SportsPulse: Dominance. Heartbreak. Hope. Trysta Krick details the key moments in the Eagles run to Super Bowl LII. USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA – Doug Pederson knows all about the New England Patriots mystique and the dimension that it adds to Super Bowl LII. But the Philadelphia Eagles coach knows that to beat Bill Belichick and Co., his team needs to put that aura in the proper perspective.
“If I make this all about them, we’re in trouble,” Pederson said Thursday, before the Eagles hit the field at NovaCare Complex for their first full practice of the week. “It’s about us. I’ll keep saying that. It’s about what we’re doing; how well we execute.”
Still, given the DNA of the Patriots – including the presence of Belichick and Tom Brady, dramatic comebacks galore and the five Super Bowl crowns – Pederson doesn’t deny that the mystique should be addressed to some degree with a team installed as a 5.5-point underdog.
“That’s a real issue you have with these guys,” said Pederson. “They’ve been there, they’ve done that. My biggest focus with the team is, ‘Let’s focus on today. Let’s win today,’ and we’ll focus on that (Patriots mystique) when we get to the game. Obviously, it’s a credit to what the Patriots have done … their history.”
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Since studying New England this week, Pederson basically confirmed what he knew all along: The Patriots are well-coached and disciplined.
“They’re a resilient group, too,” he said. “Just put on the Jacksonville game. They’re a team that gets down in a game early and there’s no panic. They just stay the course and execute the game plan.”
That efficiency, though, just underscores the theme Pederson aims to get across with his team.
“That’s why we need to focus on details in practice,” he said. “We can’t get caught up on what they do. It’s more of what we do.”
Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
PHOTOS: One great shot from every Super Bowl
![Super Bowl I (Packers 35, Chiefs 10): Green Bay Packers wide receiver Max McGee makes a juggling touchdown catch during the first Super Bowl. Packers quarterback Bart Starr was named MVP.]()
1 of 51![Super Bowl II (Packers 33, Raiders 14): Legendary Green]()
2 of 51![Super Bowl III (Jets 16, Colts 7): Quarterback Joe Namath of the New York Jets hands off the football to Matt Snell during Super Bowl III on Jan. 12, 1969. Namath came through on his famous "guarantee" of a Jets upset against the heavily favored Colts.]()
3 of 51![Super Bowl IV (Chiefs 23, Vikings 7): Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson is grabbed by a Minnesota defender after handing the off to running back Mike Garrett.]()
4 of 51![Super Bowl V (Colts 16, Cowboys 13): Baltimore kicker Jim O'Brien (80) leaps with joy after kicking the winning field goal against the Dallas Cowboys in the final seconds.]()
5 of 51![Super Bowl VI (Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3): Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach (12) tries to escape the grasp of Miami Dolphins defender Jim Riley.]()
6 of 51![Super Bowl VII (Dolphins 14, Redskins 7): Miami Dolphins' Jim Mandich takes in a Bob Griese pass near the goal line during the second quarter. The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the NFL's only team with a perfect record (17-0). The 1948 Cleveland Browns of the AAFC also posted a 14-0 record.]()
7 of 51![Super Bowl VIII (Dolphins 24, Vikings 7): Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins runs down the field. Csonka became the first running back to be named Super Bowl MVP.]()
8 of 51![Super Bowl IX (Steelers 16, Vikings 6):Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle "Mean" Joe Greene encourages his teammates.]()
9 of 51![Super Bowl X (Steelers 21, Cowboys 17): Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann dives as he catches a pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw.]()
10 of 51![Super Bowl XI (Raiders 32, Vikings 14): Coach John Madden of the Oakland Raiders is carried from the field by his players after his team's win.]()
11 of 51![Super Bowl XII (Cowboys 27, Broncos 10): Dallas Cowboys' defensive tackle Randy White, left, and defensive end Harvey Martin shared the Most Valuable Player award.]()
12 of 51![Super Bowl XIII (Steelers 35, Cowboys 31): Wide open Dallas Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith drops a pass in the end zone against the Pittsburgh Steelers.]()
13 of 51![Super Bowl XIV (Steelers 31, Rams 19): Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris carries the ball as quarterback Terry Bradshaw (12) and Sidney Thornton (38) raise their arms in celebration after Harris scored the Steelers' final touchdown.]()
14 of 51![Super Bowl XV (Raiders 27, Eagles 10): Oakland Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett fades back to pass in the first quarter.]()
15 of 51![Super Bowl XVI (49ers 26, Bengals 21): San Francisco 49ers celebrate their third quarter goal line stand that stopped a Cincinnati Bengals inside the 1-yard line on fourth down.]()
16 of 51![Super Bowl XVII (Redskins 27, Dolphins 17): Washington Redskins receiver Charlie Brown gets ready to spike the ball after he scored a fourth quarter touchdown.]()
17 of 51![Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Redskins 9): Los Angeles Raiders linebacker Matt Millen gestures as he celebrates with nose tackle Reggie Kinlaw (62) following their win.]()
18 of 51![Super Bowl XIX (49ers 38, Dolphins 16): San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana signals his second touchdown during the first half. Montana was named MVP.]()
19 of 51![Super Bowl XX (Bears 46, Patriots 10): Bears players carry coach Mike Ditka off the field after winning the Super Bowl.]()
20 of 51![New York Giants Mark Bavaro kneels down after catching]()
21 of 51![Super Bowl XXII (Redskins 42, Broncos 10): Washington Redskins running back Timmy Smith goes around Denver Broncos linebacker Jim Ryan on long run in the first quarter.]()
22 of 51![Super Bowl XXIII (49ers 20, Bengals 16): Over 11 plays, the San Francisco 49ers drove 92 yards to secure a narrow victory. Pictured above is wide receiver and game MVP Jerry Rice.]()
23 of 51![Super Bowl XXIV (49ers 55, Broncos 10): Denver quarterback John Elway dives for extra yardage.]()
24 of 51![Super Bowl XXV (Giants 20, Bills 19): Dejected Bills kicker Scott Norwood walks off the field after missing a 47-yard field goal on the last play of the game, clinching a victory for the New York Giants.]()
25 of 51![Super Bowl XXVI (Redskins 37, Bills 24): Washington Redskins wide receiver Art Monk picks up yardage after pulling in a pass during first-quarter action.]()
26 of 51![Super Bowl XXVII (Cowboys 52, Bills 17): Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson is drenched by team members during the closing moments of the Super Bowl.]()
27 of 51![Super Bowl XXVIII (Cowboys 30, Bills 13):Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith is hit by Buffalo Bills cornerback Thomas Smith as he scores a touchdown in the third quarter.]()
28 of 51![Super Bowl XXIX (49ers 49, Chargers 26): San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice is chased by San Diego Chargers safeties Darren Carrington and Stanley Richard on his way to a touchdown.]()
29 of 51![Super Bowl XXX (Cowboys 27, Steelers 17): Cornerback Larry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys returns an interception for 44 yards. Brown was named MVP.]()
30 of 51![Super Bowl XXXI (Packers 35, Patriots 21): Green Bay Packers defensive end Reggie White points to teammates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe.]()
31 of 51![Super Bowl XXXII (Broncos 31, Packers 24): Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos in action during Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Davis scored three TDs and was named MVP.]()
32 of 51![Super Bowl XXXIII (Broncos 34, Falcons 19): Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway slaps hands with tackle Tony Jones after the Broncos scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass play to wide receiver Rod Smith.]()
33 of 51![Super Bowl XXXIV (Rams 23, Titans 16): Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson tries to stretch across the goal line on the final play of the game. He is stopped by Rams linebacker Mike Jones.]()
34 of 51![Super Bowl XXXV (Ravens 34, Giants 7): Baltimore's Keith Washington celebrates with Michael McCrary after sacking New York's Kerry Collins in the second quarter.]()
35 of 51![Super Bowl XXXVI (Patriots 20, Rams 17): New England Patriots' kicker Adam Vinatieri celebrates his 48-yard game-winning field goal in the final seconds against the St. Louis Rams. At left is teammate Ken Walters.]()
36 of 51![Super Bowl XXXVII (Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21): Tampa Bay's Dwight Smith races into the end zone ahead of pursuing Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon on a 44-yard interception runback for a touchdown.]()
37 of 51![Super Bowl XXXVIII (Patriots 32, Panthers 29): MVP Tom Brady hoists the Lombardi Trophy after victory in the Super Bowl.]()
38 of 51![Super Bowl XXXIX (Patriots 24, Eagles 21): Corey Dillon makes a third quarter touchdown, bringing the score to 21-14.]()
39 of 51![Super Bowl XL (Steelers 21, Seahawks 10):Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward jumps in the air and scores after catching a 43-yard touchdown pass from fellow wideout Antwaan Randle El.]()
40 of 51![Super Bowl XLI (Indianapolis Colts 29, Bears 17): Chicago Bears kicker returner Devin Hester sits dejected on the field following the loss to the Colts in Miami.]()
41 of 51![Super Bowl XLII (Giants 17, Patriots 14): New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree hauls in a catch against his helmet to sustain the game-winning drive.]()
42 of 51![Super Bowl XLIII (Steelers 27, Cardinals 23): Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes catches the winning touchdown pass in front of Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco late in the fourth quarter.]()
43 of 51![Super Bowl XLIV (Saints 31, Colts 17): Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrates with his son after his team's first Super Bowl win.]()
44 of 51![Super Bowl XLV (Packers 31, Steelers 25): Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson and quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrate after they connected for the first touchdown of the game.]()
45 of 51![Super Bowl XLVI (Giants 21, Patriots 17): New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz celebrates his team's win over the New England Patriots.]()
46 of 51![Super Bowl XLVII (Ravens 34, 49ers 31): Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones celebrates with teammates after returning a kick for a touchdown.]()
47 of 51![Super Bowl XLVIII (Seahawks 43, Broncos 8): Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell celebrates a touchdown withoutside linebacker Malcolm Smithduringthe first half.]()
48 of 51![Patriots CB Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended]()
49 of 51![After the last game of his NFL career, Denver Broncos]()
50 of 51![Super Bowl LI (Patriots 34, Falcons 28 - OT): New England]()
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