The NFL’s first-ever three-peat is in sight for the Chiefs, however the Eagles stand of their manner.
The groups face off Sunday in Tremendous Bowl LIX from New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, a rematch of Tremendous Bowl LVII two years in the past.
[Prep for the epic Eagles-Chiefs matchup on FOX Sports’ Super Bowl LIX hub]
Listed here are 5 keys to victory for Kansas Metropolis to win its third straight Lombardi Trophy:
Disguise protection shells
Jalen Hurts has taken 39 sacks that got here four-plus seconds after the snap this 12 months (common season and playoffs), tied for the third-most within the NFL, in accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats — and he’s held the ball for that lengthy on almost 20% of his dropbacks, the best price within the league. Within the NFC Championship Recreation, he was 0-for-5 on prolonged dropbacks.
Lengthy story brief, Hurts has proven indecisiveness when he has held the ball previous his second learn, so altering his post-snap image might be advantageous for Kansas Metropolis.
The Chiefs rotated their safeties after the snap simply 36.9% of the time in the course of the common season, however that’s as much as 45.8% by means of two playoff video games, together with a season-high 55.6% within the AFC Championship. A equally excessive price might trigger points for Hurts and an Eagles passing assault that struggled in 2024.
Throughout their three matchups towards Hurts since 2021, the Chiefs have disguised their protection shells on 41.0% of dropbacks, the best price amongst any of the opposing quarterbacks they’ve confronted a number of occasions, per NGS.
Can Jalen Hurts go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LIX?
Implement a heavy dose of blitzing (to the proper)
Hurts is a closely blitzed quarterback on the whole, however he’s confirmed to be notably weak when it’s coming from his proper. This season, he averaged 2.3 fewer yards per try from an off-ball blitzer from the proper (6.1) vs. a blitz from wherever else (8.4), per Subsequent Gen Stats.
In his three matchups towards Hurts, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has despatched an off-the-ball blitzer from the offense’s proper aspect at an 18.3% price, in comparison with 12.3% towards all different quarterbacks in that point span, in accordance with NGS.
Hurts has been sacked on 12.1% of opposing blitzes, the second-highest price within the NFL.
Win the red-zone battle
The Eagles’ goal-line offense will be borderline unstoppable, with the tush push and the specter of Saquon Barkley of their pocket. However they’re not as scary within the excessive purple zone.
General, Philadelphia’s red-zone offense (when it comes to landing price) ranked twelfth within the common season. On the flip aspect, Kansas Metropolis’s protection ranked eighth contained in the 20. It’s an space of the sector the place the Chiefs might probably reap the benefits of an Eagles offensive line that may be a bit banged up, with left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) and heart Cam Jurgens (again) anticipated to play by means of accidents.
Channel Mahomes’ greatness towards an elite secondary
The Eagles had the NFL’s No. 1 cross protection in 2024, however historical past says that doesn’t matter to Patrick Mahomes.
He’s 3-0 in his playoff profession towards groups with the top-ranked cross protection within the common season, together with Tremendous Bowl LIV towards the 49ers and Tremendous Bowl LVII towards the Eagles, in accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats.
His success within the passing assault might be paramount on Sunday, as Kansas Metropolis doesn’t have the personnel on paper to dominate within the run sport, notably towards an incredible dashing protection like Philadelphia’s. The Chiefs ranked twenty second in dashing offense and the Eagles ranked tenth in dashing protection.
If Mahomes three-peats, does he surpass Joe Montana in NFL greatness?
Discover explosive play success
In contrast to the Chiefs of earlier within the Mahomes period, explosive performs have been more durable to return by for Kansas Metropolis this season. The Chiefs had the second-worst explosive play price within the NFL in 2024 (10.6%), per NGS.
However they’ve discovered extra success within the postseason, registering a 16.0% explosive play price within the divisional spherical and 17.5% within the AFC Championship, their highest marks since Week 1. That pattern persevering with towards the Eagles will surely assist their bid for a three-peat.
Nevertheless it received’t be straightforward.
Philadelphia allowed the bottom explosive play price within the common season at 10.7%. That success has continued within the playoffs, the place the Eagles have allowed simply 11.6% for the reason that wild-card spherical.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to transferring to Tennessee. You may observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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