No more debates about cheesesteak “wiz wit” hoagies versus lobster rolls, which city is the biggest cradle of liberty, which team’s fans are the biggest Jack wagons.
You’d probably get a 50-50 split from those living outside the greater Boston and Philadelphia areas, though fans booing and pelting Santa Claus with snowballs would seem to tilt the scale.
It’s the “City of Brotherly Love” only if Cain and Abel are the brothers. Three-quarters of Philadelphians have unwelcome mats in front of their doors. But in the name of fair play, scores upon scores of Patriot rooters are as huggable as a porcupine.
Thankfully all that sideshow stuff was for last week, Super Bowl week. This year in Minneapolis, at least, Super Bore week.
Remember when Dallas Cowboy linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson questioned the intelligence of Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw? (Just for the record, always believed Terry could spell “cat” without much help.)
Remember when Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon mooned overhead helicopters in the days leading up to Super Bowl XX in New Orleans? If not these two, certainly you recall the conspiracy theorists falling over themselves weighing in on “Deflategate.”
They were juicy pre-Super Bowl story lines that occupied the media, and thus, the public. But anything even remotely controversial this year got trapped in the Minnesota deep freeze.
Will Gronk play or won’t he? The status of Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski (concussion) was the week’s only story with even the slightest bit of intrigue.
Tom Brady’s favorite target was going to play. The proposition bet in Vegas now becomes the number of footballs the big lug snares. For those so interested, the latest over/under is 5 ½ catches and 77 ½ yards. Those Vegas boys always get their half.
The producers of the program Inside Edition had a great opportunity to attract eyeballs and whiffed badly. They hired figure skater and two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan as a special Super Bowl correspondent.
Didn’t want her probing Tom Brady about his preference for kale pajamas. Did want Tonya Harding asking whether he ever got crazy and went commando.
Followed by a comment from Gisele.
It’s supposed to reach a high of 7 degrees Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots frolic about the not-so-frozen tundra of U.S. Bank Stadium in Super Bowl LII.
The league and NBC are hoping both teams’ offenses provide the warmth, as they just might. The Patriots finished second in the league in scoring (458), one point more than the Eagles.
Yet both defenses finished in the top five in fewest points allowed, earning a big fat “So What?” Peruse Super Bowl history. Regardless of defense, copious scoring almost always has been the norm, the 62 points tallied last year by the Patriots and Falcons the most recent example.
Starting at about 8 Sunday morning, prepare to be inundated with those morsels and all other pertinent Big Game angles. You probably already know the Patriots will be vying for their sixth Super Bowl title in the Brady/Bill Belichick era.
The Eagles’ last NFL title came in 1960, so if the Patriots head into Sunday’s game with the edge in Super Bowl experience and wherewithal, Philadelphia carries a city’s weighty desperation.
It’s a weight Sunday’s outcome won’t lessen.
Thirteen years ago the Patriots defeated the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. They will repeat it today in Super Bowl LII.
It’ll be competitive, at first. The Eagles’ pass rush may get to Brady. Their RPO (run-pass option) offense may give New England’s defense fits.
And the Patriots will adjust. They did against Jacksonville in the AFC title game. They will Sunday, as much as Football America wants to see them tumble, once and for all.
Just remember, Eagles fly.
But Patriots carry guns.
New England 31, Philadelphia 17.