Top 10 Most Memorable Plays From Eagles' Super Bowl Win

Let's relive the Eagles' 41-33 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl with a collection of photos and videos from the most memorable moments of the game.

Honorable mention: Patriots' failed Hail Mary attempt

You could make a case that Tom Brady's desperation heave as time expired was the most memorable moment of all. Eagles fans will always remember exactly where they were when that pass finally touched the earth, sealing the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. In a way, the finish was emblematic of the entire season. It took a team effort, with nearly all 11 players on the field playing pivotal roles - Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox pressuring Brady, and six Eagles defensive backs engulfing Rob Gronkowski. The play was not without drama, either, as the pass pinballed off bodies in the end zone, staying alive for what felt like an eternity, before eventually falling incomplete. It was a special moment, probably worthy of a place on this list.

At the same time, it was highly improbable the Patriots were going to convert on a Hail Mary from 51 yards out, and even then, they still needed a two-point conversion to tie. In terms of Super Bowl lore, this game won't be remembered for coming down to the last second. It was these 10 plays the Eagles made earlier that made this conclusion possible.

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10. Torrey Smith's helmet catch

In the grand scheme, Smith's grab wasn't the most pivotal. Not that it was unimportant – the 15-yard conversion on 3rd-and-12 extended the Eagles' opening drive, which ultimately ended in three points. It was the manner in which Smith caught the ball, pressing it against the crown of his helmet to secure possession. The play was reminiscent of New York Giants legend David Tyree's catch 10 years earlier in Super Bowl XLII, which led to the end of the Patriots' bid for a perfect season.

Smith's catch wasn't as significant or difficult as Tyree's, but you could tell there was magic in the air when he pulled it off. Video doesn't do it justice.

9. Jake Elliott's 46-yard field goal

Let's set the scene. Elliott's kick put the Eagles ahead by eight points with 65 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, with the Patriots out of timeouts. Obviously, it was huge, but missing would have been enormous. Instead of trailing by a touchdown and a two-point conversion, and needing to go the length of the field to score, New England would've got the ball back at their own 33-yard line, only down by five. Nine times out of 10, Brady will find a way to beat you in that scenario.

Elliott made two extra points and three field goals in the contest, but none more important than this. When it came time to drive a nail into the Patriots' coffin, the 23-year-old rookie kicker had ice water running through his veins.

8. Corey Clement's 22-yard touchdown reception

Unfortunately, a long official review in addition to Cris Collinsworth's and Al Michaels' insistence this play wouldn't stand hurts its memorability. It's a shame, because it may have been the most impressive throw and catch of the entire game. I mean, the window Nick Foles fit this pass into is small, and Marquis Flowers is draped all over Clement as the ball arrives. It's a huge play, responding to a Patriots touchdown out of the halftime break, put the Eagles up 29-19 in the third quarter.

Sure, there is a little bobble. It was replay-worthy. There is also no way to definitively say Clement didn't have control with two feet inbounds. Be sure to thank the announce team for killing the mood on this one.

By the way, Clement finished with four receptions for 100 yards, including a 55-yard catch-and run to set up play No. 7 on our list.

7. LeGarrette Blount rumbles 21 yards for touchdown

Arguably not even Blount's most impressive carry of the night, as he ripped off a 36-yard gain earlier. Only this time, the former Patriot takes it to the house, running through a Duron Harmon tackle attempt on his way across the goal line. The run gave the Eagles a 15-3 second-quarter lead, and, naturally, the irony of Blount coming back to haunt his old team is not lost. He finished with 90 yards on 14 attempts.

Another great aspect of this play is longtime Eagles tight end Brent Celek, the most tenured player on the roster, making one of the key blocks to spring Blount. Celek didn't have a catch, nor was he targeted, but his presence was felt in the Super Bowl.

6. Rodney McLeod powerbombs Brandin Cooks

One of the game's unsung heroes, McLeod twice prevented early Patriots touchdowns. The veteran safety made a shoestring tackle on Gronkowski to stop a walk-in touchdown, after which the Eagles were able to force New England to settle for three. Then, on the very next possession, McLeod sniffed out the jet sweep to Brandin Cooks on 3rd and 2 and beat the wide receiver to the sticks. What happened next was something out of WWE.

Cooks attempted to hurdle, but McLeod caught him in mid-air and planted him back to the turf for no gain. The Patriots botched the ensuing field goal, allowing the Eagles' to maintain their 9-3 lead in the second quarter.

It was one of six tackles for McLeod. Amazingly, it wasn't the worst thing that happened to Cooks.

5. Malcolm Jenkins absolutely crushes Cooks

No decent human being is rooting for injuries, but we all know football is a violent sport, and while you hope Cooks is okay, this was a legal play by Jenkins.

Cooks was looking to add to a wide-open 23-yeard reception, but failed to account for Jenkins. The wideout cut in search of open space, but ran right into the Pro Bowl safety coming at full speed, their helmets colliding. It would be the end of Cooks' night. Four players later, the Patriots turned the ball over on downs, and the Eagles still led 9-3 in the second.

Unfortunate as the result was, injuries are a part of the game. There's no question this one altered the contest, as Cooks is New England's best deep threat.

4. Alshon Jeffery hauls in 34-yard touchdown

There was some debate as to whether Jeffery is a "true No. 1 wide receiver." Pretty sure we close the book on that conversation.

Whatever Jeffery is, he was unreal on this grab. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound wideout was physically dominant, boxing out Eric Rowe before skying over the corner for the pass. The concentration is impeccable, too, with Jeffery getting both feet in bounds and not even the slightest bit of ball movement in his hands. It was the first touchdown of the game, giving the Eagles their 9-3 lead in the first quarter, and it set the tone for the rest of the contest.

Jeffery made his three catches count, going for 73 yards.

3. Zach Ertz scores game-winning touchdown

Try as they might, Michaels and Collinsworth couldn't ruin this one. Ertz collected his seventh reception of the night, collecting what went into the books as an 11-yard slant, took three steps and dove into the end zone, temporarily losing possession of the football. The play went for an official review, and due to all the controversy over the NFL's catch rule this season, the announcers weren't confident the play would stand. Sanity prevailed, and the Eagles retook the lead with 2:21 to play in the fourth quarter.

They would never look back.

2. Brandon Graham's strip sack

When Graham finally got to Brady for the Eagles' first sack of the game, and Derek Barnett recovered the loose football with 2:09 left to play, it started to feel real. Perhaps the most important play in franchise history – but not quite the most memorable.

1. The Philly Special

Requires no introduction.

Nick Foles' line: 28 for 43, 373 yards, three touchdown passes, one Super Bowl MVP – and one one-yard touchdown reception from Trey Burton to complete the most incredible play in Eagles history.

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