Before this year’s Super Bowl, most people felt that the game would be unenjoyable. The New England Patriots, led by legendary quarterback Tom Brady, were heavily favored heading into the matchup. The team would be going up against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team whose starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, was out for the season with a torn ACL, and was now being led by journeyman quarterback Nick Foles, who nearly retired three years ago. Despite all this, the Eagles proved all the doubters wrong, as they would go on to make the game one of the best in Super Bowl history.

Fans packed U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Feb. 4 to watch Super Bowl LII. The game went back and forth early on, as the teams traded field goals to start the scoring. On their very next drive, the Eagles scored the game’s first touchdown on 34-yard catch by Alshon Jeffery. Eagles kicker Jake Elliot missed the PAT, however, giving the Eagles a 9-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The score would remain the same for most of the second quarter until former Patriot LeGarrette Blount scored a 21-yard rushing touchdown, but once again, the Eagles failed to add on points after the score, as they failed to convert a 2-point conversion. The Patriots would come march down the field on their next drive, as Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski would kick a field goal to make the score 15-6, still in favor of the Eagles. After the Eagles failed to score on the ensuing drive, James White would score on a 26-yard run. Once again, the PAT was missed, leaving the score at 15-12. After this, the Eagles scored on a trick play. Trey Burton converted the “Philly Special” play with a pass to Foles to give the Eagles a 22-12 lead at halftime.

The Patriots came storming out of the halftime break, as during the third quarter, they would put together an impressive drive and finish it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski. After the Eagles scored a touchdown on their next drive with an incredible catch from running back Corey Clement, the Patriots would march right back down the field, with Chris Hogan scoring a 26-yard touchdown from Tom Brady to make in a 29-26 game.

With the game coming down to the wire, the Patriots would need to put together a big drive and make a huge defensive stop to have a chance to win, as the Eagles offense had been clicking all night. The Patriots would come up with that coveted stop, as the Eagles were held only to a field goal, making the score 32-26 in favor of the Eagles. The Patriots would take that momentum into their next drive, as Gronkowski scored a touchdown to give the Patriots the lead, 33-32. However, the Eagles would burn the clock on the next drive. The drive would last 7 minutes, ending in a controversial touchdown by tight end Zach Ertz. The Patriots claimed the ball hit the ground, but the officials deemed that the ball had already crossed the goal line before Ertz lost control. The Patriots would take the ball back after the touchdown, hoping to score a touchdown, but the drive wouldn’t last long. Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham sacked Brady, forcing him to fumble, and the Eagles would recover it. That would be all the Eagles needed because after the Eagles kicked another field goal to take an 8-point lead, the Patriots would attempt one final “Hail Mary” pass that would be broken up in the end zone, giving the Eagles their first Super Bowl win, despite a historic game from Brady.

“I was happy that the Eagles came away with the victory,” commented sophomore Brett Zornberg. “I really wanted the Eagles to win, and what made it even more exciting was that the game was so close,” added Zornberg. Some students feel the Patriots were robbed of yet another Super Bowl trophy by the referees. “The Patriots should have won. That touchdown call for [Zach] Ertz was totally bogus. And even though I really wanted the Patriots to win, I have to give credit to [Nick] Foles; he played great. Brady will come back next year with said one student and Patriot fan. Foles would be named Super Bowl MVP shortly after for his heroic performance.

The entire city of Philadelphia erupted in celebration after the win, as Eagles took to the streets, climbing awnings, cars, and even street poles. No matter who you root for, everyone can agree on one thing: this Super Bowl was one for the ages.