Nick Foles named Super Bowl MVP as Eagles top Patriots

The Philadelphia Eagles have won their first Super Bowl, and it was all because of an otherworldly performance by an Arizona Wildcat.

In a game that broke nearly every offensive Super Bowl record, Nick Foles out-dueled Tom Brady and was named Super Bowl MVP as the Eagles took down the Patriots 41-33 in Minneapolis.

After former Wildcat and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski caught a go-ahead touchdown pass with nine minutes to go in the fourth, Foles engineered a 75-yard scoring drive, capped off by a game-winning 11-yard TD pass to Zach Ertz with 2:21 left to complete a legendary performance.

Foles went 28-for-43 for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception (which was the result of a tipped ball and not his fault). He is the first Wildcat quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl (he was also the first to ever start in one).

Foles also caught a touchdown pass on a crucial 4th-and-goal play that put Philadelphia up 22-12 just before halftime, making Foles the first QB to ever throw and catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.

Foles finished with a 106.1 quarterback rating, throwing dime after dime, allowing the Eagles to convert on 10 of 16 third downs.

It was an incredible performance for a guy who wasn’t even supposed to be there.

Foles, who considered quitting football a couple years ago, did not become the Eagles’ starting quarterback until MVP candidate Carson Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14.

And Foles actually struggled in his first few starts, but once the postseason began he hit on all cylinders, posting QB ratings of 100.1 and 141.4 in Philadelphia’s first two playoff games before leading the Eagles past the Patriots in Super Bowl 52.

Now, Foles will forever be a legend in Philadelphia — and Tucson, too.

Other Wildcats shine

Had Foles not led that game-winning drive, Gronkowski would have responsible for the game-winning touchdown.

The former Wildcat caught nine passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, and nearly tracked down a Hail Mary as time expired that could have forced overtime.

Ex-Wildcat and Patriots linebacker Marquis Flowers suffered an injury in the first half, but returned and had a key tackle for loss before the drive that led to Gronk’s go-ahead score.

But earlier, Foles threw a well-placed ball over Flowers, which was hauled in by Corey Clement for a 22-yard touchdown that extended Philadelphia’s lead to 29-19 with 7:18 left in the third.

We also can’t forget that Dave Fipp, a former UA safety, is the Eagles special teams coordinator.

So, it was a tremendous performance all-around for the four Wildcats that were a part of Super Bowl 52.