Old school Eagles’ ground game and defence vs. Chiefs’ inventive air attack
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The two best teams in the NFL will face each other in Super Bowl LVII, as Kansas City and Philadelphia limped into and out of the conference championships this past Sunday. Kansas City almost didn’t make it, overcoming Cincinnati by a field goal on the final play of the exciting game. Philadelphia’s rout of San Francisco proved that injured QBs could only go, or throw, so far against a powerful defence.
Here’s an early look at what sets up to be a phenomenal football finale on Feb. 12, 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs (+2 underdog in Super Bowl LVII)
Forget about the ankle. If Patrick Mahomes’ arm outduels the Eagles’ secondary, the Chiefs will lift their second Lombardi Trophy in three years. The star quarterback led the NFL in passing with 5,250 yards. Surely he didn’t scramble out of the pocket for all those throws. He has shown all season that he can adjust his game in any number of ways, including the Tom Brady-like quick release against the Bengals.
Of course, it’s not just about Mahomes or wasn’t until his heroic last-minute sprint on Sunday. Travis Kelce will have to get open for quick outlets against a strong Eagles linebacker corps and secondary, especially given the depleted receiving arsenal with injuries to co-stars Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney. With backup receivers, ground game contributions from running backs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon will be critical. The ability to stop or at least slow the vaunted Philadelphia run game will be equally important on the other side of the ball. Chris Johnson also put everyone on notice during the AFC Championship game that he could be a rare Super Bowl MVP candidate at defensive tackle.
Philadelphia Eagles (-2 Favourite in Super Bowl LVII)
The Kelce brothers facing off against each other is a first, though they won’t actually be on the field in Glendale at the same time. Everyone knows Travis, the recipient of 21 catches from Mahomes this postseason. Centre Jason Kelce is just as crucial to his team, protecting QB Jalen Hurts and blocking for the NFL’s best ground game. The Kelce connection sums up the Chiefs-Eagles match-up, a killer, inventive air attack against an old-school run first offence.
The Chiefs’ defensive ineptitude inside their defensive red zone, allowing touchdowns 67.3 per cent of the time, portends doom if Philly, who scores at least six points 67.8 per cent of the time, gets past the 20-yard line. Led by outside linebacker Haason Reddick, the Eagles’ defence, which soared to a third-best ever 70 sacks, should get a less mobile Mahomes to the ground once or twice. Their cornerbacks, Darius Slay and James Bradberry, also smother receivers. See above comment about the Chiefs’ backup receivers. Previewing the Eagles’ Super Bowl match-up without focusing on Jalen Hurts, whose running threat is as strong as his arm, exemplifies why the Eagles are favoured come February.
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*All odds from Bet99 Sportsbook at time of writing & are subject to change.
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