Welcome to our new weekly column where we look at all things NFL from our regular NFL tipster and Rugby League raconteur Nick Tedeschi. He will look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the NFL, holding back no punches.
Eagles Punch Their Way To Victory
The Philadelphia Eagles are your Super Bowl champions, winning the title for the second time this decade in a completely dominant win over the three-peat chasing Kansas City Chiefs. While Jalen Hurts was rightly named the Super Bowl MVP but it was an aggressive defence led by playcaller Vic Fangio. An aggressive pass rush rattled Patrick Mahomes early. It led to two picks, a forced fumbled, six sacks, six tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits and a pick six. With the Eagles up 24-0 at halftime, the Super Bowl was all but over. The Eagles punched their way to Super Bowl glory in the most Philadelphia-way imaginable.
The Five Worst QB Performances in Super Bowl History
Following Patrick Mahomes’ extraordinarily poor Super Bowl, here are the five worst performances from a QB in Super Bowl history.
5.Kerry Collins – New York Giants, Super Bowl XXXV
The Giants proved no match for Ravens when the two teams met in Super Bowl 35 and they were not helped by some horrendous QB play. Collins threw four picks (including a pick six), gained just 112 yards and completed at just 38 per cent in a complete rout.
4.Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LIX
Never mind the final box score – when the game and history were on the line, Mahomes was uncharacteristically horrible. Clearly rattled by an aggressive Eagles pass rush, Mahomes had a first half QB rating of 10.7, throwing two picks including a pick six, taking an obscene number of sacks and managing just a single first down that led to an Eagles 24-0 halftime lead.
3.Earl Morrall – Baltimore Colts, Super Bowl III
Morrall had won MVP honours the year he guided the Colts to the Super Bowl when filling in for the injured legend Johnny Unitas but his form deserted him in the Super Bowl. The Colts went in 18-point favourites but lost to the Jets on the back of a Morrall shocker with the QB throwing three picks and gaining just 71 yards on six completions from 17 throws.
2.Tony Eason – New England Patriots, Super Bowl XX
Eason is one of the least likely QBs to reach a Super Bowl, playing for the Patriots in their first Super Bowl appearance. Eason failed to complete any of his six passes and lost a fumble before being yanked in the second quarter.
1.Craig Morton – Denver Broncos, Super Bowl XII
Morton has remarkably thrown seven interceptions in two Super Bowl appearances for the Cowboys and Broncos but it was his performance for Denver that was the worst. Morton went 4-for-15 against his former club, throwing for just 39 yards while getting picked four times.
The Luckiest Results From Super Bowl Betting
Super Bowl betting is one of the great events on the calendar and with so many options on the board, a little luck is required.
- First Drive/First Eagles Drive Punt – This bet was dead with the Eagles going for it at midfield on 4th Down. The only way it survived was if the Eagles gave away a penalty. AJ Brown got called for a dubious pass interference call and the Eagles punter.
- Longest FG Over 47.5 Yards – This saluted early thanks to a questionable five-yard false start penalty that moved Jake Elliott’s first field goal attempt back from 43 yards to 48 yards.
- TD To Be Overturned by Replay – Officiating incompetence to give Dotson the first TD when clearly down allowed this bet to win early with a minimal sweat. Also ensured shortest TD under 1.5 yards hit.
- Xavier Worthy Last Touchdown – This was dead and buried when DeAndre Hopkins scored late in the final quarter but with the game over Patrick Mahomes remained in and hit Worthy on a bomb to beat some Eagles backups.
Fun Fact #1
Jordan Mailata became the first Australian to win a Super Bowl.
Fun Fact #2
Only two Alabama players have scored in a Super Bowl – Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith.
Fun Fact #3
Jack ‘Soapy’ Shapiro is the shortest player in NFL history, playing for the Staten Island Stapletons in 1929.
Read It
Josh Allen stunned Lamar Jackson in the MVP race – primarily because Jackson was selected to the All-Pro team ahead of Allen. Lindsay Jones of The Ringer explains how it happened – and why voters split their votes. Read it here.
Watch It
Fin Taylor is one of the funniest people in the world. He is as dry as they get. This performance on Good Morning Football had the hosts befuddled and bemused in perhaps the most awkward moment in NFL history. Comparing the NFL to county cricket and then declaring Graham Gooch one of the greatest the game has known is too good.