Boston’s football fans flocked to local bars Sunday night to watch the New England Patriots face off against the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LII.
By 8:30 p.m. the Eagles were leading the Patriots 22 to 19, but any Pats fan knows their team can come from behind like no other. So the score didn’t keep fans from reveling in the joy of game night.
A gutsy trick play on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line staked the Philadelphia Eagles to a 22-12 lead over the New England Patriots at halftime of the Super Bowl on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Quarterback Nick Foles caught the fourth-down touchdown toss from backup tight end Trey Burton. Lined up on the left side, Burton got the ball from rookie running back Corey Clement in the backfield and threw to a wide-open Foles on the right side.
Clement ping-ponged through the Patriots’ defense to set the Eagles up for first-and-goal at the 8, and on fourth down, coach Doug Pederson went for it.
Patriots running back James White plowed through the Eagles’ defense to make it at 15-12 game with 2:04 remaining in the half, but New England missed the extra point.
Philadelphia grabbed a 15-3 lead on LeGarrette Blount’s 21-yard romp before Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski nailed a second field goal to trim the deficit to nine.
New England regained possession when cornerback Stephon Gilmore tipped the ball away from wide receiver Alshon Jeffery at the New England 7-yard line and Patriots safety Duron Harmon secured Foles’ pass attempt.
Jeffery hauled in a 34-yard score over Patriots cornerback Eric Rowe late in the first quarter to push the Philadelphia lead to 9-3. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott missed the extra point.
Philadelphia received the opening kickoff and began the scoring with Elliott punching in a 25-yard field goal to cap the game-starting drive.
New England knotted the score 3-3 with 4:20 left in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Gostkowski.
Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks left the game with 12:59 left in the second quarter due to a head injury.
Cooks was escorted to the locker room by medical personnel for New England, and he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
At halftime, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was 12 of 23 for 276 yards, and Foles was 13 of 22 for 215 yards.
New England trailed 28-3 in Super Bowl LI last February in Houston but rallied to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.
Reuters contributed to this report.
