It all comes down to this.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are squaring off in New Orleans on Sunday in the biggest game of the year: The Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are looking to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive championships, and all that remains standing in their way is head coach Andy Reid’s former team in the Eagles.
For this prediction, simply choosing the winner in the final game feels a bit anti-climactic. With that in mind, there are several trends that have emerged this postseason that will factor into who ultimately lifts the Lombardi Trophy.
Here are three predictions on what will happen in the Super Bowl, followed by who will emerge victorious:
Saquon cracks the Spagnuolo Code
Saying that Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will break off another 100-yard rushing game is bold in the ‘black pepper is kind of spicy’ type of way. With some context, however, reaching that milestone becomes much trickier.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo deserves his flowers as one of the best playcallers on his side of the ball. Since taking over in Kansas City in 2019, the Chiefs have never allowed a 100-yard rusher in the postseason, as well as going 18 games in a row without allowing anyone to reach triple digits.
Barkley, however, has been playing like a man possessed in these playoffs. He has seven touchdowns of 60 or more yards, tying Devin Hester in 2007 for a single-season record, and five of those have come in the last two games against the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders.
Spagnuolo will know that Barkley is a threat to score at any time with the ball in his hands, meaning he may have to sell out for the run in certain scenarios. Barkley, however, has the momentum on his side to finally break through.
If the Eagles want to increase their chances of winning, they need Barkley to remain in elite form. The Offensive Player of the Year does his part, breaking off over 120 rushing yards and breaking the record with another 60+-yard gash.
Dallas Goedert leads Eagles
The passing game poses an interesting matchup for both teams. However, the Eagles will be led by an unsung hero this time around.
While wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will warrant most of the attention from the Chiefs, tight end Dallas Goedert has provided a steady presence as a dependable security blanket.
The last time the Eagles and Chiefs met in the Super Bowl, Goedert went off for for six catches and 60 yards, so the groundwork for a big game is built.
Meanwhile, if there is one area the Chiefs have struggled mightily in defensively, it is covering tight ends. The team has no reliable options in the middle of the field to drop into coverage, and opposing offenses have feasted to the tune of 8.8 yards per attempt.
The Chiefs will likely put some combination of Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill against Goedert, but the Eagles will work to ensure there is plenty of space to attack using their tight end.
Goedert enjoys the first 100-yard game in the postseason of his career, leading all Eagles receivers.
Travis Kelce returns to form
On the other side of Goedert, the Chiefs have arguably the greatest to ever play the position.
Oddly enough, however, Travis Kelce made a miniscule impact in the Chiefs’ victory over the Bills, notching only two receptions for 19 yards. This comes off the heels of a 117-yard outing against the Houston Texans.
Needless to say, Kelce will be determined to make an impact in the Super Bowl as the Chiefs aim for the elusive threepeat.
Similar to the Chiefs, the Eagles struggled to keep Commanders tight end Zach Ertz in check, allowing the former Eagle to land 11 receptions for 104 yards.
A matchup against a struggling opponent sets a motivated Kelce up nicely for a banner day, leading the Chiefs with over 120 receiving yards and at least one touchdown. Prepare for at least a few shots of Taylor Swift celebrating from her VIP box.
And the winner is…
The Eagles unquestionably have the better roster of the two. Barkley looks more dominant than ever, the offense is full of depth, and the defense is a mix of promising youth with reliable veterans. They have all the makings of a championship team.
…So why is it that I simply cannot rationalize them winning this game?
Despite everything, the Chiefs have the best quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, the best head coach in Reid, and whatever devil magic they conjured up to get out of so many tight spots this season (okay, that last part is a stretch, but would anyone really be shocked if it was true?)
The fact is, the Chiefs’ threepeat has felt like an uncomfortable inevitability, as they have found way after way to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
Expect the Super Bowl to go down to the wire, leading to Mahomes doing what he does best. One excellent game-winning drive later, and number 15 adds another ring and inches ever closer to Tom Brady to kickstart the NFL’s version of the Jordan-LeBron debate.
Prediction: Chiefs 33, Eagles 27
