Two years after going head-to-head at Tremendous Bowl LVII, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will as soon as once more meet on soccer’s largest stage.
Tremendous Bowl LVII was an instantaneous traditional. Collectively, the Chiefs and Eagles — the NFL’s prime two offences all through the 2022 common season — mixed to provide the third-highest-scoring Tremendous Bowl in NFL historical past. Jalen Hurts’ MVP-worthy efficiency was a masterclass in dual-threat quarterbacking, Patrick Mahomes stored the Eagles’ defence guessing, and the sport got here right down to a single area objective kicked because the Chiefs bled out the clock.
So much has occurred since then. For the Chiefs, it’s been loads of profitable. After defending their title final February and solidifying their standing as the sport’s subsequent nice dynasty, they now have the possibility to turn into the primary franchise in soccer historical past to win three straight Tremendous Bowls.
The Eagles, too, have maintained their standing as one of many league’s prime groups — although, the journey’s been somewhat rockier, contemplating how the membership fizzled out final post-season.
Whereas this rematch will see loads of acquainted foes hit the sector, with “three-peat” being the phrase on everybody’s thoughts, these aren’t the identical groups that met two years in the past — not totally. As a result of whereas many members of those rosters have been a part of that Tremendous Bowl LVII showdown, and are as soon as once more poised to play starring roles in Tremendous Bowl LIX, all sides has skilled its personal evolution since their final assembly. Chiefs normal supervisor Brett Veach and Eagles GM Howie Roseman have been busy — and, whereas Veach’s Chiefs are in upkeep and in-house improvement mode as they purpose for his or her third straight championship, Roseman’s dealings the final two years have pointed to a extra important retooling as he’s ready his membership for one more shot at glory.
This is a have a look at a few of the most vital methods each rosters have advanced since they final met in Tremendous Bowl LVII.
Barkley brings a burst of vitality to Eagles’ offence
The Chiefs and Eagles current an fascinating case research within the run sport. Chiefs operating again Isiah Pacheco was a revelation as a rookie in 2022, entering into the No. 1 job and stepping up on the most important stage within the Tremendous Bowl. The addition of Kareem Hunt, who spent his first two seasons in Kansas Metropolis in 2017 and 2018 and re-joined the membership mid-season in 2024 when Pacheco was injured, brings a couple of questions on who the actual RB1 is in Kansas Metropolis proper now and factors to a robust system with a run-by-committee strategy.
Philadelphia, too, has been recognized for its RB-friendly offence, because of elite offensive line play and depth at operating again. However after the membership limped to the top of the 2023 season, it was clear this offence wanted new vitality — and a few main star-power on the place. Saquon Barkley brings precisely that — and with it, he’s busted large open not simply Philadelphia’s offensive ceiling however the entire panorama for operating backs proper now. He’s taken a group that, two years in the past, was lighting up opponents by means of the air and now has Philadelphia taking the ground-and-pound path to victories (with some thrilling, 60-yard sprints blended in, after all!).
Barkley’s departure from New York was well-documented — actually, you possibly can watch the Giants’ braintrust really communicate the phrases they’ve been consuming all season on HBO’s Exhausting Knocks sequence — and his arrival in Philly has been nothing wanting spectacular.
Barkley completed the 2024 marketing campaign simply 100 yards shy of catching Eric Dickerson’s single-season report (2,105). By means of three playoff victories to succeed in Tremendous Bowl LIX, he’s obtained 442 dashing yards and 5 touchdowns — together with a 205-yard effort towards the L.A. Rams within the Divisional Spherical and a three-TD outing towards the Commanders to win the NFC Championship.
Chiefs discovering methods to win, however seek for true No. 1 WR continues
Regardless of hitting the sector with out star receiver Tyreek Hill, who left for Miami after the 2021 season, the 2022 Chiefs had the NFL’s prime offence, racking up extra complete yards, touchdowns, and factors per sport than another group. MVP Patrick Mahomes’ 5,250 passing yards that 12 months marked the fourth-highest single-season complete ever.
Whereas the wins haven’t slowed down since that Tremendous Bowl LVII victory, the offence definitely has. The Chiefs’ passing sport was ranked eighth in 2023 and 14th this 12 months, and whereas Travis Kelce stays Mahomes’ favorite weapon, the membership’s ongoing seek for a real No. 1 large receiver is ongoing. Mahomes has nonetheless been elite, however his particular person stats have dipped as his strategy to passing favours a conservative strategy extra closely than the explosive performs we used to see.
In back-to-back seasons, Kansas Metropolis has leaned on rookies to steer its offence in landing receptions. Rashee Rice led all Chiefs large receivers in yards as a rookie final season and was speculated to step into the WR1 function this 12 months had a knee harm not derailed him. Harm additionally prevented veteran Hollywood Brown, signed over the low season, from making his debut till late within the 12 months. And whereas buying and selling for veteran DeAndre Hopkins introduced a lift to the offence at mid-season with a pair of landing catches in his second sport as a Chief, his manufacturing has sputtered down the stretch. He’s been a close to non-factor within the post-season, catching only one go by means of two video games.
Can 2024 first-round decide Xavier Worthy be the distinction? His speedy mix time had many pondering that perhaps — simply perhaps! — the Chiefs had lastly discovered the explosive weapon that had been missing since Hill departed for Miami. And whereas the fleet-footed rookie has put collectively a strong marketing campaign (he leads all Chiefs large receivers in yards and is second on the group behind veteran Kelce whereas main the membership in landing catches), the jury’s nonetheless out on whether or not he can turn into an elite WR1.
Chiefs, Eagles experience rookie surge (and a Philly reclamation mission) to secondary success
Coinciding with Kansas Metropolis’s drop down the offensive rankings is the membership’s rise on defence — and Tremendous Bowl LVII was only the start. That group had a trio of rookies entering into main roles in defensive finish George Karlaftis, linebacker Leo Chenal, and cornerback Trent McDuffie that 12 months. Linebacker Nick Bolton, whose scoop-and-score in Tremendous Bowl LVII introduced a giant momentum shift for the Chiefs, was in simply his second 12 months.
Led by these younger stars, the Chiefs’ defence went from being one of many worst towards the go in 2022 to among the finest in 2023 and 2024. The success of that younger core is what allowed the group to maneuver on from veteran L’Jarius Snead final low season with out lacking a beat. After all, Kansas Metropolis isn’t the one group that’s excelled at defensive draft picks.
Take a look at the Eagles’ roster, and you’ll see the same pattern. Younger defensive stars like Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship, each of whom have been rookies in 2022, have actually hit their strides with the squad this season. And 2024 rookie cornerbacks Cooper DeJean — the youngest participant on the group with one of many largest impacts — and Quinyon Mitchell have been massively profitable components of a defence that ranked prime of the league this 12 months.
One exception to this rule — and he actually has been distinctive this 12 months — is Eagles linebacker Zack Baun. He was one in all two reclamation tasks signed by Roseman this 12 months (the opposite being proper guard Mekhi Becton, who’s been wonderful in Philly after battling the Jets). Baun, 28, led the Eagles in mixed tackles (151) and compelled fumbles (5) this 12 months and earned first-team All-Professional honours — and is about to earn an enormous payday in free company due to it.
Jurgens, Carter headline Eagles’ draft-driven succession plan
Roseman has earned himself a fame for being a person with an incredible succession plan. Simply have a look at his offensive line, the place Cam Jurgens now fits up at centre instead of longtime chief Jason Kelce. Roseman drafted Jurgens backs in 2022 with the concept he’d be taught from Kelce and acquire expertise taking part in alongside the longer term Corridor of Famer. Consequently, Philly’s operations barely skipped a beat when Jurgens took over the place this 12 months.
Roseman has utilized the same technique on the opposite aspect of the road together with his revamped pass-rush unit.
The defensive position suiting up reverse Mahomes in New Orleans on Sunday will look fairly completely different from the group of veterans tasked with chasing him down in Arizona two years in the past. That 2022 unit led the league in regular-season sacks with 70 — 15 greater than the Chiefs, who ranked second — and featured 4 completely different defenders with double-digit sack totals (Haason Reddick led with 16, whereas Josh Sweat, Javon Hargrave, and Brandon Graham every had 11; veteran Fletcher Cox had 7). It was a deep unit, made even deeper by Roseman’s signing of veterans Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph to one-year pacts that 12 months. Nevertheless it was additionally nearing the top of its run — age and contract standing indicated some fairly important turnover can be coming, and quick.
The drafting and improvement of Jalen Carter, chosen ninth total in 2023, and his Georgia teammate Nolan Smith Jr (chosen 21 picks later) finally opened the door for Roseman to half methods with expensive veterans Hargrave (2023 free company) and Reddick (2024 commerce) and hand over the keys to Carter and Smith whereas additionally opening up cap area.
Carter’s second season in Philadelphia noticed him begin 15 video games, and he’s actually stepped up within the post-season. He was a wrecking ball towards the Rams, his third-down sack late in that Divisional Spherical matchup primarily ending L.A.’s season. He additionally leads the group in QB hits this post-season, with 5.
After Smith performed a supporting function in his rookie marketing campaign in 2023, his star rose in 2024 with extra alternatives to begin following the departure of Reddick. He recorded 6.5 sacks within the common season (good for second, behind Sweat), and thru three playoff video games, leads the membership in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (4) and sits second in QB hits (three).
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