An ex-Eagle just pulled back the curtain on one of the NFL's juiciest untold stories. The Eagles, underdogs facing the mighty Patriots in Super Bowl LII, weren't just preparing plays, they were preparing for spies. Pure Cold War intrigue meets Sunday afternoon football. It felt like checking under the bed for monsters. Only that these adversaries wore headsets and held Lombardi Trophies.
During Episode 7 of "Exciting Mics," Chris Long dropped the bombshell. He revealed the Eagles ran fake plays during Super Bowl week walkthroughs. Why?
Pure, unadulterated Spygate-inspired paranoia before facing Bill Belichick's Patriots. "We were running fake plays... because we were worried somebody was camped out in the upper deck," Long told Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship. They believed Patriots eyes were everywhere, forcing Philly into elaborate deception. It wasn't just strategy.
In fact, it was psychological warfare on the grandest stage. Long recalled the surreal practice moments vividly. He approached linemen Lane Johnson and Brandon Brooks, baffled by the bizarre formations. Their response? A knowing nod to New England's notorious reputation.
"Dude, we're running fake plays... New England, Spygate, the whole thing," they explained. The Eagles weren't taking any chances. Every move felt surveilled. And that turned routine preparations into a cloak-and-dagger operation. This level of gamesmanship highlighted the immense pressure surrounding the clash. It set the tone for everything that followed, including that play.
The tension peaked just before halftime. With 38 seconds left, fourth and goal at the Patriots' one-yard line, up 15-12. Kicking a field goal was the safe move. But Doug Pederson and Nick Foles had other ideas. Long stood near the sideline, sensing something special brewing. "Hey, check this out," a teammate whispered. Players subtly crowded, trying not to stare too obviously. Curiosity buzzed like static electricity. What gutsy call could flip this game?
Then it happened. "Philly Special." The direct snap to Clement. The pitch to Trey Burton. The pass to... quarterback Nick Foles? Long watched, breath held. "That’s got to be the toughest catch in the world," he thought, the ball seeming to hang "for like 30 seconds."
Foles hauled it in. Touchdown. 22-12 Eagles. The risky trick play wasn't just points; it was a statement. "It signaled that we were not afraid of them," Long emphasized. That audacity defined their championship run.
Long's Mic Drop Moment
The play's success was legendary, but Long's insight reveals its deeper meaning. It was born from the Eagles' collective defiance against the Patriot mystique. That fake-play subterfuge wasn't paranoia; it was calculated distrust, fueling their underdog fire. Foles himself later admitted the play call felt surreal, even misnaming it "Philly Philly" in the moment. But Pederson trusted his quarterback's gut.
That trust, forged in a week of spy games, delivered perfection. Tom Brady himself acknowledged the play's iconic status years later.
He shouted during a broadcast early this year, "Nick, I don't hate you. I'm jealous of you! You caught it, I didn't." His own dropped trick pass attempt earlier in the game made Foles' catch sting even more. And the Philly Special was the ultimate counter-punch in that psychological battle. Moreover, its legacy is immense.
Trademarked by the Eagles, immortalized in Super Bowl rings featuring diamonds totaling the jerseys of Foles (9), Burton (88), and Clement (30), and even inspiring a Christmas album by the offensive line. Trey Burton, the passer, humbly accepts his link to history: "Anytime you have a positive play... in the Super Bowl... it’s humbling; it’s cool." And it transcended Xs and Os.
Chris Long's revelation adds a crucial layer to the Eagles' first Super Bowl triumph. The fake walkthrough plays weren't just about hiding a trick; they embodied the team's mindset. Facing Belichick's empire, they fought shadows as much as players. Besides, the Philly Special was the dazzling flourish. But the win was built on meticulous preparation, deep suspicion, and unwavering belief.
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It proved even legends can be outfoxed. And sometimes, the greatest victories come from audacious, unexpected moves—and a healthy dose of spy games.