Super Bowl Quarter Score 2018: Eagles vs. Patriots 2nd-Quarter Update and Recap

Two plays into the second quarter of the 2018 Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium, New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski clanked a field goal off an upright after a bobbled snap, sticking the score at 9-3 in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It turned out to be a preview of the entire quarter's theme on the way to both teams getting off the field in favor of Justin Timberlake's halftime show. The Eagles took a 22-12 lead into the halftime tunnel after one of the wildest quarters in recent Super Bowl history.

Not that the Eagles did much better on their first chance of the second quarter. Coming off a drive in which Alshon Jeffery went up high for a touchdown catch from Nick Foles, the offense sputtered on the way to the game's first three-and-out.

Brady's first pass wound up creating a scary pause in the action, though, with Brandin Cooks on the receiving end of a hit he didn't see coming from the Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins:

Cooks, who caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year with the team after coming over from the New Orleans Saints via trade, went to the locker room, leaving the Patriots with just three wideouts dressed and available. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Caught in a purgatory between field-goal and punting range and knowing the results of Gostkowski's first attempt, the Patriots went for it on fourth down later in the same drive, though a deep attempt to tight end Rob Gronkowski fell flat.

The Patriots were initially in a tough spot after an odd passing attempt to a quarterback who had to play the AFC title game with stitches on his throwing hand because of a gash:

NFL Research added an interesting detail to this trick-play attempt, as well as providing an insight into an odd storyline developing with Malcolm Butler:

The Eagles didn't need long to capitalize on New England's fourth-down attempt.

In fact, it took all of six plays before LeGarrette Blount rumbled 21 yards into the end zone to score against his former team:

The score brought the game to 15-3 in favor of the Eagles, though, as a two-point conversion in an effort to make up for a missed extra point in the first quarter got swatted away.

In an effort to cause hesitation and slow down the stout Eagles pass rush, though, the Patriots got tricky with a big play from Rex Burkhead:

Burkhead, of course, was the guy who collided with Brady in practice, causing the aforementioned hand injury, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The effort didn't seem to phase the Eagles much, though, as Gostkowski ended up connecting from 45 yards away to make it 15-6.

Call it a slight momentum swing, at most. The Eagles kept rolling down the field on the next drive before Jeffery botched a catch, resulting in an interception by Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon thanks to a strong play from cornerback Stephon Gilmore—Jeffery's teammate in college at South Carolina.

Like Jeffery, Gilmore was a big free-agent add this offseason, and it paid off on the most important stage of all:

Then came the big momentum swing.

A holding penalty helped propel the Patriots down the field on a seven-play drive before Super Bowl hero James White did the rest, taking advantage of some uncharacteristically bad tackling from the Eagles:

Deja vu time—Gostkowski missed another attempt, this time holding the score at 15-12.

As great as White looked, Eagles rookie Corey Clement made a statement of his own on a wheel route, shedding tackles as he went up the field and possibly changed the complexion of the game:

Knowing the Patriots receive the second-half kickoff, as well as knowing about rookie kicker Jake Elliott's struggles from this range, the Eagles decided to go for it on fourth down near the red zone.

Foles showed up Brady in the process of a score, making it 22-12 after the extra point:

That score could end up going down in history, with the Eagles gambling to keep Brady off the field and succeeding while extending a lead.

Granted, Brady and the Patriots know all about Super Bowl comebacks, though this one will come down to halftime adjustments for both defenses. Entering halftime, though, a better coaching plan and successful risks put the Eagles at an advantage.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com.