Usual Chiefs, usual Eagles? Maintain the telephone.
Soccer followers outdoors the better Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis areas is probably not thrilled that the 2024 season will finish in a rematch of two years in the past—and that the Chiefs can be entrance and heart as soon as once more, vying for a three-peat.
However groups don’t keep static over the course of two years. Listed here are the 4 key methods Tremendous Bowl LIX will differ from that 38-35 Chiefs victory in February 2023.
Eagles’ new coordinators
Dec 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on the sidelines throughout the first half towards the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Pictures Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon have been the offensive and defensive coordinators in Philly the final time the Eagles made it right here. They promptly bought head teaching jobs in Indianapolis and Arizona, and after the Eagles’ epic collapse from a 10-1 begin the following season, replacements Brian Johnson and Sean Desai paid the value.
The Eagles upgraded each spots with teenager Kellen Moore and veteran Vic Fangio, respectively. The development was most keenly felt on the defensive finish, as they leapt from twenty sixth in yards allowed and thirtieth in scoring to first and second, respectively.
Fangio had loads of nice items to work with, however he has match them collectively to kind a unit that doesn’t get burned within the cross or the run. Statistically, it’s an excellent higher protection than Philly had two Tremendous Bowls in the past.
Saquon Barkley runs rampant
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles operating again Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates after a landing towards the Washington Commanders throughout the second half within the NFC Championship recreation at Lincoln Monetary Area. Necessary Credit score: Invoice Streicher-Imagn Pictures There isn’t a lot we’ve got so as to add right here after our story on Barkley over the weekend. The locomotive of a operating again from the close by Lehigh Valley was a direct come across abandoning the rival Giants for the Eagles, and he’s the obvious distinction (and difference-maker) in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
In Tremendous Bowl LVII, Jalen Hurts was a monster, main the group in speeding with 70 yards and three touchdowns along with passing for 304 yards. However he additionally misplaced a expensive fumble returned for a landing, and maybe this time it received’t all be placed on one man’s shoulders. Kenneth Gainwell and Miles Sanders mixed for 37 speeding yards that night time; Barkley is averaging 147.3 per recreation within the playoffs, saying nothing of his 2,000-yard common season.
Chiefs’ overhauled receiving corps
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas Metropolis, MO, USA; Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce (87) reacts on stage after the AFC Championship recreation towards the Buffalo Payments at GEHA Area at Arrowhead Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures Let’s go away the abruptly revived Travis Kelce out of this part and give attention to vast receivers. Two years in the past, KC’s included Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore. The latter two caught fourth-quarter touchdowns to gasoline the Chiefs’ comeback.
Now, Valdes-Scantling and Toney are not Chiefs, and Moore (stomach) is uncertain for the sport after coming off IR. The choices becoming a member of JuJu Smith-Schuster embody midseason acquisition DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. And whereas the primary two have some name-brand high quality to them, Worthy has been the perfect of the bunch, main the Chiefs with 11 receptions on 13 targets within the playoffs after a powerful end to the common season.
The Eagles have an ideal secondary, however which receivers they select to give attention to containing will play a serious position within the final result.
Gained within the trenches
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles heart Cam Jurgens (51) in motion towards the Dallas Cowboys throughout the second quarter at Lincoln Monetary Area. Necessary Credit score: Invoice Streicher-Imagn Pictures Eagles heart Jason Kelce and proper guard Isaac Seumalo have moved on, however replacements Cam Jurgens and Mekhi Becton have stored the Brotherly Shove proper on observe.
The personnel on the Chiefs’ defensive entrance is basically related, however longtime D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has them blitzing extra, from 24.2% of dropbacks within the 2022 season to 31.6% this previous season, in keeping with Professional Soccer Reference.
On the flip aspect, KC not has its two beginning tackles from Tremendous Bowl LVII, Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie. Mahomes was not sacked that night time in Glendale, Ariz., and loved the second-lowest sack charge of his profession in 2022; his sack charge hit a career-worst 5.83% this yr, and he went down 5 instances within the Chiefs’ first two playoff video games.
That would spell unhealthy information for a reinvigorated Eagles entrance led by Nolan Smith (4 sacks within the playoffs) and Jalen Carter (two)—each of whom are making their first Tremendous Bowl appearances.
