Super Bowl Preview.
The Super Bowl matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs Can Be perceived as a David and Goliath scenario, In favor Of the Eagles Who Possses more talent Across The Board Facing Andy Ried and Patrick Mahomes and The Chiefs Who Just Know How To Win. However, the Eagles have struggled with inconsistency, especially in their passing offense, while the Chiefs have had an unimpressive playoff performance despite their previous successes.
The Eagles excel with the league's best rushing attack led by Saquon Barkley, who has had outstanding playoff performances. To defend against the Eagles, the Chiefs must focus on stopping the run, which is crucial as their own passing game has underperformed.
Key players include Jalen Hurts, who has shown improvement in the run game, and receiver A.J. Brown, who can change the game despite a quieter postseason. The Chiefs' corner Trent McDuffie's performance will be vital in containing the Eagles' offensive threats.
On paper, this Super Bowl matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs resembles a David and Goliath showdown, with the Chiefs appearing to be the lesser team in need of more assistance to achieve victory. The Eagles possess far greater talent than the Chiefs. Philly flexed its muscles against the Commanders and faced a steeper climb to reach this point. The Eagles' offense, specifically, has not performed as well as their talent suggests. For reasons not yet understood, the Eagles have played inconsistently, with Saquon Barkley’s explosive runs masking multiple missteps and low-graded performances. Despite any team needing the smallest opening—one chance to destroy the proverbial Death Star—the Chiefs stand out as the team that often finds the right opportunity to capitalize on mistakes.
The phrase "nobody likes a sequel" is entirely subjective; some sequels may fall short of the original's quality but still add to the story. NFL fans will get to enjoy a sequel this Super Bowl weekend as the Philadelphia Eagles square off against the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time in three years. The Chiefs are making their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, aiming for an unprecedented third straight victory. For many NFL fans, the Chiefs' ongoing success may lead to fatigue as they continue to dominate the league. However, Andy Reid’s team has become considerably more "boring," which could make this season's AFC Championship run the least expected. The Chiefs won 15 games this season and earned the number one seed, yet they still felt generally underwhelming. Even with their impressive record, they were outgained offensively through the playoffs, despite winning more games than any other team.
In these playoffs, the Chiefs’ already unimpressive offense has faltered, averaging less than 200 passing yards per game and with Patrick Mahomes throwing only two touchdowns across two games—a truly unthinkable statistic for the Chiefs. Imagine living in 2022 and reading these numbers, assuming they belong to the Panthers, only to find out they belong to a prime Patrick Mahomes, who has played his most pedestrian football to date. The Chiefs’ passing attack looks Herculean compared to that of the Eagles and Jalen Hurts, who have struggled in the passing game, averaging just 138.7 passing yards per game.
How did the Eagles manage to score 55 points against the Commanders? Their passing attack came alive, generating 23.30 total EPA from passing attempts as Hurts completed 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards. In contrast, the Eagles' passing offense limited Jalen Hurts in his first two games, with just 28 completions for 259 passing yards between the games against the Rams and Packers. Unlike the Chiefs, the Eagles' offense is bolstered by the league’s best rushing attack, with Saquon Barkley leading the charge. The Eagles have averaged over 222 rushing yards this postseason, registering seven rushing touchdowns against the Commanders, including three touchdowns each from Hurts and Barkley.
The Chiefs, known for their Super Bowl adjustments, have faced great difficulty dealing with Saquon, who has been nearly unstoppable this season. Barkley has carried the Eagles through their early struggles, averaging 7.9 yards per carry in his last two games, amassing a total of 442 rushing yards, five touchdowns, and 15 first downs. Very few teams have managed to contain Saquon this season; his sporadic poor performances do not provide a reliable strategy for defenses. He has not rushed for fewer than 50 yards since Week 14 against the Browns.
When defending the Eagles, stopping the run and plugging gaps is even more critical than defending the pass. Containing Saquon may require bringing more players into the backfield, and that's before considering the threat posed by Hurts in the run game. Although the passing game has developed slowly, Hurts has picked up speed on the ground with 23 carries for 122 yards, a 56.5% success rate, and four touchdowns. Hurts entered the playoffs nursing an injury but has found his rhythm. If defenses want to compete against the Eagles, focusing on the passing game might be the better option. Jalen Hurts generates a passer rating of 105.0, with a completion percentage close to 69.6%.
The Eagles have fluctuated in their performance through the air. Star receiver A.J. Brown went viral for a notable play before clocking a big 30-yard gain, which contributed to his 96-yard performance. He has been relatively quiet but could erupt at any moment. A player of his caliber is sure to seek a memorable Super Bowl moment. Other receivers, like Nico Collins, have had success against the Chiefs’ passing defense, and emerging talents like Mac Hollins have stepped up as well. So far this postseason, Chiefs All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie has allowed a 118.1 passer rating and 15.3 yards per completion on 14 throws. McDuffie's presence is critical for the Chiefs' defense if they hope to disrupt the opposing team's top threats. The Chiefs could find themselves having their hands full in dealing with the Eagles' potent offense.
