NEW ORLEANS — In fact we all know that no NFL staff has ever received three consecutive Tremendous Bowls. No three-peat, ever. 9 groups have received back-to-back Tremendous Bowls, however none of them have ever even made it to a 3rd straight — till now.
The Chiefs are in place to do one thing unprecedented. Standing of their means on Sunday in Tremendous Bowl 2025 in New Orleans is the opponent that put the three-peat in movement.
It was two years in the past that the Chiefs got here again to beat the Eagles, 38-35. Two years later, the Eagles are again, as are the Chiefs, and away we go.
With a victory, the Chiefs can lay declare to elite dynasty standing. That is their fifth Tremendous Bowl look prior to now six years, with the highest quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) and high head coach (Andy Reid) profitable three Lombardi Trophies and one victory away from a fourth.
Although the Chiefs went 15-1 in video games they cared about within the common season — they rested their starters within the season finale — their level differential was simply 59 factors. That will be the fifth-lowest by a Tremendous Bowl champion. They went 12-0 on one-score video games.
The Eagles stand of their means. Led by a shocking outbreak from free agent addition Saquon Barkley (Giants followers, avert your eyes right here) — 2,005 dashing yards throughout the season and 442 extra yards in three playoff victories — the Birds are as full a staff as you will notice.
They went 14-3 and are coming off a 55-23 demolition of the Commanders within the NFC Championship recreation. Their offensive and defensive strains can dominate, and sometimes do exactly that. In three postseason video games, the Eagles have 10 takeaways and no turnovers. That could be a profitable mixture.
Eagles go offense vs. Chiefs go protection
Is Jalen Hurts on the upswing? He was at his greatest two weeks in the past within the NFC title recreation, finishing 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and one landing for a quarterback ranking of 110.1 It was simply the second time because the center of November he reached 200 passing yards.
The Eagles had been a disappointing twenty ninth within the NFL in passing offense, a brutal rating contemplating the receiving expertise they’ve with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and tight finish Dallas Goedert. Plus, Barkley is a more-than-capable pass-catching possibility.
The Chiefs had been 18th within the league in go protection and the commerce of their high cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans continues to be felt. The cornerback tandem of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson (who got here off injured reserve at simply the proper time within the postseason) will likely be challenged mightily by Brown and Smith.
The important thing for the Chiefs to carry up on the again finish is their go rush, which was not sturdy within the common season (39 sacks, in contrast with 55 and 57 in 2022 and 2023, respectively). The stress charge within the two playoff victories has risen, although, and DT Chris Jones is an excessive amount of for one blocker to deal with.
Lest we neglect, Hurts on the massive stage two years in the past was nice in his first Tremendous Bowl, with 374 whole yards and 4 touchdowns within the loss to the Chiefs.
Edge: Eagles
Eagles run offense vs. Chiefs run protection
Saquon Barkley, meet Steve Spagnuolo. That is the most effective working again within the league vs. one of many NFL’s high all-time defensive coordinators. Barkley has became a modern-day model of Barry Sanders, with out the unfavourable runs.
He has seven landing this season of 60-plus yards, probably the most in NFL historical past. He ran for two,005 yards within the common season and, extremely, has picked up his tempo within the playoffs — with 442 yards in three video games, plus 5 touchdowns. He wants 30 yards to go Broncos Corridor of Famer Terrell Davis for probably the most dashing yards in a season, together with the playoffs. It helps that Barkley averages twice as many yards as every other participant within the league earlier than preliminary contact with a defensive participant.
He runs behind the league’s greatest offensive line, anchored by elite tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Chiefs linebackers, Nick Bolton (106 tackles), Drue Tranquill (94) and Leo Chenal (60) will stick their nostril in as run defenders, and Jones isn’t merely a pass-rusher — he’ll make the wanted run stops.
Along with the headache that’s Barkley, Hurts is a gifted runner and the Chiefs confronted an NFL-high 50 quarterback scrambles throughout the season, permitting 7.5 yards per run.
So far as the Tush Push, the Chiefs defended it excellently two weeks in the past towards the Payments, however the Eagles are the masters on this short-yardage play.
Edge: Eagles
Chiefs go offense vs. Eagles go protection
Yearly, it appears, Patrick Mahomes is requested to do extra with much less. His targets are removed from intimidating, although skinny Xavier Worthy is a legit speedster. He led the Chiefs with six landing catches this season, a modest quantity for a staff chief.
Tight finish Travis Kelce (97 receptions) stays a weapon however not a gamebreaker at age 35. Now-healthy Hollywood Brown and past-his-prime DeAndre Hopkins are solely first rate choices. JuJu Smith-Shuster had simply 18 receptions throughout the season however he got here up massive two years in the past within the Tremendous Bowl. Regardless of Mahomes’ greatness, it’s no marvel the Chiefs had been simply 14th within the league in passing offense.
The Eagles bolstered their secondary in an enormous means, including rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into the beginning lineup alongside veteran Darius Slay. The Eagles had been No. 1 within the NFL in go protection. Mitchell and DeJean had been each finalists for the Defensive Rookie of the Yr award. Security C.J. Gardner-Johnson had six interceptions this season.
If given time, Mahomes can carve up anybody, and he’s the most effective within the enterprise in shopping for time when pressured. The Eagles had 70 sacks two seasons in the past of their run to the Tremendous Bowl, however this yr’s group has simply 41 sacks, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn’t ship the warmth with blitzes fairly often.
Up entrance, the Chiefs are pressured to mix-and-match with their offensive line, and proper deal with Jawaan Taylor could be a downside — he was second within the league with 14 penalties. Underneath Fangio, free-agent signing Zack Baun turned a Professional Bowl linebacker, and he can get after Mahomes. Search for DeJean to get a crack at overlaying Kelce. Mahomes elevates everybody.
Edge: Chiefs
Chiefs run offense vs. Eagles run protection
The place would the Chiefs be with out Kareem Hunt? He was not within the NFL when Isiah Pacheco went down in Week 2 with a damaged fibula. Hunt, a Chiefs’ third-round draft decide in 2017 who was most lately with the Browns, known as up Andy Reid and a deal was struck.
Hunt has been a lifesaver, main the staff with 728 dashing yards and 7 touchdowns. He runs exhausting, as does Pacheco, who returned from harm to supply a robust 1-2 punch. Nonetheless, the Chiefs completed twenty second within the league in dashing offense, averaging simply 105.3 yards per recreation.
The Eagles, led by large and athletic Jalen Carter, are powerful to run towards — tenth within the NFL, permitting simply 104.2 yards per recreation within the common season. Carter after a sluggish rookie yr resides as much as his lofty draft standing (No. 9 general in 2023). He leads the Birds with 12 tackles for loss.
Baun has been a revelation. He was a nondescript participant in 4 seasons with the Saints, and in his first season with the Eagles he had 151 tackles. The lack of linebacker Nakobe Dean (128) tackles to a torn patellar tendon within the playoff victory over the Packers was a troublesome blow.
Hunt and Pacheco battle for each yard however neither is a game-wrecker, so far as busting unfastened for big positive factors. Mahomes, in fact, can’t be discounted right here. He glides and darts and tiptoes for yardage not on designed runs however on unscripted scrambles, particularly on third down.
Edge: Eagles
Particular Groups
What has occurred to Eagles kicker Jake Elliott? He was near-automatic and a top-notch long-range risk however not this season. He went 1-for-7 in area aim makes an attempt of fifty or extra yards within the common season and missed a 54-yarder within the NFC title recreation.
The Chiefs’ Harrison Butker missed a month of the season, and he’s a confirmed big-game performer. He has not missed a area aim try within the fourth quarter or additional time in his postseason profession.
Punters Matt Araiza (Chiefs) and Braden Mann (Eagles) are shut in most statistical classes. Samaje Perine had a 56-yard kickoff return this season. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 25.3 yards on kickoff returns.
Edge: Chiefs
Teaching
Andy Reid has 29 playoffs wins in his storied profession — 18 with the Chiefs and 10 with the Eagles. He’s three wins away from Invoice Belichick’s document for probably the most in NFL historical past. That is the sixth time he has taken a staff to a Tremendous Bowl, tied with Don Shula and behind solely Belichick’s 9 Tremendous Bowl appearances. You get the purpose we’re making right here?
If the Chiefs win, it will likely be Reid’s fourth Tremendous Bowl triumph, tying him with Chuck Noll of the Steelers for second, behind Belichick’s six Tremendous Bowl wins. His high lieutenant, defensive guru Steve Spagnuolo, is the one coordinator in league historical past to win 4 Tremendous Bowls — three with the Chiefs, his first with the 2007 Giants.
Nick Sirianni made the Tremendous Bowl in his second yr as a head coach at any stage, however the Eagles’ meltdown late final season was tough for him. He has the Birds flying, and is 53-25 within the common season and the postseason.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is 0-8 towards Mahomes.
Edge: Chiefs
Intangibles
Regardless of what they are saying on the contrary, there may be stress hooked up to going for the primary three-peat in NFL historical past. The Chiefs might really feel it late in a decent recreation. There may be additionally a story that the Chiefs get the calls on the important occasions, and that’s one thing for the Eagles to confront and overcome, if want be. Mahomes is already a Corridor of Famer in ready, and he’s changing into one of many best big-game gamers in league historical past. If he has the ball late in a detailed recreation, he’s an intangible all unto himself. How does the Chiefs edging the Eagles within the Tremendous Bowl two years in the past have an effect on the headspace of each side? There are legions of Taylor Swift followers rooting for boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Chiefs. Do with that what you’ll.
Edge: Chiefs
