Players and coaches have arrived at the domed U.S Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where fans won’t have to suffer through the coldest Super Bowl in recorded history.
The overnight temperature in Minneapolis reached minus-6 degrees and was up to 2 degrees around four hours before kickoff between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
The coldest previous range was the Detroit Super Bowl in 1982, with a low of 5 degrees and a high of 16 when it was played at the Silverdome. There was a chance for the Minneapolis high to reach 5 on Sunday.
Tom Brady arrived to Sunday’s game dressed like a secret agent
Tom Brady (No. 12), warms up before the NFL Super Bowl LII
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Linda Holliday, right, arrive before the NFL Super Bowl XLII
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles warms up before the NFL Super Bowl LII
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen (far right), the wife of Tom Brady, prepares for Sunday’s game
When the Super Bowl was in Minnesota at the Metrodome in 1992, the outside temperature at kickoff was 26 degrees. That’s the average high here for February 4.
The coldest outdoor game in Super Bowl history was in New Orleans at Tulane Stadium in 1972, when the kickoff temperature was 39 degrees.
The weather obviously won’t affect New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who, at 40, would be the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl if the Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles. He would dethrone Peyton Manning, who won at age 39 with the Denver Broncos to cap the 2015 season.
Brady has put up numbers in his 18th season unmatched by any player in NFL history. He led the league with 4,577 yards passing during the regular season and his five touchdown passes are tied for the most in the playoffs.
Brady’s seven Super Bowl appearances are as many as the entire Eagles roster. He’s faced a myriad of difficult scenarios in the championship game, including last year’s 25-point hole the Patriots dug out of to beat the Falcons.
Brady won that one without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who will be in uniform after being cleared late this week.
Close games have been no problem , for Brady and coach Bill Belichick either. The total difference in scoring in those seven games is 12 points: Patriots 169, opponents 157.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson watches his team warm up before the game
Philadelphia Eagles players arrive prior to Super Bowl LII at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
You want to talk about comebacks? No player in the Super Bowl era has more fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs in his career than Brady’s eight. It’s probably why Brady chuckled this week when he was again asked about how long he wanted to keep playing.
‘Why does everyone want me to retire so bad?’ Brady said. ‘I don’t get it. I’m having fun. The team’s doing good. I know I’m a little bit older than most of the guys, but I’m really enjoying it. … I’m not thinking about retirement. I’m thinking about the Super Bowl and trying to win the most important game of the year.’
As big as the Brady factor is, he’s not the only advantage New England has.
The Patriots lost go-to receiver Julian Edelman in the preseason to a knee injury and linebacker Dont’a Hightower to a season-ending shoulder injury in October. After some early-season struggles, Belichick found a way to plug the holes, with contributions from several previously unheralded players like Trey Flowers, Kyle Van Noy, Lawrence Guy and Ricky Jean Francois .
Fans wait before the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots Sunday
New England has also gotten a strong season from receiver Brandin Cook after acquiring him from New Orleans this offseason. He posted his third straight 1,000-yard receiving season (1,082) and was second on the team in receiving yards behind only Gronkowski (1,084). Running back Dion Lewis has also found new life just two seasons removed from a knee injury. He led the team with 896 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns.
It’s underlined the football savvy of Belichick, who with a sixth Super Bowl win would pass Vince Lombardi and tie George Halas and Curly Lambeau for most NFL championships by a coach.
Belichick will be taking part in his 11th Super Bowl as a head coach or assistant, the most among any coach in NFL history. That amounts to 21.2 percent of all Super Bowls in league history and 34.4 percent of all Super Bowls since his first appearance as the Giants defensive coordinator in 1986.
Though there have been reports of alleged friction this season between Belichick, Brady and team owner Robert Kraft, it’s clear they are on the same page when it comes to the pursuit of championships.
‘It changes every year. The venues are different, the teams are different, the matchups are different, and the road the team has traveled to get here is different, as is the road your opponent has traveled,’ Belichick said. ‘Each one is unique. Each one’s special.’
A mock memorial set up with a casket calling the Eagles a deceased team along Route 1A
A mock memorial set up with a casket calling the Philadelphia Eagles a deceased team
Members of the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots warm up before the game