Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have been here before. It was Feb. 6, 2005, and they were facing the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots won that game, Super Bowl XXXIX, 24-21.
Since then, so much has changed in the N.F.L., from the commissioner to the rules to the shoulder pads. On the eve of Super Bowl LII, there’s one thing that hasn’t: Brady and Belichick are still on top.
Here’s a look at how the league, the players and the game have changed, for better or worse, since 2005:
Paul Tagliabue was nearing the end of a 17-year run as the N.