Tremendous Bowl 2025: Chiefs-Eagles alternatives, key stats, predictions

Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the Philadelphia Eagles going through the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. It is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, then the 2022 season, through which the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35.

Kansas Town is taking a look to produce historical past via changing into the primary NFL staff to win 3 immediately Tremendous Bowls. The latter hour the Eagles received the Tremendous Bowl used to be then the 2017 season in Super Bowl LII. The Chiefs entered the playoffs because the AFC’s Disagree. 1 seed, presen the Eagles have been the NFC’s Disagree. 2 seed.

We have now you coated with the entirety it would be best to know for Chiefs-Eagles, together with staff previews, field ranking predictions, a breakdown of Tremendous Bowl MVP applicants and tournament alternatives. We additionally serve recommendation from our sports activities having a bet mavens and in-depth statistics from ESPN Analysis. We have a look at the 2 quarterbacks, coaches, officiating, positional benefits and X elements. And scroll all of the method unwell to take a look at our preview of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime display.

Let’s dive into this one-stop store cheat sheet, initiation with a preview of the matchup.

Leap to a division:
What to know | Meet the teams | QBs
Projecting the box score | Biggest questions
Keys to Chiefs win | Keys to Eagles win
Picks | MVP watch | Stats to know
Bold predictions | Injuries | Officiating
Betting the game | Halftime | FAQs

Previewing Chiefs vs. Eagles

When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET
The place: Caesars Superdome, Unused Orleans
Tv: Fox
Intensity charts: Chiefs | Eagles

If the Chiefs need their three-peat, they’re moving to have to overcome the most productive staff they’ve performed in a Super Bowl within the Patrick Mahomes presen. The Eagles have misplaced 3 video games all season, two of them then their receivers dropped passes that will have clinched victories. Since their While 5 bye, they’ve long gone 15-1, posted a plus-27 yielding margin and received their video games via a median of 13.8 issues.

This Eagles staff is healthier than the only the Chiefs beat two years in the past in Super Bowl LVII and higher than both of the 49ers groups Kansas Town crowned in Tremendous Bowls LIV and LVIII. Philadelphia is even scarier than the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers, who controlled to offer Mahomes his only championship game defeat in Super Bowl LV.

I wouldn’t say that is the most productive Chiefs staff we’ve open, but it surely could be the wiliest. Hardly dominant however by no means out of it, the Chiefs build a sequence of spectacularly similar victories in 2024. Conserving on to a victory in opposition to the Ravens in While 1 via the field of Isaiah Likely‘s toenail portended what used to be to return all season. The Chiefs received video games with fourth-down stops, discipline objectives bouncing off uprights, kicks getting forbidden and snaps being dropped. They discovered a strategy to sprinkle simply plenty necromancy mud into each and every victory. Their win over the Expenses within the AFC Championship Game, a measure of revenge for Buffalo costing the Chiefs a anticipation at an undefeated regular season in November, used to be their fifteenth consecutive victory in video games determined via seven issues or fewer.

Can the Eagles disclaim the Chiefs from making historical past? A 2024 offseason for the ages has replenished Philadelphia’s roster, and it’s the higher staff — on paper. That begins with the participant who could be the story of the season, a working again Kansas Town has to end if it has any hope of profitable every other identify: Saquon Barkley — Invoice Barnwell, senior NFL editor

Learn extra: Barnwell previews the Super Bowl (ESPN+)

Meet the groups

Trainer: Andy Reid

Reid brings a variety of playoff and Tremendous Bowl revel in. In 26 seasons — 12 with the Chiefs — Reid is 28-16 within the postseason and 3-2 within the Tremendous Bowl. He used to be a finalist for the 2024 AP Trainer of the Age award, an honor no longer typically given to the chief of a two-time protecting Tremendous Bowl championship staff. The 2024 Chiefs have been crash withered via accidents, had bother every now and then protective Mahomes and have been inconsistent for a lot of the season on protection. However thank you partially to Reid, they’re nonetheless one win clear of profitable a 3rd consecutive championship.

How did they get right here?

Attending to 17-2 (together with two playoff victories) took a accumulation of labor. Kansas Town received 11 regular-season video games plus the AFC Championship Game in opposition to the Expenses via one ranking and every now and then used to be aided via a component of success. However the Chiefs additionally confirmed a knack for making the precise play games on the proper hour. A forbidden discipline purpose at the ultimate play games to saving a two-point win in opposition to the Broncos in Week 10 used to be anything else however success. — Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter

Trainer: Nick Sirianni

Sirianni is the primary trainer within the Tremendous Bowl presen to produce the playoffs in each and every of his first 4 seasons presen achieving the Tremendous Bowl a couple of occasions. He guided the Eagles to the identify tournament in opposition to the Chiefs within the 2023 season, a 38-35 Eagles loss. With a regular-season report of 48-20, Sirianni has the third-highest profitable proportion (.706) via a head trainer within the trendy presen (minimal 50 video games), trailing handiest John Madden and George Allen.

How did they get right here?

The Eagles were given off to a shaky 2-2 get started, trying out the nerves of the fan bottom following a 1-6 collapse unwell the stretch latter season. They changed into extra of a Saquon Barkley-focused offense during the Week 5 bye, and that propelled them to a 10-game profitable streak and a 14-3 regular-season report. Led via the NFL’s peak dashing tournament and protection, Philadelphia earned the Disagree. 2 seed within the NFC and received 3 immediately postseason house video games to punch its price ticket to the Tremendous Bowl, together with a 55-23 thumping of the Commanders within the NFC identify tournament. — Tim McManus, Eagles reporter

Learn extra: Reid says he’ll return as Chiefs coach in 2025 … Sirianni is a players’ coach, no matter what you think of him

QB breakdown

Mahomes is coming off a unwell future — for him — as he ranked 8th with a 68 QBR within the steady season. It wasn’t all on him, regardless that, because the Chiefs struggled to govern their take on status and his playmakers have been missing, particularly early within the season. However you possibly can nonetheless be expecting extra from the most productive quarterback on the earth enjoying for trainer Reid (and with an elite inner offensive order). In fact, postseason Mahomes is solely other. His 79 QBR ranks 0.33 within the playoffs, and his profession postseason QBR is more or less 10 issues upper than within the steady season.

Energy: Resolution-making. In spite of Mahomes rating 5th with a 69 QBR this season (postseason integrated), he ranks first on 0.33 unwell (90). In spite of throwing to the sticks handiest 28% of the hour on early downs (moment lowest), his quantity jumps to 60% (eleventh maximum) on 0.33 unwell, demonstrating how Mahomes adjustments his chance profile when the status warrants it. And when Mahomes comes to a decision to scramble, he’s hyperefficient, averaging 0.79 EPA according to play games, 0.33 best possible and best possible amongst any quarterback with a minimum of a 2% scramble fee.

Finally, the Chiefs ranked moment in moderate split on the hour of ball arrival (3.9), according to NFL After Gen Stats. That would possibly pitch like a large receiver statistic, however it will have extra to do with the scheme and quarterback; split on this context is handiest leisurely on goals, and that is partially a mirrored image of Mahomes’ talent to search out and throw to an not hidden participant.

Infection: Accuracy. It’s humorous that the consensus superb quarterback of this day is mediocre on the subject of accuracy, but it surely has been true for years. Mahomes recorded a minus-2 final touch proportion over expectation this season, according to NFL After Gen Stats. His 14% off-target fee used to be twelfth superb, however that got here presen averaging simply 6.2 breeze yards according to goal (0.33 lowest) — shorter passes are a lot much less more likely to be off-target. Mahomes has had a adverse final touch proportion over expectation in each and every season since 2019. — Seth Walder, analytics editor

Philadelphia has some of the run-heavy offenses within the league, with a minus-11% cross fee over expectation (fourth lowest), according to NFL After Gen Stats. This is, to some extent, a mirrored image and knock in opposition to Hurts, who has additionally had the advantage of enjoying in very pleasant cases. He performs in the back of a just right offensive order and with remarkable talent gamers (regardless that the ultimatum of his legs is helping, too). Hurts’ 65 QBR ranks tenth — scrambles and designed runs are the most productive portions of his tournament. However on non-scramble dropbacks, Hurts nonetheless ranked eleventh in QBR (61), and he additionally led the league in final touch proportion over expectation (plus-7, by means of After Gen Stats).

Energy: Runs — each designed (together with the tush push) and scrambles. The Eagles working the tush push with such good fortune is a credit score to Hurts and the offensive order, and its impact shouldn’t be minimized. Hurts ranks moment amongst all quarterbacks in general EPA (58) generated on runs and scrambles — one thing that used to be true even sooner than the postseason. And it isn’t all fourth-and-1 conversions. Having a look at performs with 2 yards or extra to pass, the Eagles’ EPA on Hurts’ runs (37) ranks 0.33 superb in the back of the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and the Expenses’ Josh Allen.

Hurts could also be more practical on runs up the center than going east and west; he averaged 0.29 EPA according to play games on runs and scrambles with a minimum of 2 yards to pass outdoor the tackles, however 0.42 EPA according to play games inside of.

Infection: Sack avoidance. The Eagles’ offensive order deservedly receives plethora of proclaim. It ranked 6th in cross stop win fee (67.4%) and has arguably the NFL’s superb take on in Lane Johnson. And but, Hurts has taken sacks on 9.4% of his dropbacks, which is forward of handiest the Titans’ Will Levis and the Bears’ Caleb Williams amongst QBR-qualifying quarterbacks. The results of that factor had been profound; the Eagles’ offense has recorded 1.1 anticipated issues added according to force that doesn’t come with a sack, however that quantity drops to minus-1.0 when there may be a minimum of one sack. — Walder

Learn extra: Can Hurts provide a Super Bowl win to quiet the doubters? … Every way to bet Mahomes … Every way to bet on Hurts

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Projecting the passing field ranking

In preparation for the Tremendous Bowl, I got here up with predicted stat lines for every player concerned, together with passing projections for the 2 QBs. When Mahomes is aware of what he’s getting on any given play games, he hardly ever misses the inform or the throw. On rapid throws this season, Mahomes had a good fortune fee of 60.9%. However in opposition to rapid throws, the Eagles allowed handiest 5.5 yards according to effort — superb within the NFL. One thing has were given to offer. Issues would possibly get tough within the crimson zone, the place swiftly there’s deny beneath territory. However be mindful, Reid cooked the Eagles within the crimson zone two Tremendous Bowls in the past with back-and-forth motions.

Hurts, in the meantime, has been higher in opposition to the blitz, his greatest grievance exiting 2023, and has in most cases turn into extra correct as a thrower. However the largest growth he made this season used to be no longer turning the ball over. He would possibly in truth must throw the Eagles again into this tournament, regardless that. I be expecting Chiefs D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to offer a ton of untamed appears to remove quick-game choices and inspire Hurts, one of the most league leaders in hour to throw (3.13 seconds), to secure onto the soccer. The longer the unwell, the much more likely it’s Hurts takes a evil sack. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst

Learn extra: Solak projects the full Super Bowl box score (ESPN+)

Largest questions

Can the Chiefs safe the Eagles’ tush push?

Judging only via how they defended the Expenses’ model of the play games within the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs have explanation why to imagine they may be able to secure up neatly. Josh Allen and Buffalo attempted it six occasions in opposition to Kansas Town however transformed simply two times. One end got here on fourth unwell on the Kansas Town 41-yard order within the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs trailed via some extent. They worn the favorable discipline place to attain the go-ahead landing.

“The [defensive] line has to be dominant,” defensive take on Chris Jones mentioned on how the Chiefs defended the play games. “Your two [nose guards] and your two ends have to be physical on the inside.”

Kansas Town hasn’t fared as neatly in protecting Hurts at the tush push. He worn it to attain two touchdowns in opposition to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Hurts additionally worn it to attain the profitable landing in opposition to Kansas Town within the fourth quarter of a Week 11 regular-season game in 2023. — Teicher

Learn extra: Chiefs’ biggest matchup questions

What do the Eagles want from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to counterpoint the run tournament?

They’ll want the type of passing potency they won within the NFC Championship Game when Hurts went 20-of-28 for 246 yards, a landing and deny interceptions. It marked simply the second one hour since mid-November that Hurts threw for 200-plus yards.

Questions endured in regards to the aerial assault for a lot of the season. The manufacturing didn’t fit the type of expectancies that include gamers like Brown, Smith, Hurts and tight terminate Dallas Goedert at the offense. However a lot of it used to be via design, because the training team of workers — armed with a dominant protection and farmland tournament — inclined conservative with the cross to retain submits at a minimal. That means has labored moderately neatly: The Eagles have 10 takeaways to 0 giveaways within the playoffs.

Hurts quipped then the NFC identify tournament that Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit,” permitting him to breeze it out to Brown and Smith greater than ordinary. Sirianni will have to pass into this matchup assured about Hurts, who had one of the most superb performances of his profession in Super Bowl LVII (374 general yards, 4 touchdowns). Smith (7 catches, 100 yards) and Brown (6 catches, 96 yards, TD) have been a gigantic a part of that. They’ll most likely be referred to as on once more for the reason that the Chiefs are certain to be interested in slowing unwell Barkley. — McManus

Learn extra: Eagles’ biggest matchup questions

Keys to a Chiefs win

Positional benefit: Quarterback

Mahomes’ good fortune in important moments of a tournament, plus his talent to build on scrambles, provides the Chiefs a definitive benefit at quarterback. His league-best QBR on 0.33 unwell within the steady season (90) jumped to 98 within the playoffs. Mahomes additionally transformed 22 first downs as a runner on scramble makes an attempt within the steady season, with 5 extra within the playoffs. Together with his elite instincts to win on cash downs, he can lengthen drives together with his legs. The Eagles’ cross hasten will indubitably warmth up the patch and drive him to progress. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

Chiefs’ X issue: Jaylen Watson, CB

Next enjoying extra of a intensity position in 2023, Watson used to be penciled in as a starter to switch the departed L’Jarius Sneed in 2024. And for the primary few video games, Watson used to be unbelievable. Via While 7, his protection DVOA of minus-51.5% used to be 5th within the league amongst initiation cornerbacks. However he fractured an ankle in While 7 and used to be misplaced for the steady season.

There’s deny query the Chiefs’ protection nosedived then Watson were given harm. In Weeks 1 thru 7, the Chiefs ranked moment in defensive DVOA. In please see six weeks, Kansas Town ranked twenty eighth in defensive DVOA. The Chiefs reversed issues within the ultimate few weeks of the season, with robust defensive performances in Weeks 14 thru 17 sooner than they sat starters in While 18.

Watson has returned to the lineup for the postseason, and he’s again to shutting unwell opposing receivers. Within the first two playoff video games, FTN Data charting indexed Watson as the principle defender in protection on 5 passes. The Texans and Bills weren’t throwing at him. The one finished passes he allowed have been an 8-yard final touch to Texans’ Xavier Hutchinson overdue within the fourth quarter and a final touch for deny achieve to Expenses’ Ty Johnson in zone protection. Watson is typically coated up because the left cornerback, which means that he’ll be protecting whoever is the outermost Eagles receiver at the proper facet. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst

Rookie to observe: Xavier Worthy, WR

Significance has turn into a go-to goal for the Chiefs’ offense. The primary-round pick out completed the steady season with 59 catches for 638 receiving yards and 6 landing receptions. He’ll be up in opposition to the Eagles’ secondary, one of the most superb within the NFL, so trainer Reid and Mahomes should work out how one can get Significance concerned within the passing tournament. However together with his velocity and dynamic skills, be expecting to look many goals going his method within the Tremendous Bowl. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst

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Keys to an Eagles win

Positional benefit: Secondary

Since Week 6, when rookie slot nook Cooper DeJean used to be inserted into the initiation lineup, the Eagles have allowed a league-low 5.2 yards according to effort and 171.9 passing yards according to tournament. At the perimeter, corners Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay Jr. are sticky in protection, with high-end last velocity. And safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship can play games top-down at the ball, which is a unbroken have compatibility for coordinator Vic Fangio’s split-field schemes. This defensive unit has the staff and the playcaller to build matchup benefits in opposition to the Chiefs’ broad receivers and tight ends. — Bowen

Eagles’ X issue: Nolan Smith Jr., LB

Next a tranquility rookie season in 2023 (one sack, 18 tackles and deny begins), Smith has been a a lot more impressive a part of the Eagles’ cross hasten this season. He entered the initiation lineup for just right in While 9 and had 6.5 sacks within the steady season. Smith has been on hearth within the playoffs, with 4 sacks presen enjoying over 80% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps over the era 3 video games. His cross hasten win fee of 16.6% would have ranked seventeenth if he had plenty snaps to qualify for ESPN’s scores.

Smith evolved such a lot this season that he necessarily made big-money distant agent Bryce Huff disappear. Huff, who signed a three-year, $51.1 million offer within the offseason, misplaced his initiation task to Smith at midseason and has performed handiest 13 general defensive snaps within the playoffs.

Smith has 28 general cross pressures (together with the playoffs), which ranks 0.33 at the Eagles in the back of the better-known Jalen Carter (34) and Josh Sweat (36). Because the left outdoor linebacker, Smith will spend many of the Tremendous Bowl coated up in opposition to proper take on Jawaan Taylor, who has give up essentially the most first pressures at the Chiefs (72, together with the playoffs). — Schatz

Rookie to observe: Quinyon Mitchell, CB

The Eagles’ protection is filled with have an effect on newcomers comparable to Mitchell, DeJean and Jalyx Hunt, who’ve helped information the staff again to the Tremendous Bowl. However none has been extra impressive than Mitchell. The primary-rounder has been superior at cornerback, particularly within the postseason, the place he has two interceptions. Going through a Chiefs passing assault that can be searching for tactics to get the ball into the palms of Significance, Mitchell’s guy protection talent and playmaking talents will have to arise gigantic for Philadelphia. The Eagles’ defensive order is a matchup benefit, and if they may be able to get Mahomes transferring off his spot and making overdue throws, Mitchell can be in order to have the benefit of it. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst

ESPN’s FPI has the Eagles profitable 56.1% of the simulations — and they’re appreciated to win via a median of two.2 issues.

This matchup is a showdown between two top-10 groups in FPI: the Disagree. 5 Eagles (6.0) and the Disagree. 6 Chiefs (3.9). The Eagles are 5th on offense and the Chiefs rank 7th. On protection, Philadelphia ranks first and Kansas Town is thirteenth. The Chiefs have been Disagree. 2 in FPI within the preseason, presen the Eagles have been Disagree. 5.

Within the preseason, the Chiefs had the second-best anticipation to produce the Tremendous Bowl (18.9%) and the Eagles had the third-best odds (16.4%). Kansas Town used to be given a 9.4% anticipation to win it, presen Philadelphia used to be at 9.6%.

Who wins the sport?

We requested 67 mavens to weigh in on who will win. The Chiefs have been picked via 41 of them (61.2%), presen the Eagles claimed 26 votes (38.8%). Probably the most usual ranking predictions have been 27-24 (picked via 10 of our mavens), 27-23 (5) and 31-28 (5).

Learn extra: ESPN staff predictions

Of the 67 mavens who weighed in, 37 (55.2%) picked Mahomes to win Tremendous Bowl MVP. Mahomes (+105), Barkley (+275) and Hurts (+360) are the ESPN BET having a bet favorites. We requested a couple of mavens to provide an explanation for their MVP prediction.

Elizabeth Merrill, senior editor: Barkley. On Sunday, he turns 28, the future NFL working backs generally start their declines, however Barkley hasn’t ever appeared higher. He has been unstoppable within the postseason.

Jason Reid, Andscape senior editor: Mahomes. The NFL’s superb participant desires to turn into the best of all hour via profitable his fourth award.

Jeremy Fowler, nationwide NFL reporter: Barkley. He’s a near-unstoppable-force, averaging greater than 150 dashing yards according to tournament over his era 5 video games. If the Eagles win, he’ll be the catalyst.

Lindsey Thiry, nationwide NFL reporter: Mahomes has led the Chiefs to a few Tremendous Bowl titles and used to be named the MVP in each and every. He’s a confirmed champion who hour and once more has lifted his staff to many incredible victories. It’s unfathomable to expect any person else however the megastar quarterback because the Maximum Worthy Participant.

Seth Walder, analytics editor: Hurts. Quarterbacks — sure, I imagine even the ones at the identical staff as Barkley — have such an edge on this marketplace. If the Eagles do certainly win, it’s nearly positive Hurts can have made some gigantic performs. And so long as the receiving manufacturing is unfold out throughout a few gamers, the award will default again to him.

Learn Extra: Experts predict Chiefs-Eagles score, MVP … Betting buzz: An O-lineman for MVP?

Stats to understand

Group stats: Chiefs | Eagles

Chiefs

• Mahomes has 4 immediately playoff victories when trailing at first of the fourth quarter, which is the longest streak via a quarterback all hour. It began in opposition to the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

• Together with the playoffs, Chris Jones ranks 0.33 in cross hasten win fee (15.3%) amongst inner defenders in spite of rating 5th in double-team fee (70%).

• This can be Reid’s forty fifth playoff tournament as a head trainer (with the Chiefs and Eagles), passing Invoice Belichick for essentially the most all hour. He’s the primary head trainer to stand his former staff two times within the Tremendous Bowl.

• The Chiefs have received 9 immediately postseason video games relationship to the 2022 postseason, which is join for the second-longest streak in NFL postseason historical past. The Patriots received 10 immediately from 2001 to 2005.

• Kansas Town is dressed in white jerseys for the second one hour in its 3 immediately Tremendous Bowl appearances. Relationship to Tremendous Bowl XXXIX within the 2004 season, the staff dressed in white jerseys has received 16 of the era 20 Tremendous Bowls. The Chiefs wore crimson jerseys of their Super Bowl LIV and LVIII wins.

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Eagles

• Hurts already has essentially the most dashing touchdowns via a quarterback within the postseason (9). Some other ranking will produce him the 9th participant all hour to succeed in 10. Handiest two others have carried out that within the twenty first century — Marshawn Lynch (12) and LeGarrette Blount (11).

• The Eagles want 27 issues for essentially the most in one postseason in NFL historical past. The report used to be prepared via the 1994 49ers (131), who accomplished the mark in a single much less tournament.

• There were 36 gamers to look a minimum of 75 goals in protection this season, together with the playoffs. DeJean and Mitchell rank moment and 0.33, respectively, in yards according to goal allowed because the later defender in protection, trailing the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., according to NFL After Gen Stats.

• Barkley wishes 30 yards to surpass Terrell Davis’ 1998 report for essentially the most dashing yards in one season (2,476), together with the playoffs. Since Steve Spagnuolo changed into the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2019, Kansas Town has no longer allowed any participant to hurry for 100 yards in opposition to them within the playoffs.

• The Eagles completed the steady season with extra hasten makes an attempt (621) than cross makes an attempt (448). Out of the primary 40 Tremendous Bowl champions, 33 had extra rushes than cross makes an attempt of their Tremendous Bowl profitable seasons (83%). Since 2006, the 2013 Seahawks are the one staff to do this.

Learn extra: Super Bowl LIX by the numbers: Key stats for Chiefs-Eagles … Super Bowl history: Facts, stats, and records to know

Daring predictions

Significance will end because the peak broad receiver in receiving yards. The rookie’s velocity and flexibility are precisely what Reid will wish to leverage in opposition to the Eagles, particularly when he’s up in opposition to Mitchell. The Eagles may just try to concentrate on shutting unwell one receiving playmaker for the Chiefs. Bracketing Travis Kelce or JuJu Smith-Schuster opens the door for Significance to capitalize on one-on-one matchups. — Eric Moody, NFL analyst

Hollywood Brown will ranking the game-winning TD. Brown can have a gigantic age, accumulating a minimum of 125 receiving yards. He’ll clinch Kansas Town’s three-peat via discovering the tip zone with seconds to pass. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst

The Eagles will win convincingly. Even if we exclude Week 18 (each groups rested gamers), the Eagles secure a solid-to-sizable edge in offensive, defensive and total EPA. The 2024 Chiefs are notorious for his or her knack of finding ways to sneak via with wins, however the Eagles have had about the similar good fortune within the win column then a gradual get started (each are 15-1 of their era 16 video games, except for While 18) and feature carried out so in a extra convincing type. — Mike Clay, NFL analyst

Barkley will hasten for 125-plus yards and earn MVP honors within the procedure. Of the nineteen video games Barkley has performed this season, he has in a rush for over 100 yards in 14 of them, topping 200 yards two times. Be expecting the Eagles to wear out a stable Chiefs protection and — as used to be the case maximum regularly this season — the majority of Barkley’s manufacturing will are available the second one part. — Stephania Bell, NFL analyst

The deciding play games will come from the bottom of 1 staff’s kicker. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has had a troublesome steady season, lacking 8 general discipline objectives — this is as many as he ignored over the prior 3 seasons blended. However he, like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, has made deny inadequency of big-time kicks for Philadelphia in his profession. In some way, a way, this tournament looks like it’s going to be a decent one and a discipline purpose might be the extra. — Garden Yates, NFL analyst

Who’s in, and who’s out?

Shock studies: Chiefs | Eagles

Large receiver Skyy Moore is indexed as in doubt with an stomach shock, however Kansas Town will have to have its pick out of the residue of its gamers for the Tremendous Bowl. The Chiefs took good thing about the 3 weeks between clinching the AFC’s peak playoff seed in While 17 and enjoying their preliminary postseason tournament within the divisional around to offer injured gamers like Mahomes (ankle), Jones (calf) and Isiah Pacheco (fibula) a longer crack. Nearest the staff used to be lucky to not undergo an important shock in both of its playoff video games. Moore hasn’t performed a unmarried snap since October. — Teicher

Middle Cam Jurgens (back) and left secure Landon Dickerson (knee) ignored portions of the NFC identify tournament on account of accidents. However Jurgens and Dickerson had been complete individuals at apply this generation and each have spoken with a bit of luck about enjoying. DeVonta Smith has been restricted this generation with a hamstring shock however intends to play games. Veteran defensive terminate Brandon Graham, who got here up with the game-defining strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, has been running again from a torn left triceps and is hopeful to fit up. There’s a anticipation the Eagles can have all in their actual starters to be had apart from linebacker Nakobe Dean, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee throughout the wild-card game in opposition to the Packers. — McManus

What to understand in regards to the officiating

Ron Torbert is certainly one of 3 referees the NFL has relied on to paintings the Tremendous Bowl on this decade. He joins Invoice Vinovich and Carl Cheffers to each and every obtain two Tremendous Bowl assignments since 2020. In his first look (Super Bowl LVI), Torbert’s group took a again seat for a lot of the sport, declining to throw a flag for a conceivable offensive cross interference or face masks name on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, and totaling handiest 4 flags throughout the first 58 mins of the sport. The Rams’ profitable ownership, alternatively, featured 4 extra flags, together with two in opposition to Bengals cross defenders within the crimson zone.

In 2024, Torbert’s regular-season group threw the third-most flags within the NFL (17.1). His divisional round group threw 12 flags, six apiece in opposition to the Commanders and Lions, however none for both roughing the passer or offensive maintaining. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter

Learn extra: NFL names Torbert referee for Super Bowl LIX … NFLRA says theories that officials favor Chiefs ‘insulting’ … Goodell shuts down notion NFL officials partial to Chiefs … Inexperience of Super Bowl officials is ‘huge departure’

The right way to guess Tremendous Bowl LIX

Flow order from ESPN BET Sportsbook: Chiefs -1, O/U 48.5

Since 2021, underdogs are 4-0 in opposition to the unfold and 3-1 outright within the Tremendous Bowl. Underdogs are 22-36 outright and 29-27-2 ATS within the Tremendous Bowl all hour. The Chiefs are 4-2 outright and ATS within the Tremendous Bowl, profitable and protecting in each and every of the era two seasons.

Mahomes is 3-1 outright and ATS within the Tremendous Bowl. All of Mahomes’ Tremendous Bowls have featured strains of 3 issues or much less. The issues general crash the over in either one of the Chiefs’ era two Tremendous Bowl appearances. The entire for the pending Chiefs-Eagles matchup opened at 49.5 at ESPN BET.

Learn extra: Updated odds and trends for Chiefs-Eagles … Americans expected to bet $1.39B legally on Super Bowl … Betting for beginners … Your guide to making the best picks on Sunday (ESPN+) … A Swiftie’s guide to Taylor-themed Super Bowl prop bets … Mike Clay’s playbook (ESPN+)

Who’s enjoying the halftime display?

Kendrick Lamar will perform on the halftime display. He’s a 22-time Grammy winner, and in 2018, he changed into the primary non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his copy “DAMN.”

Lamar’s latter copy, “GNX,” used to be discharged in November. He garnered a lot consideration in 2024 together with his diss observe “Not Like Us,” which used to be geared toward fellow hip-hop megastar Drake. On the 67th Grammy Awards, “Not Like Us” received 5 awards: Track of the Age, Report of the Age, Highest Rap Track, Highest Track Video and Highest Rap Efficiency. 5-time Grammy winner SZA can be a unique visitor in Lamar’s efficiency.

Learn extra: Lamar previews his upcoming halftime show … Most searched Super Bowl halftime shows … Who has performed at Super Bowl halftime show? … SZA to join during Super Bowl halftime performance

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