Chiefs vs Eagles: Super Bowl LVII preview
Josh Werle, Sports Editor
Super Bowl LVII has finally arrived, and features a matchup between league-leading juggernauts: The Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs. The big game goes down on Feb. 12, and will be held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Even if you aren’t a huge football fan, Rihanna’s halftime show alone would be worth tuning into. Both Philadelphia and Kansas City have been at the top of their respective conferences, and this matchup is guaranteed to produce fireworks.
Although their famous foods may differ — Kansas City is known for its unique barbeque, while Philadelphia is known for its cheese steaks — these two Nation Football League (NFL) titans have more similarities than you may think.
14-3
The only teams with a record of 14-3 this season, the Eagles and the Chiefs were both in possession of the best NFL records this season. Both teams received a bye-week during the wild card round of the playoffs this year for their regular season efforts, and have each rattled off two wins to make it into the Super Bowl.
Including their two playoff victories, the Chiefs are currently riding a seven-game winning streak, while the Eagles are on a three game winning streak.
Texas showdown
The stars of this matchup are quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes — both who were born in Texas. Hurts was born in Houston in 1998, while Mahomes was born in Tyler in 1995. Both of these players were dominant this season, with Mahomes leading the NFL in both passing yards with 5250, and touchdowns with 41.
Hurts was slightly quieter on the offensive front, but because of the Eagles’ impressive defensive statistics, he didn’t need to do anything crazy to reach the top.
The Eagles and Chiefs both led their conference in sacks — the term used when a quarterback is tackled before they have the chance to throw the ball — and were first and second in the entire NFL. Although the one and two positions don’t sound too shabby, the gap between the two teams is substantial. The Chiefs recorded 55 sacks, while the Eagles finished with 70 — ranking third in the history of the NFL, trailing only the 1984 Bears and 1989 Vikings.
All eyes may be on the two quarterbacks and how they will be able to perform offensively, but keep an eye on the defensive lines for these two squads and how their inevitable pressure will affect the star QB’s.
Family ties
Mahomes and Hurts may be the stars of the show, but there are a couple other interesting storylines to follow during the course of this game. For the first time in the history of the NFL, two brothers will be squaring off against each other in the Super Bowl championship. Travis and Jason Kelce — Travis on the Chiefs and Jason on the Eagles — are both sitting at one Super Bowl victory each, so the stakes will be very high in the Kelce household.
Jason won his ring for the 2017 season, while Travis won his for the 2019 season. Despite being a tight end, Travis Kelce finished in third for most receptions this season with 110.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid might as well be considered family to the Philadelphia Eagles, as he spent more than a decade as the head coach of their team from 1999-2012. Reid achieved his one Super Bowl victory as a head coach with the Chiefs — who he joined in 2013 — at the 2020 Super Bowl. Although the Eagles are an entirely different squad now, Reid’s history with the team might come in handy if the Chiefs are looking for an extra edge to help them win. This matchup is sure to be entertaining, and with multiple storylines to follow, it would be worth tuning into the big game
