If you ask a casual fan about Super Bowl LII, they’ll probably mention the "Philly Special." You know the one. The gutsy fourth-down trick play where a backup quarterback caught a touchdown pass from a third-string tight end. It was legendary. But honestly, that single play—as cool as it was—kinda distracts from the fact that we witnessed the most absurd offensive explosion in the history of the NFL.
People forget just how much of a "shootout" this game actually was. We aren't just talking about a high-scoring game. We are talking about a record-shattering 1,151 combined yards. That is the most yards in any NFL game ever played, regular season or playoffs.
So, let's get the big answer out of the way first.
The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl 2018, defeating the New England Patriots 41-33.
🔗 Read more: The 49ers Final Score: Why San Francisco Just Couldn't Close the Gap
It happened on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It was the Eagles' first-ever Super Bowl title, and they did it with a backup quarterback named Nick Foles, who outdueled the greatest of all time, Tom Brady.
The Backup Who Became a Legend
You've gotta feel for Carson Wentz. Before he got hurt against the Rams in Week 14, he was basically the lock for MVP. When he went down with a torn ACL, the national media essentially buried the Eagles. Nobody thought Nick Foles could do it.
Foles wasn't just some random guy, though. He’d had a Pro Bowl season years prior, but he had seriously contemplated retirement before returning to Philly as a backup. In the playoffs, something just clicked. He didn't just play well; he played like a man possessed.
In the Super Bowl, Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught that touchdown on the Philly Special. He finished with a passer rating of 106.1 and took home the MVP trophy. It was one of those "lightning in a bottle" performances that we still talk about today because it felt so improbable.
Tom Brady’s Record-Breaking Loss
Here’s a weird stat for you. Tom Brady played what might have been the best game of his entire career, and he still lost.
Brady threw for 505 yards.
Read that again. Over five hundred yards in a single game. That is a Super Bowl record that still stands today. He threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Usually, when a quarterback puts up those kinds of numbers, the game is a blowout. But the Patriots' defense just couldn't get off the field.
Basically, the Eagles' offensive line, led by Jason Kelce, was a brick wall. They gave Foles all day to throw, and the Eagles' receivers—Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Torrey Smith—were winning their matchups all night.
Why the Patriots' Defense Failed
A lot of New England fans still point to the "Malcolm Butler Benchment." Butler, the hero of Super Bowl XLIX, was inexplicably benched for the entire game by Bill Belichick. He only played a single snap on special teams.
Belichick has never really given a straight answer as to why. To this day, it remains one of the biggest mysteries in New England sports history. Would Butler have made the difference in a game where the Eagles scored 41 points? Probably. We'll never know for sure, but watching Eric Rowe and the rest of the secondary struggle against Foles was painful for any Pats fan.
The Play That Changed Everything: The Philly Special
It was 4th and goal at the 1-yard line. There were 38 seconds left in the first half. Most coaches would have taken the three points and gone into the locker room happy.
Doug Pederson isn't most coaches.
In a mic’d up segment that became an instant classic, Foles walks over to Pederson during a timeout and whispers, "You want Philly Philly?"
Pederson takes a second, looks at his sheet, and says, "Yeah, let's do it."
How it worked:
- Foles lines up in the shotgun.
- He starts moving around, acting like he’s calling a protection change.
- The ball is snapped directly to running back Corey Clement.
- Clement tosses it to Trey Burton (the tight end) on a reverse.
- Burton, who played QB in high school and some in college, lofts a perfect pass to a wide-open Foles in the end zone.
It was pure theater. It gave the Eagles a 22-12 lead at the half and, more importantly, it signaled to the Patriots that the Eagles weren't afraid.
The Second Half Heart Attack
If you thought the first half was wild, the second half was a blur. The Patriots came out and did exactly what they always do: they methodically marched down the field. Rob Gronkowski became unguardable. He caught nine passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, most of which came in the second half.
New England actually took the lead, 33-32, with about nine minutes left in the game. At that point, everyone thought, "Okay, here we go again. Brady is going to break Philadelphia’s heart."
But Foles didn't blink. He led a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took seven minutes off the clock. It culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz. There was a huge review on the play because Ertz dove into the end zone and the ball popped out after he hit the turf, but the refs ruled he had become a runner. Touchdown, Eagles.
The Strip Sack: Brandon Graham’s Moment
Despite all the yards and the touchdowns, the game was ultimately decided by a defensive play.
The Patriots had the ball with 2:16 left, trailing 38-33. Brady had plenty of time. He’d done this a million times before. But on 2nd and 2, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham finally got home. He swiped at Brady’s arm, the ball popped loose, and rookie Derek Barnett recovered it.
It was the only sack of the game for either team.
The Eagles kicked a field goal to go up by eight, and after a failed Hail Mary attempt by Brady as time expired, the city of Philadelphia erupted.
Real Stats and Fun Facts from Super Bowl LII
- Final Score: Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33.
- Total Yards: 1,151 (New NFL Record).
- Tom Brady Passing: 28/48, 505 yards, 3 TDs.
- Nick Foles Passing: 28/43, 373 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
- Nick Foles Receiving: 1 catch, 1 yard, 1 TD.
- LeGarrette Blount: 90 rushing yards and a TD against his former team.
- National Anthem: Performed by Pink (who had the flu at the time).
- Halftime Show: Justin Timberlake (his third Super Bowl appearance).
- Commercial Cost: $5 million for a 30-second spot.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often remember this as a "lucky" win for Philly. They think the Patriots just had an off night. That’s just not true. The Patriots offense was historically good that night.
The Eagles won because their coaching staff—specifically Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich—out-schemed Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia. They used RPOs (Run-Pass Options) that the Patriots had no answer for. They played aggressively on fourth down (going 2-for-2). They didn't play to "not lose"; they played to win.
Also, the narrative that Nick Foles was just a "game manager" is totally false. He was making "dime" throws into tight windows all night long. The touchdown pass to Corey Clement in the back of the end zone was as perfect a throw as you will ever see in professional football.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you’re looking back at who won the Super Bowl 2018 to understand the current NFL landscape, there are a few things to take away:
- Backup QBs Matter: This game redefined how teams value their #2 quarterback. Since 2018, we’ve seen teams invest much more heavily in veteran backups who can run the system.
- Aggression is Key: The "Philly Special" era ushered in a wave of aggressive play-calling. Coaches like Brandon Staley and Dan Campbell owe a lot to Doug Pederson’s 2018 strategy.
- Scheme Over Stars: The Eagles didn't have a better roster than the Patriots on paper, especially without Wentz. They had a better plan for that specific 60 minutes.
If you ever find yourself in Philly, go visit the "Philly Special" statue outside Lincoln Financial Field. It’s a permanent reminder of the night a backup QB and a gutsy coach took down a dynasty.
Check out the official NFL highlights of the game to see the Graham strip-sack again—it’s even faster than you remember.
The 2018 Eagles remain the only team in franchise history to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, and they did it in the most entertaining way possible.