Standard Chiefs, standard Eagles? Maintain the telephone.
Soccer followers outdoors the better Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis areas will not be thrilled that the 2024 season will finish in a rematch of two years in the past—and that the Chiefs might be entrance and middle 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. Obligatory Credit score: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Photographs Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon had been the offensive and defensive coordinators in Philly the final time the Eagles made it right here. They promptly acquired 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 worth.
The Eagles upgraded each spots with teen Kellen Moore and veteran Vic Fangio, respectively. The advance 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 sport at Lincoln Monetary Discipline. Obligatory Credit score: Invoice Streicher-Imagn Photographs There isn’t a lot we’ve 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 right away come across forsaking 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 staff 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 gained’t all be placed on one man’s shoulders. Kenneth Gainwell and Miles Sanders mixed for 37 speeding yards that evening; Barkley is averaging 147.3 per sport 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 sport towards the Buffalo Payments at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs Let’s depart the immediately revived Travis Kelce out of this part and concentrate on extensive 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 now 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 most effective of the bunch, main the Chiefs with 11 receptions on 13 targets within the playoffs after a robust end to the common season.
The Eagles have an incredible secondary, however which receivers they select to concentrate on containing will play a significant function within the end result.
Received within the trenches
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles middle Cam Jurgens (51) in motion towards the Dallas Cowboys throughout the second quarter at Lincoln Monetary Discipline. Obligatory Credit score: Invoice Streicher-Imagn Photographs Eagles middle Jason Kelce and proper guard Isaac Seumalo have moved on, however replacements Cam Jurgens and Mekhi Becton have stored the Brotherly Shove proper on monitor.
The personnel on the Chiefs’ defensive entrance is essentially 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, based on Professional Soccer Reference.
On the flip aspect, KC now not has its two beginning tackles from Tremendous Bowl LVII, Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie. Mahomes was not sacked that evening 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 occasions within the Chiefs’ first two playoff video games.
That would spell dangerous 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.
