth defending Super Bowl champion to lose the next year's title game, joining the 1978 Cowboys, 1983 Redskins, 1997 Packers, and 2014 Seahawks. The victory was historic for Philadelphia, making the NFC East the first division where every team has won a Super Bowl.

Reader's Guide

Super Bowl LII featured an offensive explosion with both teams combining for 1,151 yards, setting a new NFL record. It was the sixth and most recent Super Bowl held in a cold-weather city, though U.S. Bank Stadium is indoors. This marked the second time Minneapolis hosted the event, following Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome during the 1991 season. The broadcast on NBC had the smallest Super Bowl audience since Super Bowl XLIII nine years earlier, drawing 103.4 million viewers. The halftime show, headlined by Justin Timberlake, attracted 106.6 million American television viewers, which was 9% less than the previous year.

Did You Know?

• The game ended with a fumble recovery by the Eagles deep in Patriots territory, leading to a field goal that extended their lead to eight points.
• Nick Foles was named Super Bowl MVP after completing 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns, while also catching one touchdown pass himself.
• The loss made the New England Patriots the fifth defending Super Bowl champion to lose the following year's title game.
• Super Bowl LII set a record for fewest punts from both teams in a Super Bowl, with only one punt recorded during the entire game.