Who needs a thumb, anyway? The Patriots are advancing to their eighth Super Bowl of the Brady-Belichick era after a victory over the Jaguars in Sunday’s AFC title game. It wasn’t easy, though—the Pats need another dose of late-game heroics from Tom Brady and some less-heralded contributors after a strong offensive showing from Blake Bortles and the Jags had Jacksonville on top through three quarters. (And the Pats had to do it without their star tight end.) In two weeks, the Pats will square off against the Eagles, who steamrolled the Vikings in Philadelphia on Sunday. It’s a tough blow for Minnesota, which may have been suffering from a hangover after last week’s thriller against New Orleans. As for the Eagles, the NFC’s best regular-season team has spent its two playoff games as an underdog after swapping out the injured Carson Wentz for Nick Foles. But if Foles plays like he did on Sunday, the Eagles have a legitimate chance two Sundays from now.
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January 23, 2018
The Making of an NFL Conference Champion
The Jaguars almost shocked the world and the Eagles proved they have the best roster in the league
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January 22, 2018
NFL Championship Sunday Recap: The Super Bowl–Bound Eagles Are Underdogs in Name Only
With Nick Foles doing his best Carson Wentz impression, Philadelphia dominated the Vikings. All of a sudden, these Eagles look just as dangerous as the team that steamrolled the NFL for most of the season.
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January 22, 2018
The Winners and Losers From the NFL’s Conference Championship Games
Nick Foles put on a throwback performance, the saga of Tom Brady’s hand ended in predictable fashion, and Philadelphia didn’t let Crisco impede its party
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January 21, 2018
Eagles Legend Nick Foles Dominated the Vikings
And if he plays like that against the Patriots, Philly might just be good enough to hoist the Lombardi Trophy
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January 21, 2018
Everything the Vikings Are Good at Failed Against the Eagles
After a miracle helped Minnesota advance to the championship game, the hangover hit the team hard in Philly
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January 21, 2018
Once Again, the Patriots’ Unsung Heroes Saved the Day
There is no denying the brilliance of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, but throughout New England’s dynasty there has also been one other constant: crucial contributions from the players you least expect. Sunday, it was time for Danny Amendola and Stephon Gilmore to shine.
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January 21, 2018
The Six Things That Mattered More in Jaguars-Patriots Than Tom Brady’s Freakin’ Thumb
New England’s injured QB dominated the talking points all week, but penalties, play calls, and defense determined the victor
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January 21, 2018
The Jaguars Aren’t Going to Super Bowl LII, but They Established a New Normal This Season
Tom Coughlin has put together a Jacksonville team that should be expected to win for years to come
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January 21, 2018
The Patriots Won the Game, but Lost Rob Gronkowski to a Concussion
New England’s star tight end suffered a hit to the head just before halftime and did not return
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January 20, 2018
The Curious Cases of Case Keenum
After encountering every bad quarterback situation imaginable, the Vikings passer has somehow found himself in the position that every signal-caller dreams about
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January 19, 2018
NFL Conference Championship Ringer Sound Bites With Michael Lombardi
Is Blake Bortles the most confident quarterback in the playoffs right now? Is "Thumbgate" a Belichick Jedi mind trick?
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January 19, 2018
NFC Championship Ringer Sound Bites With Chris Ryan
Can Foles pull it off? Will Philly burn? Is Jay Ajayi’s British accent fake? Chris Ryan answers all your burning questions
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January 19, 2018
Lombardi’s Laws for Clock Management
Low on time and need to score? Here are some key things that every team should remember.
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January 19, 2018
‘GM Street’: The Keys for All Four Conference Championship Teams
Tate and Lombardi decide whether there’s anything to "Thumbgate" and make their picks
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January 19, 2018
Tom Brady Is Refusing to Talk About the Only Thing Anyone Wants to Talk About
Thumbgate has captivated the nation, launching conspiracy theories and concerns. But what do we actually know? Even by Pats standards, this is a bizarre media circus.
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January 19, 2018
Build Me an Upset: Why the Jaguars Can Beat the Patriots
Robert Mays breaks down how the Jags can pull off an upset in the AFC championship game
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January 19, 2018
The Most Shocking In-Game Moments in NFL History
Plus: the Tom Brady thumb anxiety, the feeling of Vikings Super Bowl inevitability, and your championship-round NFL picks
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January 19, 2018
Tom Brady vs. the Jags’ Pass Defense Is a Dream Matchup for Football Nerds
The greatest quarterback of all time is set to take on the NFL’s best pass defense with a Super Bowl berth at stake. Who has the edge?
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January 19, 2018
NFL Conference Championship Best Bets With Cousin Sal
After going 4-0 last week, find out who Sal will be loading up on this weekend
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January 19, 2018
Tom Brady vs. Everyone
Whether it’s time, the Jacksonville defense, the media, history, a sore thumb, or his own coach, the Patriots quarterback has more than one opponent in Sunday’s AFC championship. Eighteen years into his career, he’s never not been up to the task.
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January 19, 2018
Let’s Pause From Obsessing Over Blake Bortles Just Long Enough to Remember Tom Coughlin
The Jaguars’ current head of football operations bested Bill Belichick twice in the Super Bowl; can his team stymie the Pats in the playoffs again?
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January 18, 2018
It’s Time to Embrace the Jaguars As America’s Team
The AFC title comes down to the Patriots and a franchise featuring Blake Bortles, a ferocious defense, and a passionate fan base willing to dive into tubs of mayo. Your rooting choice should be simple.
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January 17, 2018
‘Slow NFL News Day’: Conference Championships With Scott Rogowsky
Kevin is joined by the "Quiz Daddy" to discuss the unlikely batch of quarterbacks suiting up for this weekend’s conference championship games