The Patriots will go for 3 out of 4 against the Eagles, again

The last time the Patriots won 3 of 4 Super Bowls, the last one came against the Eagles. Now, they stand in the way of that feat once again.

When the Patriots were initially cemented as a dynasty, they won 3 out of 4 Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004. The third win came against Donovan McNabb, Terrelle Owens, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, New England is going for 3 of 4 once again, and the Eagles are again the opponent.

Tom Brady is the only Patriots player that remains from that 2004 team which featured a very tough defense and an about average offense. Players like Tedy Bruschi, Vince Wilfork, and Willie McGinest were roaming the sidelines back in 2004. The iPhone hadn’t even been invented yet. Still, the similarities to the past are crazy.

In 2001, the Patriots beat an NFC West opponent in the Super Bowl, the St. Louis Rams. In 2003 they took down a team from the NFC South, the Carolina Panthers. Then in 2004 with a win over the Eagles, they beat an NFC East team. That same pattern is playing out once again as New England beat the Seattle Seahawks (NFC West) in 2014, and the Atlanta Falcons (NFC South) in 2016.  The same NFC East team stands in their way once again though.

Both teams are glaringly different, with Brady being the only holdover for either side. New England has become an offense-first team, mostly, while the Eagles will rely on their stingy defense and a backup quarterback. This game will be dissected from all angles, but the similarities between the early 2000’s Patriots run and this one in the 2010’s is quite interesting. Of course, there will be more made of these similarities over the next two weeks as the national media joins the Super Bowl circus to discuss this game.

Next: Patriots the home team for Super Bowl LII

In about two weeks, on February 4th, the Patriots and Eagles will once again square up in a Super Bowl, 13 years after they last did. The game will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. this time. Philadelphia is looking for their first-ever Super Bowl title, while New England hopes to win their sixth. The battle of America cannot come soon enough.