Nick Foles was a gangly teenager in the process of breaking a guy named Drew Brees’ records at Austin Westlake High when the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles took on Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Journeyman quarterback Doug Pederson was wrapping up a career in which he mostly caddied for Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Brett Favre when wide receiver Deion Branch, rather than Tom Brady, became the unlikely MVP in Jacksonville while the Pats claimed their third Lombardi Trophy.
But in two weeks, they’ll be the central figures in frigid Minneapolis because the underdog Eagles crushed the Vikings’ dreams of being the first team to host the big game.