Super Bowl Sunday is here, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles going at it for the second time in three years. Comparing both teams to the 2023 clash, neither franchise is the same. This is everything you need to know before Sunday comes around.
The Eagles added several key players over the 2024 offseason, making this year’s run possible. Their biggest signing was adding Saquon Barkley to the offensive backfield. The running back took over the field with 2,005 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. In the playoffs, nothing has changed; Barkley has accumulated 442 yards and found the endzone five times this postseason. In the first possession of the NFC Championship against the Washington Commanders, the regular season rushing leader scored within 18 seconds. Needless to say, Barkley is going to play a significant role in the Eagles’ offensive scheme on Sunday.
On the defensive side, Vic Fangio joined the Eagles staff as the new defensive coordinator on Jan. 25, 2024, and it paid off. Under Sean Desai in the 2023-2024 campaign, the team ended the season at No. 26 in the defensive rankings, per Fox Sports. Fast forward to 2024-2025, the Eagles tout the best defense in the league, according to Fox Sports. Zack Baun is a linebacker to watch out for on Sunday. With 93 solo tackles, Baun is tied for third in the league. Against the Commanders in the postseason, the first-year Eagle made a statement with 12 total tackles and one forced fumble, per ESPN.
In addition, Jalen Carter has put on a show in his second year. The former Georgia Bulldog only made 42 total tackles, but pressuring the O-line and getting to the quarterback is his bread and butter. According to Bleacher Report, the defensive tackle gets off the line of scrimmage fast, which allows players like Baun to do their job much easier. Carter racked up four and a half sacks and forced two fumbles in the regular season, and stopping his rath now is unlikely. Not to mention, the Eagles activated Brandon Graham from the IR after he tore his triceps in the win over the Los Angeles Rams back in November. The veteran leader adds more fire to the defense, especially when Graham is expected to retire after this season.
The Kansas City Chiefs plan on making history by becoming the first NFL franchise to three-peat. Despite going 15-2, there were no easy games for the reigning champs. Injuries played a role right out the gate, as Marquise “Hollywood” Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in their first preseason game. Rashee Rice tore his LCL in week 4, and Isaiah Pacheco endured a fractured fibula in week 2. Despite facing challenges, once the Chiefs got into the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes was a different breed. According to Statmuse, the star quarterback has thrown 43 touchdowns and eight interceptions in postseason contests. In the 2024 season alone, the Texas native had 11 turnovers. Tight end Travis Kelce helped Mahomes get those stats, as he put up 70-plus receiving yards in 14-consecutive playoff games. This is the longest streak in league history, per the NFL. Seeing the two veterans connect for a touchdown on Sunday should come as no surprise.
After losing Pacheco, things did not look great in the running back room. The Chiefs were pressured to go into the past and sign Kareem Hunt, but luckily, everything worked out. Since week four, Hunt rushed for 728 yards and secured seven touchdowns in the regular season. The running back currently has a score in every playoff match, and punching another one into the endzone is likely. With Pacheco back in action, the duo has switched back and forth at gaining the first down. Another big runner is Mahomes. If players like Creed Humphrey or Joe Thuney can’t stop Carter, Mahomes is in trouble. The offensive line has struggled to protect the pocket all year, especially at left tackle. The team experimented throughout the season, and continuing to start Joe Thuney at left tackle is the plan for Super Bowl Sunday.
One thing to consider is that in the AFC Championship, the Chiefs’ defense stopped Josh Allen from successfully performing the tush push. Jalen Hurts is known for creating the tush push that works nearly every time for the Eagles. This brings up the question of whether the Chiefs’ defense can come up big and make possible change in possession plays.
Both talented teams are coming in with the same goal but only one franchise can make it out on top, and the beginning of the end will happen this Sunday at 6:30 p.m.