The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs meet in Tremendous Bowl LIX this Sunday in New Orleans. It’s a rematch from two years in the past when the Chiefs gained a 38-35 thriller in Arizona. It’s the eleventh time the ‘Huge Simple’ has hosted the massive recreation, with NFL media flooding Louisiana to preview this yr’s matchup forward of Sunday.
The Chiefs purpose for a historic three-peat, however the Eagles wish to spoil the celebration, and revenge can also be doable.
In that 2023 Tremendous Bowl, Philadelphia did have the lead within the fourth quarter, 27-21, earlier than Mahomes went on back-to-back landing drives. Groups have learnt the onerous manner to not give Mahomes and his offence an opportunity to win a recreation late within the fourth or extra time. Kicker Harrison Butker gained the Lombardi Trophy for Kansas with a subject purpose with eight seconds remaining for a 38-35 victory.
That loss was heartbreaking for Eagles followers. That they had come so near overcoming the nice Chiefs dynasty, but they nonetheless fell brief of their quest to change into Tremendous Bowl champions once more.
One noticeable inflexion level within the earlier matchup was Philly’s lack of a dashing assault. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is thought for his dashing means, however his trifecta of working backs Sanders, Scott, and Gainwell mustered simply 45 yards from 17 carries. Whereas Hurts took issues into his personal fingers, with 70 yards and three dashing touchdowns, mixed with 304 yards by the air for one landing, it was not sufficient to win the sport.
Nevertheless, this time, Hurts is armed with arguably the perfect working again within the league: Saquon Barkley. Barkley has had among the best dashing seasons in NFL historical past. Throughout the Eagles’ 14-3 common season, the previous Large rushed for over 2000 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
However he didn’t relent within the postseason, with an extra 442 yards alongside 5 touchdowns to bolster his declare for probably the most electrical dashing seasons we’ve got ever seen. Barkley’s three dashing touchdowns of no less than 60 yards over the previous two weeks are probably the most in postseason historical past. However the Eagles can not depend on Barkley an excessive amount of. They should utilise his risk to open up the passing recreation, through which they’ve sufficient expertise in that ability place with AJ Brown and Devonta Smith.
Regardless of per week off, Philly appears to be trending following their rampant show within the NFC Championship recreation. Their 55-23 win on the expense of NFC East rivals Washington Commanders was probably the most factors the Eagles have scored in a recreation since 2010. It’s the most factors ever put up by a staff in a convention championship recreation and the second-most in postseason historical past within the NFL.
Head Coach Nick Sirriani and Hurts have been closely criticised as a result of Eagle’s lacklustre passing numbers. They have to be firing on all cylinders to beat Steve Spagnuolo’s defence. Regardless of the extended criticism, Sirriani and Hurts boast a 48-20 common season report over the previous 4 years. They’re additionally the primary head coach-quarterback duo to achieve two Tremendous Bowls in franchise historical past.
Ex-Eagles play caller Andy Reid, who shall be on the other sideline on Sunday, is vying for his fourth ring in his sixth Bowl recreation. The most effective coaches of all time, Reid is just 47 wins off, surpassing all-time profitable coach Don Shula, who had 347 profession wins as a head coach.
The Eagles’ defence has been a key issue of their run to Tremendous Bowl LIX. Philly has gained 15 of its final 16 video games, and the defence has had 34 takeaways within the earlier 14 contests.
When it comes to this matchup, Kansas Metropolis is 6-5 all-time towards Philadelphia, though, of their most up-to-date conflict again in 2023, the Eagles did come out on high 21-17.
Nevertheless, the Eagles have a 1-3 Tremendous Bowl report, while the Chiefs are going for 3 in a row with a 4-2 total Bowl report.
It is kind of unimaginable to name this recreation. The Chiefs have been thought of susceptible this yr; the Eagles have been thought of boring. But right here we’re, with Kansas Metropolis versus Philadelphia, enjoying for that coveted Vince Lombardi trophy.
