Eagles vs Patriots – why it could be another classic

When Super Bowl 52 kicks off, at 3:30pm on February 4 2018 (PST), over one hundred million people watching across the globe will be expecting a great game to unfold. After all, who can forget last year's event, when New England Patriots made the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, to achieve a 34-28 win over Atlanta Falcons; their fifth win overall.

Despite the fact that New England are strong favorites, there is plenty to suggest that it's not going to be as easy a ride as current Super Bowl betting, and many previews, suggest.

Why New England are favorites

Any team that is defending the title from last year, and looking for a sixth win in eight appearances, is likely to be considered the favorite. The fact is that the Patriots are a solid and well-run team, that has shown its mettle over the years, both in winning from the front and coming back from behind to achieve victory.

Of course, the Patriots have not always been the favorites, as far as Super Bowl appearances are concerned. They were the underdogs, until a famous win against the St Louis Rams started them on a journey of success in the event. It's perhaps significant that quarterback Tom Brady appeared during that victory, back in 2002, and is set to make his eighth Super Bowl appearance, at the age of 40, on February 4. Recent rumors have suggested that Brady might be affected by a hand injury which occurred in training, and required 12 stitcthes. But, if his performance against Jacksonville Jaguars is anything to go by, it does not seem as though the injury is too much of an issue.

The chances of the underdogs winning

So, the Patriots have been installed as favorites for Super Bowl 52, but it's not quite that simple. Philadelphia Eagles may be the underdogs, but they are certainly well-equipped enough to cause an upset. One of the main strengths that the Eagles have is a defense that has the ability to handle the threat of Tom Brady. This is combined with the fact that the Eagles are team which is unlikely to come into a game with a do not lose ethos. They are likely to put pressure on the Patriots, and play in a positive way.

There is a very good chance that these positives could help the Eagles to achieve a lead going into the fourth quarter. What they need to do is ensure that they do not back off at this stage. By keeping the pressure on the Patriots, the team from Philadelphia could just provide a shock and stop Brady, and the rest of the Patriots team, from achieving the sixth Super Bowl Title that they crave so much.

It certainly seems as though the fans attending the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, on February 4, and those watching worldwide, have a potential classic to look forward to. If both teams play to their strengths it could certainly be a clash to remember.

 

Minnesota Twins closer, Glen Perkins announced on Twitter that after twelve seasons in MLB (all with Minnesota) he will be retiring from the game.

Perkins was a 1st Round Draft Pick (22nd overall) in 2004 and he would debut for the Twins in 2006. In 2008 he was a starter but he was relegated to a middle relief role. He would however become a the team’s closer in 2012 and from 2013 to 2015 he was named an All Star and recorded 30 or more Saves.

A torn labrum took him out of the lineup for most of the 2016 and 2017 season and he only pitched 10 Games in the last two seasons. The Twins bought out his contract after the ’17 campaign.

Perkins retires with an overall record of 35 and 25 with 120 Saves.

While we don’t expect Perkins to receive any serious Hall of Fame consideration, should he make the ballot it would be in 2023.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com wish Glen Perkins the best in his post-baseball career.

As been long expected it has been officially announced that the Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von) will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Originally forming in ECW as a collective of “half-brothers from Dudleyville”, Bubba Ray and D-Von were breakout heels and would become the dominant tag team in the Philadelphia based promotion. In 1999, the WWE came calling and unlike previous ECW stalwarts, Public Enemy, the Dudleys got over in the WWE and they became major tag team stars.

The Dudleys would participate in the famed TLC Match at Wrestlemania 2000 and would become nine time Tag Team Champions there both as heels and faces and would participate in multiple main events. The duo would be released in 2005 and for a decade they would compete in various promotions, such as New Japan and TNA, and though they were not permitted to go by the Dudleys, they were still an over tandem regardless of wherever they were.

They returned last year in a part nostalgia/enhancement role for a one year period.

We did not have them ranked as they were active in the WWE last year and were both under 46 (though Bubba Ray is now 46), which is the age that we considered mandatory to rank a wrestler regardless of their activity. The Dudleys were in our Futures section and will be removed when we do our overhaul in the spring.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the Dudleys for earning this accolade.

Tony Gonzalez will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 and our guess (and isn’t it everyone’s?) that the former 14 time Pro Bowl Tight End will enter in his first try. While he is waiting for that accolade he has one Hall to enter first: the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.

Gonzalez (who also played basketball) was drafted out of UCLA 13th overall in 1997 and in his third season he would make his first of 10 Pro Bowls and first of five First Team All Pro nods. Gonzalez had four campaigns that exceeded 1,000 Yards (unheard of for a Tight End) and actually led the NFL in Receptions in 2004. In his 12 years with Kansas City, he tallied a whopping 10,940 Yards with 76 Touchdowns.

He will be honored at an Award banquet on February 24 and will be officially enshrined at Alumni Weekend this fall.

Gonzalez becomes the 44th player (and 48th member overall) to enter the Chiefs Hall of Fame.