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 received a 38-35 thriller in Arizona. It’s the eleventh time the ‘Massive Simple’ has hosted the large recreation, with NFL media flooding Louisiana to preview this yr’s matchup forward of Sunday.
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The Chiefs intention for a historic three-peat, however the Eagles want to spoil the social gathering, and revenge can be attainable.
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 arduous means to not give Mahomes and his offence an opportunity to win a recreation late within the fourth or additional time. Kicker Harrison Butker received the Lombardi Trophy for Kansas with a discipline objective with eight seconds remaining for a 38-35 victory.
That loss was heartbreaking for Eagles followers. They’d come so near overcoming the nice Chiefs dynasty, but they nonetheless fell quick of their quest to grow to be 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 understood for his dashing capability, however his trifecta of working backs Sanders, Scott, and Gainwell mustered simply 45 yards from 17 carries. Whereas Hurts took issues into his personal arms, with 70 yards and three dashing touchdowns, mixed with 304 yards by means of the air for one landing, it was not sufficient to win the sport.
Nevertheless, this time, Hurts is armed with arguably the most effective working again within the league: Saquon Barkley. Barkley has had the most effective dashing seasons in NFL historical past. In the course of the Eagles’ 14-3 common season, the previous Large rushed for over 2000 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
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However he didn’t relent within the postseason, with an additional 442 yards alongside 5 touchdowns to bolster his declare for some of the electrical dashing seasons now we have ever seen. Barkley’s three dashing touchdowns of at the very least 60 yards over the previous two weeks are essentially the most in postseason historical past. However the Eagles can’t depend on Barkley an excessive amount of. They should utilise his risk to open up the passing recreation, by which they’ve sufficient expertise in that ability place with AJ Brown and Devonta Smith.
Regardless of every 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 essentially the most factors the Eagles have scored in a recreation since 2010. It’s the most factors ever put up by a group 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 because of the Eagle’s lacklustre passing numbers. They should 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 file over the previous 4 years. They’re additionally the primary head coach-quarterback duo to succeed in two Tremendous Bowls in franchise historical past.
Ex-Eagles play caller Andy Reid, who shall be on the alternative sideline on Sunday, is vying for his fourth ring in his sixth Bowl recreation. The most effective coaches of all time, Reid is barely 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 received 15 of its final 16 video games, and the defence has had 34 takeaways within the earlier 14 contests.
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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 prime 21-17.
Nevertheless, the Eagles have a 1-3 Tremendous Bowl file, while the Chiefs are going for 3 in a row with a 4-2 general Bowl file.
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, taking part in for that coveted Vince Lombardi trophy.
