The matchup for Tremendous Bowl LIX is ready, and followers are getting a heavyweight rematch of Tremendous Bowl LVII between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
As we put together for the large recreation on Feb. 9, the subsequent two weeks shall be full of evaluation and predictions. So, listed below are our the explanation why the NFC champion Eagles are going to stroll away with the Lombardi Trophy.
1. Saquon Barkley
Want we to clarify this one anymore? The league MVP finalist recorded 2,005 dashing yards this season, a career-high, and posted 442 yards within the playoffs alone. Followers noticed Sunday as Barkley tore the Washington Commanders up for 3 touchdowns within the NFC title recreation, and so they can in all probability count on extra of that in New Orleans.
Kansas Metropolis’s protection ranks eighth against the rush, permitting 101.8 yards per recreation through the common season. Barkley might not put up report numbers, however he is sure to be defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s – whom Barkley is aware of nicely from his time in New York – largest menace.
2. Jalen Hurts’ knee is not a problem anymore
The Eagles quarterback entered Sunday with issues about his left knee, which was wrapped in a brace pregame, however he shortly put these to relaxation with three dashing touchdowns and throwing for 246 yards plus one other rating. Kansas Metropolis’s protection ranks 18th towards the go (218.8 yards per recreation) and should include Hurts on two fronts. That is a recipe for catastrophe on the Chiefs’ half.
3. The offensive line remains to be elite
Philadelphia’s beginning heart, Cam Jurgens, performed via a again damage on Sunday, and it is unclear if he’ll give you the chance to take action once more within the Tremendous Bowl regardless of what he told reporters postgame. Regardless, the Eagles’ offensive line was just about unbeatable all 12 months. The “tush push,” as it has been dubbed, has turn out to be an unstoppable play within the staff’s arsenal as experienced by Washington on Sunday.
The offensive line has additionally been an enormous cause why Barkley exploded for a 12 months stuffed with profession bests and damaged franchise data. Jurgens and Co. shall be tasked with dealing with Kansas Metropolis’s go rush, which isn’t any straightforward job, but when they will deal with that then Philadelphia is on monitor to spoil the Chiefs’ three-peat quest.
4. The protection remains to be clutch
When these two groups beforehand met in Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia allowed 38 factors and 340 yards of whole offense. Now, with the top-ranked protection within the league, the Eagles are primed to not make the identical errors twice.
Philadelphia compelled 29 fumbles this season and got here up with 4 turnovers in clutch moments against Washington on Sunday. Nonetheless, quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw simply 11 picks and the staff has solely misplaced three fumbles this 12 months. One thing’s obtained to provide within the bayou and the sting belongs to the Eagles’ talons.
5. Historical past is on Philadelphia’s aspect
No staff in NFL historical past has received three consecutive Tremendous Bowls. The Inexperienced Bay Packers received three straight NFL championships from 1929-31 and once more in 1965-67, together with the primary two Tremendous Bowls. A number of dominant golf equipment have performed in as many however by no means discovered the immortality Kansas Metropolis is chasing within the Tremendous Bowl period.
That being stated, there is a first time for every part however the odds are stacked towards the Chiefs. Regardless of Kansas Metropolis being favored by 1.5 factors to open betting in Las Vegas, underdogs have received three of the last four Super Bowls and are 10-7 outright since 2007. The sport shall be decided on the gridiron however typically the numbers simply do not lie.
