The New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles are in Super Bowl LII. On the fringes of the Pro Bowl in Orlando (Sun, 9 p. m. live on DAZN) the best players of AFC and NFC explained what makes the two teams so strong.
“Safety Harrison Smith doesn’t seem to have gotten over the play-off out of his Minnesota Vikings one week after his clear defeat of the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
A key to the success of the Eagles was Run-Pass-Opions, who performed quarterback Nick Foles with an impressive 94 percent success this season. For linebacker Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers, such moves are virtually undefendable.
“These are plays where you can’t do anything right as a defender,”he said to the Pro Bowl after a training session. Viking’s tackle Linval Joseph also emphasized:”They have a fast offensive line, which is very athletic.”
Receiver Adam Thielen emphasized that the Eagles also have defensive strengths:”Your Secondary doesn’t allow you to have easy catches,”said Thielen,”they cover the entire field at all times and don’t get enough appreciation.”
The Patriots’ opponents, on the other hand, focus primarily on the big star of the team:”Throughout the week, you’re just getting ready to stop Tom Brady,” Jaguar linebacker Telvin Smith told us,”and presented a simple plan:” You have to put him under pressure and get him on the ground because he’s old.”
Reshad Jones from the Miami Dolphins, on the other hand, knows a different method that could hurt the patriots:”You have to slow down their receivers,”Jones said,”If you’re high up and have your hands on the receivers, Brady can’t get rid of the ball quickly.”
And receiver Jarvis Landry highlights the qualities of patriot defense:”They have two of the smartest safetys ever and their corners play at a very high level,”said Landry.”The patriots have an excellent defensive coordinator.”