We are finally here. One more game. Either the Eagles emerge champions, and the city parades down Broad Street, or the Chiefs make it 3 straight, and the Eagles head home empty-handed again.
The Eagles have been the best team in the league for most of the year, but the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid who have become inevitable. But can the Eagles stop an unstoppable force? Can they prevent history from being made, and in turn, make history themselves?
If they are going to, they need everyone to be at their best. We already looked at the defense, but now let’s highlight the offense. These 6 players will need to be at their best to match what Patrick Mahomes does and hopefully, keep the Chiefs off the field.
6 Eagles Who Need To Have Great Games Against The Chiefs
Saquon Barkley
Including Saquon is obvious. He is the Eagles’ most dangerous weapon and the most explosive player in the league. He has recently been good for a long TD run in every game if not 2. But I did not include him because of the big numbers he could and needs to put up. I included him because of what they might need him to do at the end of the game.
There is no QB you would want to face less in a 2-minute drill with the game on the line than Patrick Mahomes. The Eagles have found themselves in that situation a few times this year, and apart from the Falcons and the 2nd Commanders game, they have come through each time, including a few weeks ago vs the Rams. But that is not a risk you want to take with Mahomes. Ideally, this game will end with the ball in the Eagles hands, with Saquon Barkley slowly winding that clock down. That is what the Eagles do best. Play keep away. Don’t give Mahomes the chance to play hero ball.
We have seen this team get the ball back late and just eat up the clock. They even did it for 10 minutes against the Steelers. That is what the Eagles need to do again, and obviously it will fall on Saquon, and by extension the Eagles O-Line, to make that happen.
If anyone could stop Mahomes, it is this Eagles’ defense. But do you really want to take that chance? If Saquon can milk the clock, Eagles will be in great shape to hoist that trophy.
By the way, the Chiefs of late have struggled vs the run. All the talk of them not allowing any 100-yard rushers, ignores the fact they have allowed 5.5 yards per carry in their last 5 real games. Saquon can and should feast on this matchup.
Jalen Hurts
In the last Super Bowl, Hurts played the best game of his life and clearly, they needed him to do that because even that wasn’t enough to win. He probably does not need to be that good this time.
Last time around, the Eagles RBs had 55 yards and under 3 yards per carry. Their supposed lead back Miles Sanders had 16 yards on 7 carries and a fumble (though the Eagles recovered it). That is not going to happen again. Miles Sanders will take a lot of pressure off Hurts so he does not need to be perfect. All he really needs to do is what he has been doing. Protect the ball, and make throws the defense gives you.
That is not to say Hurts is not capable of more. He clearly is. See SB57 where had 374 combined yards and 4 combined TDs. If he gives you that, you are winning this game. But it is not a necessity.
Spags is going to blitz him. Hurts has been much better when blitzed this season. He has the 10th-best QB rating when blitzed in the league. Just take what the defense gives you, and take care of the Football. Anything else is icing on the cake. That is exactly what he has been doing, even while people ripped his play apart. Keep doing that, and Eagles will be in great shape.
Dallas Goedert
The best matchup through the air is not AJ Brown, and it is not Devonta Smith. Obviously, those are your 2 best weapons, but the Chiefs outside corners have been tough. Where they are very vulnerable though is over the middle of the field.
Tight Ends gained over 1000 yards this season vs the Chiefs and 5 TDs. Meanwhile, Goedert has been great in the playoffs. 15 catches for 188 yards and that long TD where the threw multiple stiff arms. That is where you should look for the Eagles to exploit the Chiefs. AJ Brown can beat any CB, and the matchup with a small trent McDuffie is interesting. Devonta Smith will get his too. But if you are looking for a weak spot, attacking the middle of the Chiefs’ defense is it.
Everyone On The O-Line
The Chiefs can get after the QB, and they can do so with multiple players. George Karlaftis has turned into a force. But the main guy you need to watch out for is Chris Jones. And the problem with preparing for him is he doesn’t sit still. He slides all over the line and to his credit often goes right up against the other team’s best blocker. But everyone on the line is going to have to block him at some point.
Karlaftis you at least know lines up mostly as the LEO. Meaning Lane Johnson will see a ton of him. But Lane will also get Chris Jones. Gonna be a tough night for him, but no Tackle is more suited to handle that test.
Nick Sirianni
Nick Sirianni does not call plays, and Kellen Moore is in charge of game planning. But Sirianni is still the one making in-game decisions, for instance when to go for it. And if the Eagles are going to win this game, Sirianni better have learned from a mistake he made late in the last Super Bowl.
Sirianni, usually a riverboat gambler, played it too safe. He punted somewhat late in the game when it was clear his defense had no hope against the Chiefs. Now, I expect the defense to be much better this time. Still, the Super Bowl is no place to be scared. If late in the game, there is a choice between going for it or giving the ball back to Patrick Mahomes, you go for it. Because handing the ball back to Mahomes late in a game is actually more risky.
Jake Elliott
This one is cheating because Elliott is not part of the offense. But kicking FGs is obviously the end of an offensive drive, and there are not enough Special Teamers to be worth their own article, so here he is.
A missed FG or a missed Extra Point could easily be the difference here. After the disaster kicking extra points vs the Rams, Elliott hit 7 of 7 vs the Commanders. A good sign. The better conditions helped, and this game will be in a dome. But he also missed a FG too. It was from beyond 50 yards, which has been an issue for him all year.
But what will happen if this game comes down to a 51-yard FG? Can they trust him? Elliott can wipe away all the issues in 1 game if he just finds his old form. Before this season, he was one of the best kickers from distance ever. And it is not rare for Super Bowls to come down to a handful of points. If so, Elliott hitting his FGs and his Extra Points is a must. This matchup is too close to give away points.