With history within their reach, the Kansas City Chiefs are accustomed to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and are growing more familiar with facing off against the Eagles.
The two-time defending champions, Kansas City, will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. This marks the ninth overall rematch between these two teams and the second within a three-year span in Super Bowl history.
In Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs secured a 38-35 victory over the Eagles, overcoming a 10-point deficit during a dominant stretch of play. Kansas City has posted a 49-11 record, including 9-0 in the playoffs, since the beginning of the 2022 regular season.
Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are set to play in their 21st postseason game together, boasting a record of 17-3, four Super Bowl appearances, and three championship rings.
The Chiefs’ remarkable success has led to calls for another team to take the spotlight. “I get it,” said defensive end Chris Jones. “If I was on the outside looking in, I would be saying the same thing, ‘I’m sick of the Chiefs.’”
To add a fourth ring and become the first team to achieve a Super Bowl three-peat, the Chiefs will have to face Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia’s top-ranked defense.
Mahomes, 3-1 in the Super Bowl, was named MVP of Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII. He has thrown seven touchdowns and five interceptions in his four Super Bowl appearances. A fourth Lombardi Trophy would tie Mahomes with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for second place in all-time Super Bowl wins by a quarterback. Tom Brady, with seven titles, holds the top spot, having played in ten Super Bowls over his 23-season career.
Mahomes (43 postseason touchdown passes) could also surpass Montana and Aaron Rodgers (both with 45) to move into second place on the all-time playoff touchdown list, though Brady remains far ahead with 88.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has yet to win against Mahomes, losing eight times as both a head coach and coordinator. However, his defense led the NFL in passing defense this season, allowing only 174.2 yards per game.
“Every time I’ve played Coach Fangio, there’s been different changeups and different things that he’s thrown at us,” Mahomes said. “I think that’s what makes him so great. He’s not going to just do exactly what you saw the last time. I’m sure there will be blitzes, times where they play coverage. It’s going to be a chess match.”
Reid, known for his strategic acumen, embraces that challenge.
No head coach in NFL history has more playoff games than Reid, who will reach his 45th postseason game on Sunday. He has 28 career playoff victories, second only to Bill Belichick’s 31.
Barkley, who wasn’t part of the Super Bowl matchup two years ago, has had an outstanding season. With 2,447 rushing yards, including 442 in the postseason, he is closing in on the all-time single-season rushing record of 2,476 yards, set by Terrell Davis in 1998.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had three rushing touchdowns and 304 passing yards in the Super Bowl LVII loss, also threw for 387 yards in a regular-season loss to Kansas City in 2021.
The 2023 season left a lasting impact on Hurts. “It lit a flame, lit a fire in me, and to have this opportunity again is exactly what you work for,” he said.
In Philadelphia’s 21-17 win over the Chiefs during the 2023 regular season, Hurts was sacked five times, intercepted once, and completed 14 of 22 passes for 150 yards but rushed for two touchdowns.
Philadelphia has relied heavily on its large, athletic offensive line to open up running lanes for Barkley. The Eagles attempted 536 passes to 544 rushes in the 2022 season, but this season, the ratio shifted more toward the run game with 448 pass attempts to 621 rushes.
Barkley averaged 2.64 yards before contact this season and led the league with 46 carries of 10 yards or more, including seven runs of 40 yards or more.
“He’s just a total running back,” said Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill. “He can make you miss in tight spaces. He can also run you over. He’s got a good stiff-arm, spin move, jump cut, and the speed to go the distance.”
All Chiefs players participated fully in practice on Wednesday, with Mahomes’ passing performance described as “sharp.”
For the Eagles, defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow) and tight end C.J. Uzomah (abdomen) were activated from injured reserve last week. Uzomah participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, while Graham was limited. Also limited for the Eagles were defensive tackle Jalen Carter (illness), running back Kenneth Gainwell (concussion, knee), and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring).
“They’re doing everything they can to get themselves ready to go,” said Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.
