It is officially time to put a bow on the 2024 NFL season. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will face off in a Super Bowl rematch of Super Bowl 57. It was a matchup with quite a controversial ending, in which James Bradberry was called for holding to seal the game for the Chiefs. However, the game itself was spectacular from an objective standpoint.
Now, both teams will meet again in New Orleans. The Chiefs will return primarily the same starters from the last matchup. The Eagles’ defense has gotten the most significant revamp of the four units.
Setting the table for Super Bowl LIX
The most significant difference between this year, and last year, would have to be the interior of the defensive line for the Eagles. The Super Bowl 57 unit featured Fletcher Cox, Linval Joesph, and Ndamukong Suh. All respect to Joseph and Suh, who had fantastic NFL careers, but they were at the end of them when they came to Philadelphia. The Eagles have fully embraced the youth movement at that position, with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and Milton Williams. General manager Howie Roseman has entirely transformed this unit and found the perfect person to coach them.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio finally came home and has given this city something to be excited about with spectacular defensive performances throughout the season. However, he is 0-8 against Patrick Mahomes in his career. Yet, that stat is overblown heading into the weekend.
The offenses of the teams Fangio coached for only scored 11.9 PPG in those eight games. That is not enough to beat any team, especially Mahomes and the Chiefs. That shouldn’t be a problem this time, with Saquon Barkley leading the charge.
Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have his hands full with this Eagles’ offense, which scored 55 points on the Washington Commanders. That likely won’t be the case this week, but if it is, the pole greasers better start early. This Super Bowl will be Spagnuolo’s first time coaching against Barkley, as he missed the only potential matchup in 2021 after hurting his ankle against the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the season.
The first matchup between these teams in 2023 saw the Eagles only secure 45 rushing yards out of their running backs. Barkley’s current rushing line is almost triple that, at 111.5 yards. The Chiefs have allowed the sixth-least 20+ yard runs in the league this regular season, but one in each of their first two playoff games. Barkley will look to add to that total, including potentially being a threat in the receiving game.
The Kansas City defense will focus heavily on Barkley, but the Eagles’ passing attack will be their key to victory. Jalen Hurts has played against the Chiefs three times in his career, and has thrown for over 300 yards in two of the matchups, including Super Bowl 57. Hurts has 14 percent of his 300-yard games against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles may need to see a third game with over 300 passing yards from Jalen Hurts if they want to lift the Lombardi trophy on Sunday.
Spagnuolo will be daring Hurts and the receivers to beat the defense. And to DeVonta Smith‘s and A.J. Brown‘s credit, they both did the last time these teams met in the Super Bowl. Smith had 100 receiving yards on seven catches, while Brown had 96 yards on six catches. Brown also scored a touchdown on a 45-yard catch on the first play of the second quarter.
Smith has found quite the success against Spagnuolo’s defense. In three matchups, he averages 107 yards per game. Smith has been very reliable for the Eagles these past two years. If the Chiefs try to switch up the game plan and shut him Smith, Brown will shred them in man coverage with 4.04 yards per route run against. That number is good for first in the league.
So, the Eagles’ offense has numerous ways to beat teams. And they have been playing clean football for the first three games and can’t afford to abandon that now.
Key to the Game
Turnovers
There was only one turnover in the first matchup, which proved costly. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton returned a Hurts fumble for a touchdown on a drive where the Eagles had the chance to go up two scores. The team did score on its next possession, but the impact of the fumble was felt throughout the rest of the game.
Interestingly enough, these teams couldn’t be more different heading into Sunday. The Eagles have not turned the ball over, while the Chiefs have not generated a turnover. Philadelphia’s defense has caused an impressive 10 turnovers, while Mahomes’s fumble against the Bills last week is the only turnover for the Chiefs.
One turnover could swing the game in a game with a 1.5-point spread in Vegas. Both of these teams have made a season of forcing their opponents to play flawless football. The Eagles will dominate the time of possession, while the Chiefs will execute almost flawlessly as they have for the past three years. Whichever team has the ball last is going to win this game.
Game Prediction
That statement will lead directly to my prediction. I have picked against the Eagles once this season, in a game they lost against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was back in Week 4. The Eagles have only lost one game since then. The team also got revenge for that loss two weeks ago.
I haven’t picked against them since, and I’m not starting now. The Eagles have the better roster, but I understand why the Chiefs are favorites.
However, the team has been revamped since the last time these two faced off. This Eagles defense is here to stay, with many young starters added through the draft. The offense is mostly the same, outside of two linemen and, of course, Saquon Barkley.
It would be the ultimate feel-good story for Barkley and many others on this Philadelphia roster. Barkley has the chance to cap off one of the greatest seasons ever for the position. He will undoubtedly break the combined rushing yardage record for the regular and postseason. Now, after bringing home Offensive Player of the Year, he finally has a chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy. If the Eagles win, he will likely bring home the MVP trophy.
This game will be an instant classic and come down to the final seconds. Jake Elliot, who has had a rocky season, can cement himself as a Philadelphia legend in the Super Bowl. Harrison Butker hit the game-winner last time, so it is only right that Elliot returns the favor this time.
I have the final score as 31-28 in favor of the Eagles. However, I would not be surprised if the game ended 17-14. This game will be a chess match from start to finish, and coaching will significantly influence the outcome.
Will Andy Reid beat his former team again, or will Philadelphia halt its second three-peat? No matter the outcome, it has been a pleasure to cover the Eagles this season, but I hope there is a party on Broad Street on Sunday Night, and go, birds!
Final Score: Philadelphia Eagles 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28
