Many consider the World Cup and the Olympics the biggest sporting events in the world. However, the Super Bowl as a one-day sporting event attracts an audience of over 100 million people in just the United States alone. On Sunday, the Chiefs and Eagles take center stage in Arizona to battle for the Lombardi trophy. It promises to be an exciting game with superstars on both sides of the football, passionate fan bases in the stand, expensive advertisements, and halftime entertainment. We will stick to previewing the game, and in this article, we break down the matchup and predict the winner.
1. Quarterback Matchup- Patrick Mahomes silenced the doubters this season by winning the 2022 MVP at the NFL Honours Award Ceremony. It was a stellar season for Patrick, who finished with 5,250 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The 67.1% completion rate achieved is the highest in his career, and the 41 touchdowns are the second most for number 15 in a single season. The biggest question surrounding Patrick as he enters this matchup is health. The Chiefs’ signal caller suffered a high ankle sprain in the divisional matchup against the Jaguars and showed grit against the Bengals to propel his team to the Super Bowl. On the other side, Jalen Hurts took a leap into stardom in the regular season by elevating his play to another level. Hurts showcased his dual-threat ability finishing with 3,701 yards in the air and 354 yards on the ground. He had a combined 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. Hurts has good leadership qualities for a 3rd-year player, and his value to the team was visible during his absence in the regular season. However, I give the nod to Mahomes because he has the experience, desire, and talent to carry his team to a win more than anyone else in the league. It remains to be seen how healthy he will be, but he should be favored in the matchup.
Advantage-Chiefs
2. Who has the better offense?- these two teams are potent on the offensive line in protecting the quarterback with the Chiefs and Eagles allowing 26 and 44 sacks. It means the Chiefs are 3rd in the standings, while the Eagles’ tally was slightly inflated because the team missed All-Pro Lane Johnson and Jalen Hurts for a few games. I give the advantage overall to the Eagles because I think their dynamic trio of AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert are better as a group when compared to the Chiefs, despite the presence of Travis Kelce. The Chiefs have injuries in the wide receiver spot heading into the matchup, with Mecole Hardman (pelvis), Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) all exiting the AFC Championship Game early. It appears Juju and Hardman will play, but how healthy will they be? In the run game, the Eagles were the fifth-best rushing team in the league, and their dominance showed against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have been inconsistent in the productivity of the run game, and it is hard to trust their potential success against the Eagles. If they fall behind, the running game becomes non-existent, and it may play into the Eagles’ hand.
Advantage-Eagles
3. Who has the better defense?- the Eagles had a historic season on the defensive side of the football. The unit generated 78 sacks in the regular season which is the second most in NFL history. The unit has four players alone with a double-digit sack total including Hassan Reddick, Javon Hargrave, Josh Sweat, and Brandon Graham. The ability of Patrick Mahomes to scramble and make impromptu plays will be tested by the Eagles’ defensive line. The Chiefs will need a big performance from Chris Jones, who took over the AFC Championship Game. The Mississippi State Alum had 2 of the five sacks in the game to make life uncomfortable for Joe Burrow. I suspect the Eagles will also be able to take advantage of the Chiefs’ secondary. Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed suffered a head injury during the first quarter of the AFC Championship Sunday and is now in concussion protocol. There is uncertainty about whether he will play and will leave the Chiefs with their three rookies matching up against the Eagles stars. The Eagles have the advantage to me in this category because their defense consistently produces pressure on the quarterback.
Advantage-Eagles
4. Who has the edge in special teams?- the game could come down to the effectiveness of this unit. The Eagles and Chiefs both have mediocre special teams. The Eagles have the advantage at kicker because Jake Elliott is having a better season than Harrison Butker. Elliot has successfully kicked 20 of 23 attempts, while Butker has made 18 of 24 attempts. The strength of the Chiefs’ special team is punter Tommy Townsend, who was elected first-team All-Pro this season. Veteran Brett Kern of the Eagles has struggled in punting since replacing the injured Arryn Siposs. However, Siposs is healthy and should be back in the Super Bowl. The personnel for both teams is not very explosive in kick or punt returns.
Advantage-Tied
5. Who has the advantage in coaching?- Nick Sirianni and Andy Reid were Coach of the Year candidates that have propelled their teams to this point. However, both coaches have very different strengths that allow their teams to thrive. Sirianni is an aggressive coach and is praised for the excellent use of analytics to make good decisions. On the other hand, Reid is known for his ability to game plan and prepare for opponents. Reid has a highly touted 28-4 record after a bye week that shows his remarkable ability to prepare for a team when given two weeks. I give the advantage to Coach Reid because this will be his fourth Super Bowl, and he is also 3-0 against his former team, the Eagles. The man is highly motivated to remind the Eagles they made a big mistake letting him walk out the door.
Advantage-Chiefs
Prediction- as the foregoing shows Superbowl 57 will come down to the best player on the field versus the better team. In this scenario, I like the Eagles because I think the better team wins in that scenario. The Eagles will be able to run the football effectively and generate a pass rush that will be too much for the Chiefs. It will take a heroic effort from Mahomes, and I think he will come up just short. Also, I am tired of picking against the Eagles and getting burned.
Eagles 27-Chiefs 23