On February 9th, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will be facing off in Super Bowl LIX. On one side of the ring, the Chiefs are attempting to complete the fabled ‘three-peat’, a feat that has never been accomplished in the Super Bowl era. In the other corner, the Eagles will be aiming to win their first championship since 2017, which may not feel like a long time ago, but just four players remain in midnight green from that legendary squad.
As the biggest day in American sports inches closer, the golden question lingers for tens of millions: who will be hoisting up the coveted Lombardi trophy? Will it be the defending champions from Kansas City? Or will it be the hungry underdogs from Philadelphia? With two clashing opinions on the Crimson Connection team, here is a case for each roster heading to the big game in New Orleans.
The Philadelphia Eagles
I believe the Philadelphia Eagles will win the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs this year. They have one of the most balanced teams in the NFL, and their strengths match up well against the Chiefs. While quarterback Patrick Mahomes is an incredible quarterback, I think the Eagles’ defense, running game, and overall depth will be too much for Kansas City to handle.
One of the biggest reasons I believe the Eagles will win is their defense. Their defensive line is one of the best in the league, and they know how to pressure quarterbacks. In the playoffs, both outside linebacker Nolan Smith and defensive tackle Jalen Carter are tied for second in QB pressures. Mahomes is great at making plays under pressure, but if the Eagles can consistently disrupt him, it will make a huge difference. The Chiefs rely heavily on Mahomes’ ability to extend plays, and if the Eagles can force quick throws or even sacks, it will slow down their offense. The Eagles’ secondary is also strong enough to cover Kansas City’s receivers. Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell got his first two interceptions in the postseason and now the Eagles lead the league in playoff interceptions. Their core will make it harder for Kansas City to get big plays downfield.
Another reason the Eagles have the edge is their running game. While the Chiefs are more of a passing team, the Eagles can dominate on the ground. They have one of the best offensive lines in the league with three Pro Bowlers. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley is having one of the best offensive seasons of all time. Quarterback Jalen Hurts also adds another dimension with his dual threat ability. If the Eagles control the clock by running the ball effectively, they can keep Mahomes off of the field, limiting the Chiefs’ chances to score. The longer the Eagles’ offense stays on the field, the better their chances of winning.
Hurts is a key reason why I think the Eagles will win. He has improved so much as a passer while still being a threat with his legs. He doesn’t make many mistakes, and his leadership has been a big part of the Eagles’ success. Unlike last season, he has more experience in big games now, which will help him stay calm under pressure. If he plays smart football and avoids turnovers, the Eagles will be in a great position to win.
The Chiefs are a great team, and I know Mahomes can make incredible plays, but the Eagles have the overall advantage. They are more physical, have a dominant defense, can control the pace of the game, and have one of the most skilled offenses in the league with all of their superstars. While Kansas City has more playoff experience, the Eagles have the talent and depth to come out on top. If they execute their game plan and don’t make too many mistakes, they have everything they need to win the Super Bowl. It won’t be easy, but I think the Eagles will prove that they are the best team in the NFL.
The Kansas City Chiefs
Despite having — on paper — one of their worst rosters in recent history, the Chiefs somehow managed to just keep winning this season. It’s easy to blame the refs or chop it up to the fact that quarterback Patrick Mahomes is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but as I watched Arrowhead Stadium light up after a third-straight victory in the AFC Conference Championship game, it became clear to me what made Kansas City special: coaching.
Facing possible elimination, defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, pulled out some of the deepest tricks he had in his playbook to stop the Buffalo Bills from pulling off a game-winning drive. Dialing up an all-out blitz in which cornerback Trent McDuffie unexpectedly shot down to the backfield, Spagnuolo completely outsmarted the odds-on favorite for MVP, Josh Allen, to send his team to the Super Bowl. This wasn’t the first time that Spagnuolo called such a risky play this postseason; in fact, he had done the same thing the week before against the Houston Texans. On a crucial late-game drive for Houston to cut the lead down to one possession, the Chiefs attacked the Texans’ weak offensive line to put up four sacks. Spagnuolo isn’t just a risk-taker, but he’s a master at reading an opposing offense — it’ll be perfect against the Eagles.
Philadelphia may be the most punishing offense in the league when it comes to slipping up. Just one missed tackles will give running back Saquon Barkley the juice to break away for a game-changing touchdown. Just half a second caught asleep will give wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith the legs to catch an electrifying touchdown. Just one missed read will have quarterback Jalen Hurts either throwing a dime or running right past you. However, the Chiefs may be the perfect team to stop them. They’re headed by a brilliant defensive coordinator, have the experience of superstars like defensive tackle Chris Jones, and have about just as much star power to keep up with Philadelphia’s weapons.
But the show doesn’t stop with the defense; in fact, it really begins with one of the greatest offensive cores of all time. Led by Mahomes and future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, the list of feats that the NFL has seen under this era of Chiefs’ football is seemingly endless. Yes, the offense has looked slower this year compared to campaigns before (they did not score over 30 points a single time in the regular season), but this postseason has made it clear why they just keep winning games. When it comes to the playoffs, Mahomes and Kelce turn into animals.
Maybe what influences their spike in output is mentality, but in my view, it’s more because of coaching. The Chiefs are headlined by one of the greatest coaches and play-callers ever, Andy Reid. With new receivers Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy this season, Reid has been absolutely instrumental in his schemes this year. Filling up the playbook with screens, sweeps, play-actions, and more, this rendition of Kansas City’s offense has been more dynamic than ever; this is especially efficient since they have a star-studded line in which all three of their inner offensive linemen were named Pro Bowlers this year. I believe this, more than anything, is the reason that out of their 15 wins this season, 11 of them were by one possession. This team might not be as talented as years before, but the reason they’re better is that Reid has been given so much versatility with his weapons. To end the game, he’s made adjustments and calls that defenses just can’t get ahead of, and I don’t think the Eagles’ stacked defense will be any different.
Although the Eagles are filled with stars from top-to-bottom, the difference between them and the Chiefs is that Kansas City is being led by the greatest minds in the whole sport. With experience, history, and discipline all on their side, I believe that the Chiefs will be etching their name into the history books as one of the greatest dynasties of all time on Super Bowl Sunday.
