Super Bowl 52 Picks: Predicting the winner of Patriots vs. Eagles

Fans love predictions. I don’t know why some are infatuated with reading what other people think regarding the outcome of a particular game, but predictions are a big part of today’s sports media—and the Super Bowl is pro football’s biggest game of the year.

So this is the final time during the 2017-2018 season that I’ll don my prognosticator hat to give the pick for an NFL contest. The only difference between this pick and my usual picks? The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t playing.

Nonetheless, here we are preparing for Super Bowl 52 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots.

First, let me say picking a winner between the hated Patriots and a team from Philadelphia is like choosing between having your fingernails ripped out and suffering the torture of waterboarding. But I’ll proceed with a steadfast approach...

This is a game where I honestly wish Carson Wentz were healthy. Imagine Wentz, and the high-flying Eagles’ offense vs. Tom Brady and the Patriots’ ridiculous consistency. That would be one heck of a showcase, but now we prepare for Brady vs. Nick Foles.

Talk about a mismatch.

Although on paper this seems like a slam dunk, Foles proved in the NFC Championship game he’s capable of making the necessary plays. But this game isn’t about the Eagles’ offense — it’s about the defense.

Whenever Brady has struggled in the NFL’s biggest game, it has been at the hands of an aggressive defensive front who can pressure him for four quarters. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons what it’s like to run out of gas in the fourth quarter against Brady and the boys.

Fletcher Cox and company are certainly capable, but can they withstand the New England attack for four quarters? This is what concerns me. The Patriots’ offense wears you down until you can’t do anything but watch Brady dissect you, piece-by-piece.

Now for the actual prediction...

I think this game will be a lot closer than most believe, but I just can’t pick the Eagles with Foles at quarterback. This isn’t me picking with my heart, because I would never pick the Patriots to win even a scrimmage, but my head realizes how difficult it will be for the Eagles.

I’ll take the Patriots to win their second consecutive championship and tie the Steelers with six Super Bowl titles.

Patriots - 23
Eagles - 16