Super
Bowl XXXIX - The Edge
Part 4: Coaching / Intangibles
- New England Patriots versus Philadelphia Eagles
In this fourth of four parts, we look at the Coaching of the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles and the intangible aspects of Super Bowl XXXIX and give our view of which team has the edge. We also give our prediction on a final score.
Coaching and Intangibles
Bill Belichick is the best head coach in the NFL. Over the past five years Andy Reid is the best coach in the NFC. Their records speak for themselves. Belichick has a 9-1 record in the playoffs and Super Bowl. He is 9-7 after his team has had an extra week off and 4-0 in the playoffs after a week off. Andy Reid is 10-0 whenever the Eagles have had an extra week to prepare for an opponent which includes a 7-0 record in the regular season and a 3-0 record in the playoffs. Both coaches have assembled superior coaching staffs. The Eagles' Jim Johnson may be the Defensive Coordinator in Football. The Patriots' Charlie Weis is a superb offensive coordinator. This will be his last game with the Patriots as he leaves to assume the head coaching duties at Notre Dame. The records of these two coaches will collide in Super Bowl XXXIX and one of these coaches will no longer be able to claim perfection in the playoffs after a week off.
The Patriots are making their third Super Bowl appearance in the last four years. They have won the prior two times they have advanced to the Super Bowl. Super Bowl experience cannot be underestimated. They know how to put aside all of the distractions of Super Bowl week and concentrate on the game. For the Eagles, this is their first Super Bowl in 24 years. Few of the Eagles have Super Bowl experience. The Eagles are, however, hungry and to the man they feel that they are a team destined to win. Their motto and the motto of the City of Philadelphia has become, "One - One Team, One City, One Dream." No one can predict the psychological impact if Terrell Owens actually takes the field on Super Bowl Sunday, if only for just a few plays.
Coaching
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Bill Belichick | 89 | 71 | 9 | 1 |
| Andy Reid | 64 | 32 | 7 | 4 |
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The Edge |
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| LARGE | SLIGHT | EVEN | SLIGHT | LARGE |
Final Score
The Patriots are a touchdown favorite in Super Bowl XXXIX and many football experts believe that the game will not be that close. Looking at the teams, position by position and coach against coach, the numbers show that this game should be very close. Can the Eagles win? Yes, they can - but they will need to play a near perfect game to do so. Will the Eagles win? My prediction for Super Bowl XXXIX is:
Patriots 24 - Eagles 21
Read Parts 1 - 3 of this article:
Part 1 - The Offenses
Part 2 - The Defenses
Part 3 - Special Teams