Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Shot Clock: Cards pay up for Kirk Cousins? | 2:21 azcentral sports' Mark Faller and Greg Moore discuss Kirk Cousins and the possibility he lands with the Arizona Cardinals in our Shot Clock video. 1 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Shot Clock: Super Bowl surprise - Somers' pick | 1:57 azcentral sports' Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers give their Super Bowl predictions in our Shot Clock video. 2 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Arizona Cardinals coach, coordinators expectations 2018 | 1:30 The Arizona Cardinals' defense has been on of the team's strengths so what will new defensive coordinator Al Holcomb look to change in his first season under head coach Steve Wilks? Sean Logan/ azcentral sports 3 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Kent Somers reporting from Minneapolis ahead of Super Bowl LII | 2:19 Cardinals insider Kent Somers reports from the Mall of America ahead of Super Bowl LII after landing in Minneapolis on Tuesday. 4 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Kent Somers on Mike McCoy as Cardinals OC | 2:17 azcentral sports' Cardinals insider Kent Somers discusses new Cardinals offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and the unknown involved with what Arizona's offense will look like next season after Monday's press conference in Tempe. 5 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Cardinals introduce Mike McCoy as offensive coordinator | 2:30 Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks introduces new offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, who discusses how he will adapt his system to the Cardinals' players, on Monday in Tempe. 6 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Shot Clock: Cardinals and Baker Mayfield? | 2:04 azcentral sports' Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss the latest in football in our Shot Clock video. 7 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Steve Wilks' introductory press conference: Highlights | 1:27 New Cardinals coach Steve Wilks expressed his gratitude for his new role, discussed what he's looking for in coaches and talked about his coaching approach in his introductory press conference January 23, 2018. Carly Henry/ azcentral 8 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Kent and Mac on Cardinals' Steve Wilks hire | 3:55 Cardinals insiders Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss the Cardinals' hire of Steve Wilks as new head coach on Tuesday. Thomas Hawthorne/ azcentral sports 9 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Steve Wilks introduced as Cardinals coach | 1:22 Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks shares his pillars for success with the Cardinals as he is introduced on Tuesday. Thomas Hawthorne/ azcentral sports 10 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Shot Clock: Wilks introduced, Booker bullied | 1:55 Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley cover the Cardinals' new coach and Suns guard Devin Booker being targeted by double teams recently. Diana Payan/ azcentral sports 11 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Kent Somers on reports of Cardinals hiring Steve Wilks | 3:31 Somers: Expects deal to be done soon for Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks Kent Somers/azcentral sports 12 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Bruce Arians on next steps after coaching | 1:42 Arians on exploring broadcasting in his post-coaching career. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports 13 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Bruce Arians on loving to beat Seattle | 1:09 Bruce Arians "I don't think you can live with regrets...I have nothing but great memories." Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports 14 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Cards' job not that good? NFL Sunday winners | 2:11 Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss the latest with the Cardinals coaching search and the NFL. 15 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Cardinals QB Carson Palmer announces retirement | 1:01 In an open letter, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer announced that he is retiring from the NFL after 15 seasons. Wochit 16 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Shot Clock: New Cardinals coach and QB | 2:19 azcentral sports' Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley address Bruce Arians' replacement and the Cardinals QB position. 17 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Bruce Arians announces retirement | 1:33 Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians announces his retirement. Michael Chow/azcentral sports 18 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Larry Fitzgerald: Winning as a team is priority | 0:30 Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald discusses how the team approached Sunday's win in Seattle with possible retirements looming. 19 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Kent Somers on the Cards' victory over Seattle | 3:39 Questions about the futures of Bruce Arians and Larry Fitzgerald linger in wake of win Kent Somers/azcentral sports 20 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks | 1:57 Kent Somers from azcentral sports has the latest on the Cardinals' preparations for the season finale in Seattle. Mark Henle/ azcentral sports 21 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS David Johnson talks injury and supporting team organizations | 0:49 Johnson: It feels like a brotherhood Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports 22 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Cardinals QBs dish on Bruce Arians, Palmer's injury, mustaches | 2:38 Cardinals quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton discuss coach Bruce Arians, the Arians Family Foundation, Palmer's injury and their facial hair at an Arians Family Foundation in Scottsdale on Friday. 23 of 24 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Bruce, Christine Arians discuss success of Arians Family Foundation | 1:13 Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians and his wife, Christine, discuss the success and future of the Arians Family Foundation at Sonata's in Scottsdale on Friday. 24 of 24 Last VideoNext Video Shot Clock: Cards pay up for Kirk Cousins?
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Jan 21, 2018: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after a first down by running back Dion Lewis (33) picks up a first down in the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium. (Photo: Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)
MINNEAPOLIS – At the time of purchase, the dog masks were a joke.
A couple of Eagles players thought they’d poke a little fun at being underdogs at home to the Falcons in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, but they didn’t really see themselves as being disrespected.
They went 13-3 in the regular season and were assured of playing at home until the Super Bowl.
Then Eagles fans started buying the masks. And oddsmakers made them underdogs to the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, which was also played in Philadelphia. And what were the Eagles supposed to think when they heard they were 4½ point underdogs to the Patriots in Super Bowl LII?
Woof, woof.
“I know there are people who are like, ‘You can’t be an underdog if you’re a one seed,’ ” Eagles defensive end Chris Long said. “But it’s pretty easy to feel a lot of people haven’t given us a chance.”
There are good reasons for that. The Eagles haven’t won an NFL championship since 1960. Beginning with the 2001 season, the Patriots have played in seven Super Bowls, going 5-2, with both losses against the Giants.
The Patriots have coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, perhaps the best at their professions in NFL history. The Eagles have Doug Pederson, in his second year as a head coach, and Nick Foles, the backup quarterback who took over when Carson Wentz suffered torn knee ligaments in December.
It can’t be billed as a mismatch, not after the Eagles blew out the Vikings in the NFC title game, not after Brady had to lead the Patriots from behind to beat the Jaguars in the AFC championship.
It’s just the Eagles have never won a Super Bowl. And the Patriots have. Again. Again. Again. And Again.
(That’s five, right?)
This week, Belichick has been his typical droll, tongue-clicking self, heaping praise upon the Eagles and providing little insight as to how the Patriots do what they do, year after year.
“They’ve led wire to wire,” Belichick said of the Eagles. “They haven’t been in a lot of close games. They’ve been able to play well in all three phases. They do everything well.”
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. (Photo: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports)
Both teams have overcome obstacles to get here. The Patriots lost receiver Julian Edelman to a torn ACL in August and linebacker Dont’a Hightower to a torn pectoral in October.
Through the season, the Eagles lost kicker Caleb Sturgis, running back Darren Sproles, linebacker Jordan Hicks, left tackle Jason Peters and Wentz.
Safety Malcolm Jenkins knew in training camp the Eagles had the talent to get to the Super Bowl. But did they have what else it takes?
“What you never know about a team is how much grit you have,” Jenkins said. “What are people going to do when faced with adversity, not just 'we’re down by 10 points’ adversity, but issues?
“Whether it be losing a game you feel like you should have won, or losing guys to injury. The way this team responded this year, I knew this was a tough team. There were a number of times we could have folded up the tent and nobody would have blamed us. We had every excuse. But we decided to invest more in each other.”
The Patriots have done that seemingly forever, of course. A key starter goes down? Coach up the next guy is the message from Belichick.
Brady suffers a cut on his throwing hand in practice four days before the AFC title game?
Tom’s a tough guy, but it’s a cut, not open-heart surgery, Belichick said.
The Patriots have had to deal with drama, too, allegedly self-inflicted. In January, ESPN reported there was a rift between Brady and Belichick.
Both have denied that, as has owner Robert Kraft.
Kraft, however, acknowledged this week to the NFL Network that there was “tension” within the organization but framed that as a good thing.
“I think a certain amount of tension helps make great things happen,” he said.
Will any of that matter in the Super Bowl?
Probably not. The game likely will be determined by things like how Foles plays, if the Eagles can hit Brady and stop him from leading the Patriots to another close victory in a Super Bowl.
Since beating the Vikings, Pederson’s message to the Eagles has been simple. Focus on what we do, not the Patriots, not their mystique.
Jenkins said it’s a philosophy the Eagles employed all season.
“I think people confused humility with doubt,” he said. “We never wanted to talk about the future because we were focused on here and now. We just thought talking about a Super Bowl was a waste of time and energy. But I think early in the season, we all realized we had exactly what we needed to accomplish our goals.”
RELATED: Eagles vs. Patriots prediction in Super Bowl LII: Who has the edge?
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NOTES: Patriots a family affair for Bill Belichick, sons