Super Bowl LIX is a rematch of two years ago, but the stakes are entirely different. The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones, are trying to be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row.
If the Eagles win, quarterback Jalen Hurts will be one of three quarterbacks to win a championship at the collegiate and NFL level. Saquon Barkley could be the third running back in league history to lead the league in rushing and hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
The sitting president will attend for the first time in the game’s history, and celebrities will be everywhere. Here’s a look ahead of what to expect.
When the Chiefs Have the Ball:
Mahomes and Kelce are the most prolific quarterback-receiver combination in playoff history. Kelce had his biggest game of the year in the Chiefs 23-14 Divisional Round win, feasting on single coverage from the Texans: seven receptions, 117 yards and a touchdown. In the AFC Championship game, Buffalo bracketed Kelce with linebackers and safeties. Mahomes adjusted, finding Juju Smith-Schuster, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown for a combined 11 catches and 180 yards.
Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense surrendered 11 catches and 104 yards to Commanders tight end Zach Ertz in the NFC championship. Slowing down Kelce is the Eagles’ best chance to hold down the game’s best quarterback by taking away his favorite target.
That’s only the first part of the battle. If Kelce is covered, Mahomes will unleash one of his deadliest playoff weapons: his legs. Mahomes scrambled ten times in the AFC Championship game and scored a rushing touchdown on a designed quarterback run. Eagles pass rushers must stay disciplined in their rush lanes and collapse the pocket on Mahomes.
When the Eagles Have the Ball:
Despite this being Philadelphia’s second Super Bowl appearance in three years, the star of the show has changed. Barkley has been the engine of the Philadelphia attack all season, and a controversial decision to rest Barkley in the final game of the season has paid off. Barkley amassed 442 yards and five touchdowns in three playoff games, running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, albeit jumbled up.
Right guard Landon Dickerson started the NFC Championship in place of center Cameron Johnston, who played the second half. Chiefs’ future hall of famer defensive tackle Chris Jones has made Super Bowl-clinching plays in each of Kansas City’s previous two championships. The Eagles’ best chance of success is if the combination of Johnston, Dickerson, Lane Johnson and All-Pro OT Jordan Milata can block Jones with just one blocker on each play, allowing Barkley to run wild.
More than any team in the league, the Eagles benefit from success on first and second down. Hurts is more comfortable distributing the ball in a play-action passing game, and the ‘Tush Push’ makes short-yardage attempts incredibly hard to defend. Getting behind the sticks forces Philadelphia to drop back and pass more, which opens Jones up to wreak havoc. If Philly’s o-line is forced to double-team Jones, it’s a virtual guarantee Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will dial up exotic blitzes.
When Nobody Has the Ball:
The Super Bowl is always a who’s who in attendance. This year, two major people of interest will be attendees: President Donald Trump and music superstar Taylor Swift. While Swift, a regular supporter of her boyfriend Kelce, is no stranger to the NFL, the president is. Trump’s the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. There’s a reason most sitting presidents haven’t attended. The Super Bowl is already a security nightmare as the most-watched international television event of the year. With the president in attendance, logistics will be a nightmare–especially considering New Orleans already suffered a terrorist attack on New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street, a stone’s throw from the site of the game, the Superdome.
The field will look different, too. For the first time since 2020, the NFL will not paint END RACISM in the end zones, keeping in line with the severe rollbacks of minority and diversity, equality and inclusion. It’s another example of how the NFL talks the proverbial talk until it’s time to walk the walk.
After the Game:
I believe the Chiefs’ defensive unit will be able to hold the Philadelphia offense in check despite the unit allowing 147 rushing yards to Buffalo last week. As a result, Mahomes and company will get into the end zone enough times to get Philly in a drop-back passing game, and the Eagles won’t be able to keep up.
I predict the Chiefs move into football immortality, winning its third Super Bowl in a row.
Chiefs 24, Eagles 21.
Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes
