Super Bowl 52 – Offense vs Defense Analysis

With the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots set to defend their title against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on February 4, it’s time to take a look at both teams to figure out who will have the edge in the big game.

Offense vs Defense Analysis - Super Bowl 52 

New England Offense

The Patriots averaged 28.6 points per game during the regular season, which was second in the NFL this year. Their numbers are even more impressive if you consider the fact that they did it without leading receiver Julian Edelman, who missed the entire season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the preseason.

Tom Brady, who is the front-runner for the MVP award, didn’t show any signs of slowing down during the season and finished with 4,577 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. 

New England didn’t have a dominant running game this year, but they still averaged 118 rushing yards per game, led by Dion Lewis, who finished the season with 896 yards and six touchdowns.

Brandin Cooks, who was acquired from the New Orleans Saints during the offseason, finished the season with 1,082 yards and 7 touchdowns, while tight end Rob Gronkowski finished with 1,084 yards and 8 touchdowns.

However, the Patriots might be without Gronkowski in the Super Bowl, which is a big concern for the team and their fans because of the impact he has on the offense.

New England Defense

The Patriots defense was also very good this year and held opponents to 18.5 points per game, which was fifth in the league this year.

Despite the injuries they suffered during the season, the defense continued playing well and came up big when it mattered.  

It was the defense’s effort in the second half of their win over the Jaguars that helped the team advance to the Super Bowl.

Heading into this game, the Patriots’ defense will have their hands full because the Eagles will keep on changing things to keep them on their toes

Not only will they have to figure out a way of rattling Foles’ cage, they’ll have to contend with players of the like of tight end Zach Ertz, Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Torrey Smith, Jay Ajayi, and Trey Burton.

Perhaps, the defense may have learned from the Vikings’ loss that no matter how good you’ve played in the season, when it comes down to one game there’s no room for error.

New England cannot afford to commit errors such as the ones made by Vikings’ cornerback Terence Newman that led to a 53-yard touchdown reception or Trae Waynes’ botched coverage on Torrey Smith’s 41-yard scoring catch.

The greatest matchups that we’ll probably see are those between safety Patrick Chung and Ertz and that of Agholor and cornerback Malcolm Butler.

Philadelphia Offense

The Eagles averaged 28.6 points per game as well, but most of those points came when Carson Wentz was playing.

In fact, Wentz had the offense playing so well before his injury that he had gained the most touchdown passes in the NFL despite missing the final three games of the season.

In his absence, Nick Foles has been very solid and had one of the best games of his career in the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 350 yards and three touchdowns. The team will be hoping the hot play continues in the Super Bowl. 

The Eagles also have a very good running game and averaged 132 yards per game during the regular season. LeGarrette Blount, who won the Super Bowl with New England last season, led the Eagles with 766 yards and two touchdowns. He has also been a difference maker for the team during the playoffs.

The Eagles’ offense is one to put the Patriots’ defense in dire straits, one that’s very similar to that of the Chiefs who beat New England in this year’s season opener.

Foles seems to have adjusted well to the team’s multi-look offense; it’s not by happenstance that it may be the Patriots’ greatest concern at the moment.  

The Eagles have executed a simple game plan that perfectly meshes with Foles’ strengths and minimizes his weaknesses.

The Eagles will keep on changing the looks to keep the Patriots defense guessing, using their wide receivers in the backfield, their tight end on shotgun passes or a bunch of different formations to confuse things.

The Eagles spread the ball very well in their passing game and finished the season with three players going over 700 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. With the team very confident in their receivers’ abilities, the Patriots will have their hands full trying to stop the pass.

Philadelphia Defense

The defense is the heart and soul of this team since Wentz’s injury and has been playing very well so far in the playoffs.

They held their opponent to 18.4 points per game during the regular season but are holding opponents to seven points per game in the playoffs.

The Eagles defense may have a chink in their armor nevertheless; the defense has been spectacular at home but has sucked on the road, allowing 23.5 points per game which could be huge considering this game in on neutral turf.

The Eagles defenders are tasked with arguably one of the toughest tasks there are in recent football history: beating the Tom Brady led Patriots offense.

Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will have to focus his defensive line on disrupting Brady and flush him out of the pocket which is critical.

Otherwise, Brady will make you pay by expanding plays that break down what any coverage can handle. There are some that say Brady is truly unstoppable if he knows the coverage being used, but Schwartz is betting on a fast and aggressive style that may give them a better shot at beating Brady.

Players like Chris Long, who also won a ring with New England last season, and Malcolm Jenkins, have been the difference makers during their playoff run and will be expected to create more havoc when they play the Patriots.

It shouldn’t be left unsaid, that if the Eagles do not expect a titanic battle from a Bill Belichick-coached team then they’re in trouble.