NFL Fans, it's the most wonderful time of the year...IT'S TIME FOR THE SUPER BOWL! If you're a New York fan like me, it'll be a nightmare. If not, it'll be a bloodbath (figuratively speaking). So, here's a Milolissa short centered around the big game! Of course, this is just the work of a fan here! ROLL IT!
CHRISTMAS DAY...
Milo was nervous as he and Melissa opened their presents. Once they got to the gifts they got for each other, Milo and Melissa flinched. "I hope you like what I got for you," they both said in unison.
"Milo, relax! You know I'm gonna like anything you got for me..." Melissa started as she opened the box to uncover a white Philadelphia Eagles jersey with an 11 on the front and the name WENTZ on the back. "Oh my gosh, Milo! How'd you know?" the ginger asked.
"Every time we passed by Foot Locker in the mall, you were eyeing that jersey, so I told myself that's what I wanted to get you for Christmas. But wait...there's a 2nd part to that gift of yours!"
"Part 2?" Melissa asked, surprised as she looked into the box again. Inside were 3 tickets to Super Bowl 52 - that's right...Zack was coming along with Milo and Melissa. "No way, Milo! SUPER BOWL TICKETS?!"
"That's right, Melissa! You, me and Zack are going to the Super Bowl! Reason being is that all 3 of us are going to be competing in this year's edition of the Madden Bowl!"
Milo, Melissa and Zack ended up being 3 of the top 16 Madden NFL players in the world this season and were invited to play at the Madden Bowl, which is to be held at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, site of Super Bowl 52. Winner gets $250,000.
"You know what team I'll be picking, guys!" Zack said to Milo and Melissa.
"WE KNOW ALREADY!" the couple snapped, already knowing that Zack was going to choose his Jacksonville Jaguars.
"By the way, Milo...you can open my gift to you now..." Melissa said to her boyfriend. Inside the box, Milo found a green Eagles jersey with a number 86 on the front and the name ERTZ on the back.
"Melissa..." Milo started before throwing the jersey on and throwing himself into Melissa's arms, kissing her.
"I love you too, Milo..." Melissa swooned. "And I can't wait for February 4th. I hope the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl, but after Wentz's injury, I'm not too sure."
"That's the thing about Murphy's law...it's unpredictable!"
JANUARY 21st, 2018...
Conference Championship Weekend was thrilling, to say the least. Milo, Melissa, Zack and Sara were joined by Zack's girlfriend, Amanda Lopez - who apparently is a New England Patriots fan. Sara didn't have a horse in the fight, as her New Orleans Saints were ousted by the Vikings in the Divisional Round. For most of the AFC title game, Zack was on the verge of celebration as his Jaguars were closing in on deleting the defending champion New England Patriots. However...the effort fell short. The Jaguars blew it as Tom Brady scored the final 2 touchdowns of the game, sending the Patriots to Super Bowl 52 with a 24-20 win over Jacksonville.
"YES! ANOTHER CONFERENCE TITLE FOR BRADY!" Amanda cheered, much to the ire of Zack.
"Amanda, this isn't over, babe! You still gotta get through the NFC champion in Minneapolis!"
"Not gonna be a problem for Tom Brady, UNDERWOOD!"
"We'll see about that, LOPEZ!"
After cooling the couples' quarrel between Zack and Amanda, everyone settled in for the NFC Championship Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings. The game started off fairly even with the first quarter ending in a 7-7 deadlock. However, touchdowns by LeGarrett Blount and Alshon Jeffery helped push the Eagles' lead to 24-7. After Nick Foles found Torrey Smith for his 2nd touchdown, bringing the lead to 31-7, the celebration began.
"EAGLES ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!" Milo and Melissa cheered. They'll be having a peaceful two weeks. Zack, on the other hand...his hopes for a peaceful two weeks were dashed when Amanda's Patriots beat his Jaguars earlier in the day.
"What are we gonna do about Zack and Amanda, Melissa?" Milo asked his ginger girlfriend.
"Those 2 are just too immature to separate relationship from their fandom, Milo. At least Amanda's outnumbered 3 to 1."
"I don't think that'll mean anything right now, Melissa. The Birds are just gonna have to beat the Patriots in Minneapolis. That's sure to shut up her perfectionist mouth!"
Melissa gasped. "WOAH! Milo! Making fun of your former crush there, are we?"
"Well, she deserves it for being a fan of the biggest cheaters in the NFL!"
There was just no stopping the Eagles as they were able to run out the clock and as it hit 0:00, Milo and Melissa went ballistic. The duo pulled Zack to join them.
"You know what we gotta do now, Zack?" Melissa asked.
"I'm way ahead of you, Melissa!" Zack confirmed.
Milo pulled a conductor's stand and baton out of his backpack as he, Melissa and Zack were soon joined by Sara. He then tapped the stand with his baton. "1, 2, 3..."
Fly, Eagles, Fly!
On the road to victory
Fight, Eagles, Fight!
Score a touchdown
one, two, three!
Hit 'em low!
Hit 'em high!
And watch our Eagles fly!
Fly, Eagles, Fly!
On the road to victory!
E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!
"THIS IS OUR HOUSE! WE WON'T BE DENIED!" Amanda retorted, proudly donning her retro Adam Vinateri jersey and Patriots helmet.
"This is gonna be the longest two weeks of our lives," Milo and Melissa said in unison.
FEBRUARY 4th, 2018...
The past two weeks were eventful - Milo, Melissa, Zack, Amanda and Sara were using their transporter phones (3 guesses as to who made them...) to transport back and forth between Danville and Minneapolis to take in as much as the Super Bowl festivities as possible. Between Milo, Melissa, Zack and Sara, there was no teasing. However...between Zack and Amanda, their fandom escalated to near disastrous levels. Let's recap:
1/22 - Amanda snuck into Zack's bedroom and put up a poster of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. Zack retaliated by decking out Amanda's locker in Eagles green and silver.
1/23 - Zack got into Amanda's room, replacing all of her Patriots gear with his Eagles gear. For her response, Amanda blared Bon Jovi's 'This Is Our House' the entire day to troll Zack.
1/24 - Amanda rigged Zack's locker to cause an avalanche of red, white and blue confetti. Zack's response - setting Amanda's ringtone to 'Fly Eagles Fly'.
1/25 - Amanda changed the lock screen on Zack's phone to show Tom Brady instead of former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Zack's answer - changing the lock screen on Amanda's phone from Tom Brady to Carson Wentz.
1/26 - Zack's prank - replacing the poster of Amanda's athlete crush, Rob Gronkowski, with a poster of his favorite player - Zach Ertz; Amanda responded by repainting Zack's room red, white and blue - Patriots colors.
1/27 - Zack filled Amanda's locker with green and silver confetti; Amanda's response - replacing all his DVDs of Eagles and Jaguars games with Patriots games
1/28 - Amanda found a replay of the previous Sunday's AFC title game and tweeted it to Zack with the caption 'Can't wait to see my man's reaction when my Patriots clip the Eagles' feathers on Sunday!' Zack's response was swift - a GIF of the Eli Manning to David Tyree catch from Super Bowl 42. Zack's caption...'The play that wrecked my girlfriend's life 10 years ago!'
1/29 - Dueling touchdown horns...Zack set his ringtone to the Eagles touchdown horn (with Fall Out Boy's 'Light 'Em Up') while Amanda set her ringtone to the Patriots horn. Both ringtones blared throughout the day, much to the ire of Milo and Melissa.
1/30 - Amanda changed Zack's phone code to the year the Eagles were last in the Super Bowl, while Zack did the same to Amanda...only he changed it to the year Bill Belichick took command of the Patriots.
1/31 - Zack transformed Amanda's room into a replica of Lincoln Financial Field; as her response, Amanda did the same to Zack's room, transforming it into a replica of Gillette Stadium.
2/1 - FLAG SWITCH! Zack got Amanda's Patriots flag, while Amanda got Zack's Eagles flag.
2/2 - The couple took things back to social media. Amanda's post - 'Groundhog saw his shadow, guess that means my Patriots will win on Sunday!' Zack's response - 'Don't you mean that the Eagles will overthrow the evil Bradian Empire?'
2/3 - Still on social media, but this time, Zack and Amanda referenced 'Marvel's Avengers'. Amanda posted 'The Pats have a Pro Bowl cast of characters on offense! What do the Eagles have?', to which Zack answered...'They have a Wentz.'
Finally, the big day had arrived. The quintet was amped up to get to Minneapolis. Milo and Melissa were clad in the jerseys they got each other for Christmas. Amanda had her Rob Gronkowski jersey on, Zack was wearing his retro Donovan McNabb jersey and Sara had on a pink Nelson Agholor jersey. First thing's first - the Madden Bowl Tournament. The final 4 ended up being Milo, Melissa, Zack and Amanda. Using his Jacksonville Jaguars, Zack soundly dispatched Amanda's New England Patriots, 31-10. Milo and Melissa's game would be much closer. However, Milo, using the Minnesota Vikings, pulled off a last second touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Stefon Diggs to beat Melissa's Philadelphia Eagles, 27-24. This set up a best bro showdown between Milo and Zack. Zack put up one amazing fight against Milo, but his effort fell short as Milo put up 35 unanswered first half points and Zack's 2nd half comeback would be all for naught as Milo's Vikings would defeat Zack's Jaguars, 42-30, enabling Milo to claim the title of Madden Bowl champion and with it came an automatic invite to Madden Bowl 2019 in Atlanta and the $250,000 prize.
"Ready to roll, Zacky?" Amanda asks her boyfriend.
"So ready, Amanda! I was only 3 when the Eagles were in Super Bowl 39, so if they win this one, I will go ballistic!" Zack replied.
"I love the enthusiasm, Zack...you're so gonna hate me when my Patriots burst your bubble and I rub it in your face!" the perfectionist retorted.
"Those two are just immature," Milo and Melissa reiterated in unison, clearly fed up with Zack and Amanda's squabbles.
"I thought those two would have enough restraint to separate their fandom from their relationship..." Sara scoffed.
"Guess not," Milo and Melissa said simultaneously.
After Leslie Odom Jr.'s performance of America The Beautiful and Pink's performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, the game began. The Patriots and Eagles exchanged field goals to begin, but on the Eagles' 2nd drive, Nick Foles delivered a 34 yard strike to Alshon Jeffery to put Philadelphia in front, 9-3.
"Come on, Gronk! You're better than that!" Amanda chided her athlete crush after he got called for a false start on New England's second drive. The opening quarter ended with Zack's Eagles in front by that same 9-3 score. Stephen Gostkowski ended up missing a field goal to start the 2nd quarter due to a bad snap, giving the Eagles possession at their own 20. However, the drive went nowhere.
Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks was hurt on the ensuing pass play...
"You have got to be kidding me! Concussions are getting out of hand!" Amanda freaked.
The possession stalled out after that as the Patriots turned it over on downs. The Eagles ended up extending their lead with a 21 yard touchdown run by LeGarrett Blount, making the score 15-3, Eagles. The play was set up by a pair of deep passes by Nick Foles. After both of those passes, Milo, Melissa and Zack, well...they did their take on a classic kids' network jingle.
"Nick-Nick-Nick-Nick-Ni-Ni-Nick-Nick-Nick!" Milo, Melissa and Zack sang.
"You three WOULD make reference to the classic Nickelodeon jingle for Nick Foles," Sara and Amanda scoffed as the Patriots started their next possession. The drive stalled out after a 40+ yard strike from Brady to Rex Burkhead. New England had to settle for another Gostkowski field goal to make the score 15-6 in favor of the Eagles.
"Not again, Zack!" Milo said as his favorite player got called for his 2nd penalty of the game, confusing his friend.
"What'd I do, Milo?"
"Not you, Zack. I meant Zack Ertz."
2 plays later, Jay Ajayi broke out a violent 3rd down run into Patriots territory. Unfortunately, an interception would end the drive with 5 minutes to play in the half, elating Amanda.
"YEEESS! WHOOO! GOT YA THAT TIME, ZACKY!"
That would be nothing compared to what would happen 7 plays later.
"GO! GO GO! GO! TOUCHDOWWWWWN! JAMES WHITE!"
But the celebration would soon be replaced by frustration as the extra point would be missed.
"WHAT?! HOW THE HELL COULD YOU HAVE MISSED THAT EXTRA POINT! AYE, DIOS MIO!"
On an Eagles 3rd down on the ensuing possession, Nick Foles would fire a ball to Corey Clement for the conversion and a whole lot more, getting the Birds into the New England red zone. 3 plays later, on a flea flicker, tight end Trey Burton lobbed it over to Nick Foles for the score and with the extra point tacked on, the score went to 22-12, Eagles. The clock read 34 seconds to go in the half. However, that's where the score would stand at halftime as Justin Timberlake took the stage!
"AAAAAH! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE IS HERE! Melissa, you have no idea how in love I was with JT when I was in grade school!" Sara screamed.
"Is it comparable to my love for your little brother, Sara?" Melissa asked.
"Not even close! My entire room was decked out in Timberlake gear! I had all the N'Sync albums! I had his first solo albums! He was so dreamy! Have you ever felt that way about a celebrity, Melissa?"
"Actually, she has, Sara!" Milo told his sister.
"Milo...what are you on about?" Melissa asked her boyfriend.
"You've had some celebrity crushes before, Melissa..." Milo began as he pulled a list out of his backpack. "Let's see - Justin Beiber, Harry Styles, Ben Savage from 'Boy Meets World', Zac Efron, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson...need I go on, Melissa?"
"I think that's enough, Milo. Now, if you don't stop, I'll tell Sara about your crush on Lindsey Vonn!"
"Alright, alright! I chose you, didn't I, Melissa?"
"You did...and it was the best day of our lives when you chose me..." Melissa said, kissing Milo as Justin started his set with 'Rock Your Body'. Of course, Milo's curse caused Melissa to have a Janet Jackson-like wardrobe malfunction, which Milo was quick to correct.
The quintet jammed out to 'Sexyback' and 'Suit and Tie', while Milo and Melissa and Zack and Amanda slow-danced to 'Set The Mood'. The show also included a hologram of Minneapolis native Prince. Then...
"CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!" Milo, Melissa, Zack, Amanda and Sara screamed. It was the song that they've been waiting for - the headlining song from the movie 'Trolls', 'Can't Stop The Feeling'! You'll never guess what happened during that song...
That's right - JT took pics with Milo, Melissa, Zack, Amanda and Sara! After the halftime show, the quintet was already thinking about who they would like to see as halftime act next year as the 2nd half began.
"Alright, guys! Who would be a good halftime act next year?" Milo asked. "My vote goes to Imagine Dragons. How about you, Melissa?"
"Do you even need to ask? Of course I'm going with my girl, Taylor Swift! Amanda?"
"No doubt about it - Camila Cabello! You're up, Zacky!"
"The perfect halftime act for next year's Super Bowl...Alessia Cara. Sara, you've got last pick!"
"And I'm going with Nick Jonas!"
The 2nd half began with Amanda celebrating after her athlete crush, Rob Gronkowski, snagged a pass from Tom Brady to pull the Patriots to within 3 at 22-19.
11 plays and 85 yards later, Nick Foles launched a strike to Corey Clement to answer right back and bring the lead back to 10 points, 29-19.
"YEAH, BABY! PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM, AMANDA!" Zack cheered.
The Patriots were quick to counter as Brady found Chris Hogan to cut the lead to 29-26.
"Back at ya, Zacky! Brady's not done yet!" Amanda retorted.
"Still immature?" Milo asked Melissa.
"Totally."
The 3rd quarter ended with that score, 29-26 in favor of the Eagles. Zack was on the verge of exploding.
"OH MY GOSH! ONLY 15 MINUTES STAND IN BETWEEN THE BIRDS AND THEIR FIRST TITLE! I CAN HARDLY CONTAIN MYSELF!"
The 4th quarter began with a Jake Elliott field goal to push the Eagles' lead to 32-26. On the Patriots' next drive, 10 plays and 75 yards later, they'd answer back, courtesy of Gronk.
"AAAAH! I LOVE YOU, GRONK!" Amanda cheered as the extra point was tacked on to give the Pats their first lead of the game.
"Will you guys just quit it already?!" Milo and Melissa snapped in unison.
On the next drive, Foles connected with Zack Ertz for a 12 yard touchdown, resulting in this...
"Nick-Nick-Nick-Nick-Ni-Ni-Nick-Nick-Nick...FOLES TO ZACK ERTZ!"
"Again with the Nickelodeon jingle? Now who's the immature ones?" Amanda retorted.
"Still you and Zack, Amanda," Milo and Melissa deadpanned.
The next Patriots drive began with a pass to Gronk, but...
"FUMBLE! BRANDON GRAHAM!" Zack cheered, much to the dismay of Amanda.
"NOOOO! We...we lost!"
That took the game to the 2 minute warning...2 minutes away from a celebration for everyone other than Amanda. With 65 seconds to go, Jake Elliott hit a 42 yard field goal to make it 41-33, Eagles lead. Patriots can no longer stop the clock. Eagles have a timeout left and New England has to start from their own 9 yard line.
Can the Pats pull off the comeback? Will Amanda be able to celebrate?
NO!
Let the celebration begin for Milo Murphy, Sara Murphy, Zack Underwood and Melissa Chase!
"Everyone, sing it loud and proud!" Milo said as he queued up 'Fly, Eagles, Fly!' on his phone.
As the Eagles fight song blared through the loudspeakers, Amanda came up behind Zack and kissed him. "Good game, Zack. You earned it," Amanda said quietly, snuggling up next to him as the confetti rained down on the field.
"And to you too, Amanda. The Patriots may be the biggest cheaters in all sports, but they're still a good team," Zack replied sweetly as Nick Foles was presented with the Super Bowl MVP trophy and the Eagles were handed the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in their history. While that was going on, Amanda kissed Zack and Milo kissed Melissa. Sara, on the other hand, took pics of the couples kissing and of the scene down below.
Once everything had cooled off, the quintet took out their transporter phones...
"Go home..." they all said and in a flash, they were returned to Milo's house. Milo, Sara, Melissa and Zack running to their parents and hugging them in victory while Amanda's parents took her into their arms, consoling her.
The next day, after school, Milo zapped to Philadelphia to get enough championship gear for himself, Sara, Melissa and Zack. Milo and Melissa smiled and kissed profusely as the pair donned their new gear. Amanda could only smile as she saw her man in the black hat and shirt. However, no matter what the outcome was, she was happy that everyone had a great time at one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Little did everyone know, they'd be in for something bigger 2 weeks later.
So...I wrote the game scenes as they happened and I just couldn't resist doing this! Sorry if there wasn't any Murphy's law here. But there didn't need to be. Next one might be a Daytona 500 themed short as I am a big NASCAR fan, but I'm not so sure. If you have any ideas, please let me know! Remember...
IT'S MILO'S WORLD AND WE'RE ALL LIVING IN IT!