It’s still early, but to say that the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans have embraced the role of underdogs would be the understatement of the year. But New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is not going there.
Tom Brady not buying into the Eagles’ underdog narrative. Love it. pic.twitter.com/neLWBkHxUG
— THRILLHO (@lowfive_) January 30, 2018
“They’re well coached; they’re good in all three phases. They play complimentary games. I think they do a great job. There’s no underdogs in the Super Bowl. They’re the first seed in the NFC and they’re 13-3. I mean, they had an incredible season. So, I don’t buy into any of that. I think they’re as dangerous as any team in the league and it’s going to come down to whoever plays the best. Hopefully it’s us.”
Based on what he said ahead of the AFC Championship Game, it’s safe to say that Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith isn’t buying this. To a degree, some of this is likely Brady blowing smoke, which is certainly not uncommon in the build to the Super Bowl. Nobody wants to provide bulletin board material, after all.
But at the same time, Brady should know not to read too much into the favorite/underdog roles in the Super Bowl. His Patriots were heavy underdogs against the then St. Louis Rams when they won their first Super Bowl. Conversely, they were heavily favored 10 years ago against the New York Giants when a potential undefeated season turned into a crushing 18-1.
So, even if Brady is just opting for the P.C. answer, he knows that there’s a great deal of truth into what he’s saying.