Why Eagles can beat Chiefs in Super Bowl 57
The Philadelphia Eagles have been the NFL’s top team all season and there are a few strong reasons why they’ll beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57.
While most people expected the Kansas City Chiefs to be a strong contender for Super Bowl 57, the Philadelphia Eagles were not the top choice of most pundits on the NFC side.
Preseason predictions leaned heavily towards a repeat for the Los Angeles Rams or another run at glory from the Green Bay Packers, but the Eagles quickly proved that they were the top team in the league from the jump.
Oddsmakers have set the Eagles as the slight favorites in this game and it makes a ton of sense since they have been the most consistent team in the NFL from Week 1 through Championship Sunday.
Let’s take a look at why Philadelphia should take care of Kansas City to win its second Lombardi Trophy in a six-year span.
Why the Eagles will beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57
While quarterback play is often cited as the most important factor in a Super Bowl by fans and casual observers, football experts believe that strong play in the trenches is key to a championship team. The edge on both lines goes definitively to the Eagles, which gives them a huge edge over the Chiefs in the big game.
GM Howie Roseman has assembled the best offensive line in football, which has enabled the Eagles to put together a historically brilliant rushing attack. Philadelphia already has 39 rushing touchdowns (including playoffs) on the season, which is the most by a team in a single season in NFL history.
The strong offensive line is also important for pass protection since it gives Jalen Hurts time to stand in the pocket and let some of Philadelphia’s deep passing routes develop. The dynamic duo of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith are more than capable of burning the Chiefs’ secondary, especially if Hurts has time to let them get open.
The gap between the play of Patrick Mahomes and Hurts also isn’t as big as people think, especially with Mahomes’ mobility in question due to a high-ankle sprain. Hurts is a true dual-threat quarterback who will be very difficult for Kansas City to stop, which could lead to even more explosive plays for the Philadelphia offense if he gets going.
The trench battle also favors the Eagles on the defensive line, where they have arguably the deepest pass rush in the league. Four different players recorded at least 11 sacks for Philadelphia in the regular season, with Haason Reddick leading the way with 16, as the Eagles can generate tremendous pressure from both the edge (with Reddick, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat) as well as along the interior (with perennial All-Pro Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and veteran Ndamukong Suh).
That pass rush will come in handy against Mahomes, who should be healthier than he was in the AFC Championship Game but still not as mobile as he would like against Philadelphia’s front. The Eagles’ defense is also capable of stifling teams on the back end as Darius Slay and James Bradberry have become one of the game’s best pairs of lockdown cornerbacks.
Having two playmakers like that on the outside will make it easier for Philadelphia to throw double teams at Travis Kelce, who is Kansas City’s most explosive offensive player, and try to force Mahomes to go to his secondary targets. This is a truly loaded roster built with strengths to counter the Chiefs, making the Eagles a strong pick to win Super Bowl 57 on Sunday.
