The Eagles overcame a lot of adversity in their climb to their first Super Bowl championship Sunday night in Minneapolis at US Bank Stadium. There were injuries to key players, such as, tackle Jason Peters and linebacker Jordan Hicks, running back Darren Sproles and special teams extraordinaire Chris  Maragos, season-ending injuries all of them. But the most crippling season-ending injury was to quarterback Carson Wentz, who was having an MVP-calibre year when he went down in the game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Eagles hung on to beat the Rams and raised their record to 11-2. They were on their way to the playoffs, a first-round bye and home field advantage through the playoffs. But without Wentz, fans had to be realistic and accept the fact they weren’t as good a team without Wentz. Chances for survival in the postseason weren’t good and it was best not to get your hopes up.

Backup quarterback Nick Foles stepped in and played well in the next game against the New York Giants, won by the Eagles, 34-29. Whatever good feelings fans had following that contest were dissipated in the final two games of the season by the play of Foles. He was off in the next game against the Oakland Raiders, which the Eagles won 19-10, but was disappointing in the season’s finale, a 6-0 loss to Dallas, in which he played only the first quarter. He showed no signs whatsoever of being capable to lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl. A playoff win, maybe, but a Super Bowl win, it wasn’t happening.

The Eagles finished the regular season with a 13-3 record, NFC East champions, and a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. With all that to feel good about, fans felt uneasy with the backup quarterback.

Not only did Foles lead them to the Super Bowl, he was the game’s MVP and threw three touchdowns in a 41-33 toppling of the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady, in a Super Bowl that was one of the most exciting football games in history, Super Bowl or not. The Eagles were underdogs throughout the playoffs, in wins over the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings and finally the Patriots. Being the underdog could’ve been a detriment to some teams, as a sign of lack of respect. But to the Eagles, if they took it as a sign of lack of respect, they didn’t show it. If anything, they reveled in it. Defensive end Chris Long and offensive tackle Lane Johnson took to wearing dog masks as a way to thumb their nose at the oddsmakers who determine which teams are favored and by how many points.

The days of being the underdog are probably over for now. They won’t be the underdog in their season-opener regardless of who they play and probably won’t be the underdog in most of their regular season games. Something says that is okay with head coach Doug Pederson. He is bold and innovative in his play-calling and not afraid to take chances. He could be a coach who leads the charge in devising gameplans that are difficult to defend against.

His boldest move occurred in the Super Bowl. Late in the first half, the Eagles were in a fourth-and-goal at the one when Foles suggested a trick play, called “The Philly Special”. Pederson agreed to it and it gave the Eagles a 10-point lead at the halftime intermission. On the play, Foles is the receiver from a pass thrown by end Trey Burton. The play went for a touchdown and has gone down in the annals of Super Bowl lore as an all-time classic.