Eagles vs. Patriots: Winner and Score Predictions for Super Bowl 52

Bring the dog masks, red gloves and all the hoopla about the New England Patriots' demise. We're looking at a Super Bowl 52 matchup with the defending champions taking on the Philadelphia Eagles on February 4 in Minneapolis.

There's discontent but no surprise in seeing the Patriots compete in the title game for the eighth time in 16 years.

Many wondered who would emerge from the NFC with several teams finishing the regular season on a strong note. After quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL, pundits wrote the Eagles off as a Super Bowl contender. Yet Nick Foles has done enough under center to help put his team in position to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

Quarterback Tom Brady will have to dissect another top-five defensive unit to add a sixth Super Bowl ring to his collection.

Philadelphia applied pocket pressure and capitalized off turnovers in its previous outing. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz must find a way to minimize scoring opportunities to give his offense enough cushion in case Foles can't replicate his NFC Championship Game performance.

How will this matchup unfold? Who's going to finish the season as the last team standing at the trophy presentation?

Super Bowl 52 Details

Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots

Kickoff Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Network/Livestream: NBC/NBC Sports

Date: Sunday, February 4

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Odds: New England (-5.5), via OddsShark

Tom Brady Hasn't Missed a Beat at 40 Years Old

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Whether it's sourced reports about dissension within the organization, per ESPN's Seth Wickersham, or a mishap at practice that resulted in a bloody hand, Brady still stands in the pocket as a potent passer with several capable offensive playmakers around him.

Through 15 games, wideout Danny Amendola reached paydirt twice. After tight end Rob Gronkowski went into concussion protocol, the 32-year-old receiver became the primary target in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns in a six-minute span.

Brady will garner the spotlight because he's performing at a high level at an advanced age, but he steps on the field with teammates that come through with big plays when necessary.

Nonetheless, the 40-year-old quarterback turns his competitive levels up a few notches as the stakes rise in the postseason. We saw that in the previous outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Respect the Philadelphia Eagles Defense

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Leading up to the NFC Championship Game, most analysts praised the Minnesota Vikings defense, and rightfully so. The unit ranked No. 1 in points and yards allowed in 2017. Nonetheless, Philadelphia's defensive group came up huge, scoring a touchdown and taking the ball away three times. 

The Eagles front seven must find a way to keep Brady's head on a swivel and force him to either throw early or disrupt timing with his receivers. He's spent five years with Amendola and eight with Gronkowski in the offense—those receiving targets move the chains partially due to familiarity with the quarterback under center. 

Nonetheless, Philadelphia has allowed just 17 points in two playoff games. Schwartz has 11 defenders seeing the same picture on the field. His plan to limit Gronkowski and pressure Brady will tip the balance in this contest.

Can You Trust Nick Foles?

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Foles has started six games, yet we still don't know where he stands as a starting quarterback. He logged 202 combined passing yards against the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in the final two weeks of the regular season. However, he's thrown for 598 yards against two playoff teams.

The Eagles' No. 3 ground attack would serve a significant boost to the offense if Foles doesn't play his best. However, he'll need to complete a pass late in the contest for a first down or lead his team downfield for a score to beat the Patriots.

Head coach Bill Belichick and Brady will appear in an eighth Super Bowl together. As seen in the previous title game, a 28-3 advantage in the third quarter isn't safe from a Patriots comeback. With or without a lead, can you trust Foles to seal the deal or engineer a game-winning drive? 

Fans hoping to see a team knock off the Patriots dynasty don't want to hear this, but Brady and Belichick will raise the Lombardi Trophy again. 

Prediction: Patriots 27, Eagles 23