The numbers, on paper, had been prolific. The highlight-reel performs and environment friendly drives strung collectively — time and again.
The primary Tremendous Bowl between Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, again in February 2023, contained a mixed 484 passing yards, 114 dashing yards, seven complete touchdowns and nil interceptions. It rapidly was a thriller.
And after the Chiefs and Eagles each received their convention championships Sunday, Tremendous Bowl LIX will revolve round one other Mahomes-Hurts duel on Feb. 9.
By the point they collided two years in the past, the muse for the Chiefs dynasty — three Tremendous Bowl appearances in 4 years — had already been constructed, with their generational quarterback already possessing a Corridor of Fame résumé.
Mahomes even aggravated an ankle harm within the second quarter and operated with a noticeable limp, however it didn’t forestall him from taking dwelling the sport’s MVP honor.
The Eagles had positioned themselves for a multiyear run behind a younger quarterback who’d ink a $255 million extension two months later.
When these groups meet once more in New Orleans, every part will nonetheless focus on Mahomes.
One other win would inch him nearer to Tom Brady’s report of seven and safe three-peat historical past.
Every thing will nonetheless revolve round Hurts, too, after his trio of dashing touchdowns two years in the past tied a Tremendous Bowl report and his 70 dashing yards set one.
Lots has modified from these rosters — beginning with a sure 2,000-yard rusher and former Big who arrived in free company — and is price revisiting.
The presence of Mahomes and Hurts, although, stays a continuing.
Mt. Rush-more
Hurts led the Eagles with 15 carries throughout the 2023 Tremendous Bowl, whereas Philadelphia’s three operating backs — Kenneth Gainwell, Miles Sanders and Boston Scott — mixed for simply 17 carries and 45 yards.
The Eagles solely completed with fewer than 115 yards seven occasions throughout the 2022 common season and playoffs, however the Chiefs compelled Hurts to try his second-most passes of the season (38). Given the arrival of Saquon Barkley, who joined the two,000-yard dashing membership and completed simply wanting Eric Dickerson’s single-season mark, Hurts will nearly actually not tempo the Eagles floor assault this time. Barkley has already collected 442 yards, on a blistering 6.7 yards per carry, and 5 dashing touchdowns this postseason.
Nonetheless a Kelce Tremendous Bowl, however not the Kelce Bowl
The jersey Donna Kelce personalized for that night time at State Farm Stadium mentioned all of it. The entrance contained Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce’s No. 87, whereas the again was devoted to the No. 62 of then-Eagles heart Jason Kelce — who has since retired. The Kelce Bowl dominated pregame headlines.
Nevertheless it’ll mark one of many roster variations on Feb. 9, with Travis Kelce producing loads of consideration for a distinct cause this time (his relationship with singer Taylor Swift) and Jason Kelce doubtless watching from a set as an Eagles fan.
Among the many different variations for Philadelphia: Then-leading tackler T.J. Edwards, S Marcus Epps, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Fletcher Cox and edge rusher Haason Reddick have both left or retired. And among the many different variations for the Chiefs: RB Kareem Hunt returned to Kansas Metropolis, LB Willie Homosexual now performs for the Saints, L’Jarius Sneed was traded to the Titans, Frank Clark didn’t play for a crew this season and rookie wideout Xavier Worthy emerged as a viable goal for Mahomes.
The nice (and the unhealthy)
Steve Spagnuolo’s unit had one in all its worst video games of the yr, permitting 417 complete yards (their fourth a lot of the season) and 35 factors (their most). … The Eagles’ two-pronged mixture of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith at receiver — nonetheless intact for the rematch — mixed for 13 catches and 196 yards. … Philadelphia dominated time of possession (35:47 in comparison with 24:13) and its protection restricted Mahomes to his fewest passing yards in 2022 (182).
Simply two of his passes went for longer than 15 yards. … Linebacker Nick Bolton scooped up a Hurts fumble and raced it again 36 yards for a second-quarter landing. … The Chiefs offensive line didn’t enable a sack in opposition to a protection that led the NFL with 70.
Maintain on
James Bradberry admitted it was holding. That he tugged the jersey and “was hoping they would let it slide.”
However due to the stakes and context that accompanied the cornerback’s penalty with 1:54 left, the decision was nonetheless controversial.
The Eagles appeared to cease the Chiefs — on the Philadelphia 15-yard line with the sport tied at 35 — on a third-and-8, which might’ve compelled a subject objective and given Hurts a window for late-game magic.
As soon as Bradberry was penalized for grabbing JuJu Smith-Schuster’s jersey, although, Kansas Metropolis may drain a lot of the remaining time earlier than Harrison Butker’s game-winning kick with eight seconds left.
