The Philadelphia Eagles ended their Super Bowl drought with a fine performance to defeat the New England Patriots to secure the Vince Lombardi trophy for the first time. Backup quarterback Nick Foles put forward an outstanding display to throw for three touchdowns and 376 yards, putting 41 points on the board to guide Doug Pederson’s men to the crown. Although Foles was brilliant, defensive end Brandon Graham produced the play of the game to strip-sack Tom Brady, ending hopes of a late Patriots comeback.
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Philadelphia’s achievement was remarkable considering that many believed that their season was over when Carson Wentz was ruled out for the campaign with a torn ACL. However, Foles stepped into the void, and after a difficult start, he rose to the occasion in the post-season, guiding his team past the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings before defeating the Patriots.
The Eagles appear to be in a strong position to become the first team to repeat in 14 years and should be worth considering for a punt. Wentz should be fit to return for the opening week of the campaign, while there will be no shortage of suitors for Foles’s signature, giving them ammunition in the NFL Draft for now and potentially in the future. Therefore, backing them to win the Super Bowl using a no deposit free bet using a number of leading bookmakers and their odds could yield dividends for this time next year in Atlanta.
Pederson’s men have a few players to retain. Nigel Bradham, Trey Burton, LeGarrette Blount, Corey Graham and Patrick Robinson should be priorities. The Eagles will welcome back Jordan Hicks, Jason Peters and Wentz from injury, strengthening the core of the team. The loss of Hicks was almost as fatal as Wentz’s absence, with the Patriots exposing Philadelphia through the middle of the field
Philadelphia do not have a great deal of cap space and will have to work to get the players back with room to bolster the roster, although their solid drafting in recent years has not left a great number of holes. Howie Roseman has built an impressive roster, forming a deep defensive line along with an offense that forces opponents to defend almost every blade of grass.
Wentz will have another year of experience under his belt and will still have the determination to reach the Super Bowl, having missed out on the opportunity to play. The 24-year-old played at an MVP-level last season, throwing 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He broke the franchise record for most passing touchdowns in a season and will surely take the next stage in his development. His receivers are all under contract and are still in the prime of their respective careers. Zach Ertz, Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor all played decisive roles in securing the Vince Lombardi trophy and will form a potent offense for the years to come with Wentz.
Defensively, the Eagles are in the same position. Their oldest key player on the unit is Malcolm Jenkins, who will only be 30 by the start of the new campaign. Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry are all in the prime of their careers, while Derek Barnett is on the rise. Philadelphia are well placed for the 2018 campaign for another crack at the crown.
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