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If you were to complete an oral history of the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, it would be about as long as one of those compositions you read in front of the class in elementary school. And it would be just as awkward, with little of value or substance to offer, finally coming to a very unhappy ending. Will the Eagles be able to change the narrative in Super Bowl LII?

Let's face it, the New England Patriots are the NFL's version of Hulk Hogan. Much like Hogan, the legendary wrestling champion, so often the Patriots look to be down and out and on the verge of defeat, only to rise up and stage a miraculous come-from-behind victory. New England's win over the Jacksonville was the 54th fourth-quarter rally engineered by Patriots QB Tom Brady.

The similarities between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles are stark. Both are led by smothering, stifling defenses. Both have quarterbacks at the helm who weren't the guy under center when the NFL season started. When the regular season got underway, neither team was touted as a playoff contender, let alone to end up as opponents in the NFC championship Game. And neither team has won the Super Bowl.

Talk about a contrast in histories. The New England Patriots are playing in their seventh AFC Championship Game in a row and their 12th conference title game since 2001. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the AFC Championship Game for just the third time in franchise history. Sunday's contest will be only the 14th playoff game for the team since the Jaguars entered the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1995.

To say that Tom Brady has owned the Tennessee Titans is a bit of an understatement. The New England Patriots quarterback is 6-1 lifetime against Tennessee and has beaten the Titans in their last six meetings. Factor in the Patriots' impressive 20-4 home playoff record, and that they haven't lost at home in postseason play since 2012, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick the winner here.

No team in the NFL playoffs was performing better down the stretch than the Atlanta Falcons. The defending NFC champions are 7-2 in their last nine games. They took care of the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams on the road in the wild card round and will look to do the same to the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional playoff round, also on the road.

Will Tom Brady get one for the thumb in Super Bowl LII? Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback, led the NFL in passing yardage this season, one year removed from winning his record fourth Super Bowl MVP award. The Patriots are the top seed in the AFC, giving them the inside track to another trip to the Super Bowl, And if victory awaits them, it's a good bet that another MVP award could be handed off to Brady at game's end.

For the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons, the task is simple - win and they are in the NFL playoffs. For other teams, such as the Buffalo Bills, L.A. Chargers and Seattle Seahawks, they are still playoff eligible, but destiny is not in their hands. They must win their final game of the season, and then hope for a series of circumstances to unfold to get to the dance.

There's a dirty bird racing toward the Big Easy and it looms larger in the rear-view mirror of the New Orleans Saints with each passing week. The defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons are in a mood to retain their NFC South crown, and they are positioned well to do so. Win Sunday at New Orleans and again next Sunday against Carolina and the Falcons are once again champs.