Eagles fly past Vikings, set up Super Bowl LII showdown vs. Patriots

PHILADELPHIA — A dance party broke out on the sideline.

Eagles players bobbed up and down to the beat of a Meek Mill rap, waving white towels and clutching their helmets, pumping their fists in the air. This scene – just 42 days after star quarterback Carson Wentz tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a Week 14 game – seemed improbable.

Yet here it was. The NFC Championship Game still had 14 minutes and 10 seconds left, but in reality, it was over.

The Eagles demolished the Vikings 38-7 and booked their third trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history, and first since the 2004 season. In Minneapolis on Feb. 4, they will meet the Patriots, who earlier on Sunday beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 in the AFC Championship Game.

"That's the biggest thing about this football team," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "We hang in there. We battle."

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Mostly rushing four players, the Eagles sacked Vikings quarterback Case Keenum once and hit him three times before halftime. More important, however, were the turnovers the pressure forced.

Defensive end Chris Long in the first quarter dashed off the edge and smacked Keenum’s hand as he attempted a pass. The ball wobbled out of his hand to cornerback Patrick Robinson, who cradled the interception, broke tackles and scampered for a 50-yard touchdown.

The second was a second-quarter strip sack – after the Vikings had marched to Philadelphia’s 16-yard line – from rookie defensive end Derek Barnett, recovered by Long. Minnesota had been one of six teams that did not commit a turnover inside the red zone in the regular season. The Vikings had three giveaways on the night, while Philadelphia had none.

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Seven plays later, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles found a wide open Alshon Jeffery streaking down the sideline for a 53-yard touchdown.

One quarter later, coach Doug Pederson kept his foot on the gas. Despite holding a 17-point lead, he dialed up a flea flicker that went 41 yards to wide receiver Torrey Smith for another score.

Foles, who had been inconsistent since replacing Wentz, was clinical. He completed 26 of his 33 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns.

"It's very humbling and unbelievable," Foles said. "We have such a close-knit group of players that we lean on each other and it helps calm those nerves."

By the time the Eagles held a 31-point lead early in the fourth, the crowd chanted “We Want Brady!” over and over again, referencing New England’s star quarterback.

Now, 13 years after Brady beat them in Super Bowl XXXIX, they’ll get that opportunity.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.

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