The Super Bowl matchups are officially set. The Kansas City Chiefs will be taking on the Philadelphia Eagles, a rematch of Super Bowl 57 from two years ago.
Although both teams entered the season with high expectations, making the Super Bowl is still a huge accomplishment for them. Each has had a unique path to the big game and is capable of a performance good enough to hold up the Lombardi trophy.
Kansas City Chiefs
February 11, 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs have just won their second straight Super Bowl and third of the Patrick Mahomes era. The Chiefs had won the second overtime Super Bowl game in the game’s history. Patrick Mahomes was named the MVP with two touchdowns and 333 yards. The Chiefs had officially established themselves as a dynasty, but in their minds, their work was far from over.
Fast forward a year later and they’re chasing history and going of the NFL’s first three-peat. Super Bowl appearances have become effectively routine for the Chiefs. The Chiefs have won many close games and seem to be unstoppable in one-score games. Their experience has allowed them to stay cool and collected under pressure and make the clutch play in the biggest moments. They don’t need dominant performances by Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce to win anymore, but the question is do they have one more gritty win in them?
Photo via Facebook account of Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs are better at stopping the run than the pass. They gave up the eighth-lowest rushing yards in the league this season. This should help them contain Jalen Hurts, who might be the best short-yard rusher in the league, and of course Saquon Barkley, the Eagles’ 2,000-yard rusher. As good as the Chiefs are at stopping the run, this didn’t help them too much in the AFC championship. James Cook had 85 yards in just 13 rushing attempts. The Chiefs had to outgun the Bills, something they haven’t had to do much of this season.
The Chiefs will be looking to Travis Kelce for production. He’s the only receiver who can play at the level of the Eagles stars. In the division round vs. the Texans, he had his first over 100-yard game of the season. Although he’s declining he’s still incredibly valuable to have in big games. He didn’t do much vs. the Bills in the AFC championship vs. the Bills, getting just 19 yards. It didn’t matter in that game, but I don’t see the Chiefs winning again with minimal production from Kelce.
Philadelphia Eagles
On March 11, 2024, the Eagles officially signed Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract. The Eagles were coming off a season that started off extremely well but ended in heartbreak after a wild card exit. The Eagles were just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance and wanted to capitalize off their talented roster. They hoped that a big-time move like this would bring a winning atmosphere back to Philadelphia.
The Eagles ended up winning the NFC East division and will be heading back to the Super Bowl. Although Barkley’s 2000-yard rushing season certainly helped, it’s not the only reason. The Eagles defense has massively improved, from 30th in 2023 to second in 2024. The biggest reason for this improvement is the new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Fangio has been a defensive coach since 1986, and his experience has made the Eagles’ defense elite.
Photo via Bleacher Report
To win, the Eagles will need to exploit their offensive advantages. The Eagles’ run game and wide receiver game are far superior. Barkley, AJ Brown, and Devonta Smith will all need to live up to expectations. The ultimate x-factor is Jalen Hurts. Hurts hasn’t been super dominant but his smart play at QB has helped the Eagles win games. He hasn’t thrown an interception since week 10. Hurts continuing this streak is imperative to winning the Super Bowl.
As much as you need Hurts to play well, you also need Mahomes to not play his best. The Eagles pass rush is relatively average, as they ranked 14th in the league in sacks. However, this still puts them above the Chiefs, who got just 35 sacks this season. But, this advantage could be neutralized by the fact the Chiefs have one of the best interior offensive lines in the league. However, their tackles are beatable and this could be the edge the Eagles need to pull it out.
