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 following two weeks might be crammed with evaluation and predictions. So, listed here are our the explanation why the NFC champion Eagles are going to stroll away with the Lombardi Trophy.
1. Saquon Barkley
Want we to elucidate this one anymore? The league MVP finalist recorded 2,005 speeding 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, they usually 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 properly from his time in New York – largest menace.
2. Jalen Hurts’ knee is not a difficulty anymore
The Eagles quarterback entered Sunday with issues about his left knee, which was wrapped in a brace pregame, however he rapidly put these to relaxation with three speeding touchdowns and throwing for 246 yards plus one other rating. Kansas Metropolis’s protection ranks 18th towards the cross (218.8 yards per recreation) and must 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 have the opportunity 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 yr. 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 purpose why Barkley exploded for a yr filled with profession bests and damaged franchise data. Jurgens and Co. might be tasked with dealing with Kansas Metropolis’s cross rush, which isn’t any simple 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 complete offense. Now, with the top-ranked protection within the league, the Eagles are primed to not make the identical errors twice.
Philadelphia pressured 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 yr. One thing’s obtained to present 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 gained three consecutive Tremendous Bowls. The Inexperienced Bay Packers gained 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 mentioned, there is a first time for the whole lot 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 gained three of the last four Super Bowls and are 10-7 outright since 2007. The sport might be decided on the gridiron however typically the numbers simply do not lie.
