Super Bowl week is around the corner, and soon audiences will be inundated with all the coverage of the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles one can handle.
There are seven storylines particularly likely to come up, so be prepared for plenty of talk about these topics:
Gronk's concussion
Unquestionably, the biggest storyline entering the game is whether Tom Brady's top target will be available.
Rob Gronkowski was knocked out of the AFC Championship Game with a concussion and was unable to practice this week. Had the Super Bowl been scheduled for this weekend, the tight end likely would not be active.
Thankfully for Pats fans, Gronkowski will be afforded two weeks to recover from the blow to the head.
Eagles' underdog mentality
The Eagles are thriving since being labeled a playoff underdog. The us-against-the-world mentality suits Philadelphia and its ravenous fan base, and appears to have given the club an edge and swagger.
Super Bowl LII represents the tallest of all tasks, however. The Eagles will look to dethrone the imperious Patriots under the stewardship of a backup quarterback. It's the biggest impediment a team facing New England in the big one has ever encountered.
To slay the giants, the Eagles will have to channel the Giants - the only underdog to beat the Patriots in the big game.
Patriots' alleged dysfunction
The Patriots have brushed off any talk of a rift between owner, coach, and quarterback, and the rumors have done nothing to slow the juggernaut. Nonetheless, expect the storyline to be ratcheted back up during Super Bowl Media Day.
It seems everyone's looking for a crack in the Patriots dynasty. Brady and coach Bill Belichick will be forced to sit in front of a throng of media (unless they pull a Marshawn Lynch) larger than they've seen all season. Can they push aside the speculation one more time to obtain a sixth championship?
Foles' gold
With one super performance, Nick Foles can potentially make a boatload of money and land himself a full-time gig in the future (he's eligible to hit free agency after the 2018 season, but could be a trade candidate with Carson Wentz expected to make a full recovery from his ACL injury). On the flip side, as Case Keenum learned last week, it takes just one poor performance to erase all the good that came out of the 2017 season.
It's difficult to believe, but if Foles helps the Eagles knock off the defending champions, his story will be the one that dominates the offseason.
Rumored departure of Patriots assistants
According to reports, Super Bowl LII will be the last time Belichick will share a sideline with coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia.
After the season ends, McDaniels is expected to become the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and Patricia will likely depart to run the Detroit Lions.
The postseason hasn't been kind to assistants moving on to head coaching gigs. Matt Nagy's playcalling came under question in his last game with the Kansas City Chiefs before he was hired as the Chicago Bears' head coach, Steve Wilks and the Carolina Panthers' defense gave up 31 points in his last game before he left to run the Arizona Cardinals, and Pat Shurmur and the Minnesota Vikings were held to seven points in his final act as Vikings offensive coordinator. He took the Giants' coaching job a day later.
The Patriots have encountered a similar scenario and come out unscathed. For former lead assistants Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, their final game with the Patriots was Super Bowl XXXIX. New England won - against Philadelphia, no less - and both men became head coaches the following season, though Weis left to coach in the college ranks.
How will the Eagles deploy their pass rush?
Much of the talk will center on whether the Eagles' defense can replicate the success the Giants enjoyed in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
The Giants relied on a four-man front to pressure and rattle Brady, and the results were optimal. The Eagles employ a disruptive four-man unit of their own, one that has ramped up in the playoffs.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were thought to have the best defense the Patriots have seen this season, but New England still came away victorious. Can another NFC East foe get to the Golden Boy?
Is this it for Brady?
Brady has expressed his intent to play well into his 40s, and who could blame him? In all likelihood, he will collect another NFL MVP award at the age of 40.
Yet, if he and the Patriots go back-to-back and Brady wins a sixth championship, what else is there to accomplish? There's the allure of becoming the first team to ever win three consecutive Super Bowls, but even more enticing may be the call from home.
Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, has tried - on more than one occasion - to convince her husband to retire. He may still be at the top of his game, but you know the saying: "Happy wife, happy life." Even superstars have to walk away at some point.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
