The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

The best of Super Bowl LII: From the Eagles’ upset to top commercials and JT’s halftime show

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4. Eagles fans took the streets, light poles and rooftops to celebrate. (Video: Amber Ferguson, Nic Justice, Branden Eastwood/The Washington Post)

The Philadelphia Eagles can finally call themselves Super Bowl champions. The Eagles defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33, in a back-and-forth contest in which the record for most total yards was shattered (1,151).

Quarterback Nick Foles, who started the season as a backup but took over as starter after Carson Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14, was named MVP after accounting for four — three passing, one receiving — of Philadelphia’s five total touchdowns. The victory was the Eagles’ first in three trips to the Super Bowl and the first major professional sports title for the city since the 2008 World Series.

But that’s just part of what the Super Bowl offers each year. Below you’ll find the best of The Post’s coverage from Super Bowl LII, from a review of the best and worst commercials, Justin Timberlake’s halftime show and much more.

Reading: Top story lines | Commercials | Halftime show

Top story lines

Recap: Eagles defeat Patriots, 41-33, to capture first Super Bowl title

Backup quarterback Nick Foles throws for 373 yards and three TDs in an MVP performance as Philadelphia denies Tom Brady and Bill Belichick a sixth crown. (Read More)

From ‘Philly Special’ to 3 TD passes, Nick Foles was — improbably — the Super Bowl’s best QB

A very unlikely Super Bowl MVP, Foles goes from near-retirement to leading the Eagles to a championship victory. (Read More)

The Patriots’ inevitable comeback was underway. Then Tom Brady’s hot hand came up empty.

The New England quarterback has made a career out of rallying his team to late-game victories with the ball in his hand. The Eagles took it away, and with it the Patriots’ hopes for a sixth title. (Read More)

Eagles fans swarm downtown Philadelphia after Super Bowl win

Party on. (Read More)

How the Eagles pulled off the trick play that led to Nick Foles’ touchdown catch

An Xs-and-Os breakdown of one of the plays that decided the Super Bowl. (Read More)

Do you believe in miracles? Yes — because the Patriots lost the Super Bowl.

Somehow, the Eagles are the champions, and that just leaves you wondering: What’s the catch? (Read More)

Nick Foles celebrates Eagles’ Super Bowl win with his adorable baby daughter, Lily

This year’s champion in the hearts department isn’t even a year old yet. (Read More)

Nick Foles is a deserving Super Bowl MVP

Eagles won a back-and-forth game over the Patriots, who were a 4.5-point favorite heading into Super Bowl LII. (Read More)

After Super Bowl loss, Rob Gronkowski says he isn’t sure he’ll play next season

The Patriots’ tight end, who has often been injured, says he plans to give his future some thought. (Read More)

The Patriots definitely did not get all the calls in the Super Bowl

Three disputed touchdowns went the Eagles’ way, two after official reviews, going a long way toward helping them topple the Patriots. (Read More)

NFL players were as blown away by the Nick Foles touchdown catch as everyone else

The gutsy piece of trickery on a fourth down near the goal line made for the most memorable moment of the first half. (Read More)

Patriots’ Brandin Cooks fails to hurdle Eagles, then gets knocked out of Super Bowl

The New England wide receiver was involved in two of the most noteworthy plays, for painful reasons, of the first half, but he would not return from a massive hit. (Read More)

President Trump sends a Super Bowl message about standing for the national anthem

The president pays tribute to military members and issues a reminder about standing for the national anthem. (Read More)

On the eve of Super Bowl LII, Tom Brady becomes oldest NFL MVP ever

The night before he was to play in his eighth Super Bowl since 2001, the Patriots’ 40-year-old QB won the league’s top honor. (Read More)

In a tough sports town, baptisms and bible studies fuel many of the Eagles’ stars

Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and several members of the Eagles are among a number of NFL players appearing in a promotional video for a faith-based effort called Football Sunday. (Read More)

This season has been about much more than football for the Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins

The Eagles safety was a prominent figure in the anthem protests and the NFL’s new social justice accord. Oh, and now he’s playing for a Super Bowl ring. (Read More)

This generation’s Super Bowl teams will be the last who can claim ignorance of CTE

Concussion data and CTE news are so prevalent now, it’s impossible to overlook them. (Read More)

NFLPA says it is prepared for a labor “war” with the NFL owners in 2021.

“We prepare for war,” NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith said of a possible labor confrontation when the league’s CBA expires following the 2020 season. (Read More)

Commercials

The five best commercials from the 2018 Super Bowl

The Giants and Tide left quite an impression. (Watch)

The five worst commercials from the 2018 Super Bowl

“Dilly, dilly” was silly, silly. And not in a good way. (Watch)

Super Bowl Dodge commercial draws backlash for using a sermon from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

King’s sermon was delivered the same year he was assassinated 50 years ago. (Read More)

Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. doing ‘Dirty Dancing’ may have just won the Super Bowl

This is just perfect. And it didn’t even need Peyton Manning. (Read More)

The five best Super Bowl commercials from 2017

Christopher Walken gives another performance to remember. And that’s just one highlight. (Read More)

Halftime 

This is how Justin Timberlake lost the Super Bowl

A review of the pop superstar’s underwhelming halftime show. (Read More)

Five very important questions about Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl halftime show

Was that Janet Jackson reference a smart idea? What about the Prince tribute that wasn’t quite a hologram? (Read More)

From Grambling State to Lady Gaga: The Super Bowl halftime show’s humble history

Before Super Bowl halftimes were taken over by production companies and pop stars, they were headlined by a marching band that “brought soul to the mix.” (Read More)

Everything you forgot about Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s 2004 halftime controversy

Refresh your memory about the wardrobe malfunction heard ’round the world. (Read More)

An illustrated history of the Super Bowl Halftime Show

What does every halftime show ever look like in 8-bit animation? Glad you asked. (Read More)

Loading...