Super Bowl LIX: How the Eagles will ground and pound their way to an NFL Championship over the Chiefs

It’s all coming full circle. The Philadelphia Eagles have a chance at revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs, the team that broke their hearts in Super Bowl LVII. But this time, the script is flipped.

The Chiefs are trying to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat, but this Eagles squad is built to stop them.

• Saquon Barkley is the ultimate equalizer.
• Philadelphia’s defense is the most complete in the league.
• Jalen Hurts has the weapons to break down Kansas City’s secondary.

It’s not hard to think that for the first time in years, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense will run out of answers against the Eagles on Sunday.

How the Eagles Will Take Over the Game

Step 1: Feed Saquon Barkley Until the Chiefs Tap Out

Kansas City’s run defense has crumbled down the stretch, ranking 20th in run defense EPA and 24th in success rate since Week 11. That’s bad news against Barkley, who has been unstoppable behind Philadelphia’s dominant offensive line.

• Barkley racked up 2,447 total yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
• The Eagles lead the NFL in time of possession, thanks to their ground-and-pound attack.

The plan is simple: lean on the run, control the clock, and wear down the Chiefs’ defense. If Philly establishes the run early, that will set up everything else offensively.

Step 2: Take Advantage of Single Coverage with AJ Brown & DeVonta Smith

The Chiefs play two-high safety 61.1% of the time, but against Philly, they’ll have to bring an extra defender into the box to deal with Barkley.

That’s when Jalen Hurts can strike.

• AJ Brown is lethal against single-high defenses, averaging 3.94 yards per route run, the second-best mark in the league.
• DeVonta Smith is one of the NFL’s most efficient route runners, capable of beating man coverage with ease.
• When in doubt, find Dallas Goedert.

In three games against Chiefs’ DC Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, Smitty has consistently torched him, racking up 20 receptions for 321 yards.

Basically, if the Eagles can establish the run, Jalen Hurts won’t need to throw 40 times to win this game—he’ll just need to make the right throws in key moments.

Step 3: The Eagles’ Defense Will Shine Against An Uninspiring Chiefs Offense

The Chiefs’ offense has struggled against elite defenses all year. This isn’t the same Kansas City team that once lit up the scoreboard. Mahomes and Andy Reid have masked a lot of issues, but this Eagles defense is the best they’ve faced all season.

• Vic Fangio’s defense ranked No. 1 in DVOA this year.
• Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith and Milton Williams will collapse the pocket against a weak interior O-line.
• The Eagles’ secondary has two elite rookies in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, adding playmaking alongside Darius Slay.

Kansas City’s offense has been inconsistent all year, and when the Eagles start controlling the clock with their run game, Mahomes will have fewer chances to pull off his usual magic.

Final Prediction: Eagles 27, Chiefs 17

For three straight seasons, the Chiefs have found ways to win tight games but that streak ends here. The Eagles are better on paper at every single position outside of quarterback, but that’s not taking away from Jalen Hurts when Patrick Mahomes is on the other side of the equation.

• The Eagles should dominate time of possession.
• The Chiefs’ defense will be tested on the ground in the second half.
• The Eagles’ front seven will take over the game late.

Saquon Barkley will be the difference-maker in the second half. If the Eagles can control the clock and keep the football moving in the right direction with Saquon and Jalen Hurts, it will be very difficult for ‘Mahomes Magic’ to takeover late in the game.

Philadelphia gets its revenge, and Jalen Hurts finally lifts the Lombardi Trophy.

See you on Broad Street. GO BIRDS.

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