Super Bowl 57 will give us what a Super Bowl is supposed to give us – the best two teams in the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will square off in Sunday’s title tilt.
Yes, despite all the craziness within the 2022 season, we are getting a matchup of two top-seeds and two 14-win teams. For you trivia buffs, it’s the first Super Bowl tilt of No. 1 seeds since the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52, five years ago.
I am not confident in picking a winner in this one. It should be a close one so I am going to give you some reasons on why either team could win.
I could see the Eagles bullying the Chiefs’ defensive front, while rushing for over 150 yards as a team. If this occurs, Philadelphia will enjoy the benefit of keeping KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes off the field. Yet, statistically, the Chiefs had a solid rushing defense during the regular season, allowing the eighth-least rushing yards of anyone. So it is not a given that Philly will be able to take over the game with it’s running attack.
I can see the Chiefs pass rush creating havoc when the Eagles have to throw the ball. If the duo of Frank Clark and Chris Jones combine for three or four sacks, Kansas City will be fine. Statistically, the Chiefs ranked second in the NFL with 55 sacks. Conversely, the Eagles allowed 44 sacks this season, a total in the top third of the league. So, it could happen.
I think there is a chance that the Kansas City secondary will give up some big plays against Philadelphia’s speedy receivers. The Eagles had the league’s second-best explosive passing offense (any pass of 20 yards or more). The receiver duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith give quarterback Jalen Hurts two electrifying threats downfield.
Kansas City did an admirable job of limiting explosive plays this year, finishing ninth in opponent yards per play (5.1) and third in explosive plays allowed. Philadelphia possesses the most complete and quick offense the Chiefs have faced in roughly five months. They could be chasing Eagles receivers down multiple times on Sunday.
I can see Kansas City benefitting from Hurts struggling in a big setting. There are a number of reasons this could occur. He is coming off a shoulder injury that caused him to miss multiple games late in the regular season. Hurts has not looked like himself since his return. By the time Super Bowl 57 kicks off, Hurts will have thrown just 84 passes in two months. Hurts not at full strength will add to the initial pressure of being on the biggest stage in American sports.
The Chiefs aren’t a team that forces turnovers (20 in the regular season). However, they did get two each off Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow’s in the playoffs. Hurts may be prone to turn the ball over which could lead to a KC victory.
All that being said, we should have a close game. If you must know, I will be rooting for the Chiefs though I believe Philly will win it all.
