Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the Philadelphia Eagles going by means of the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. This is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, after the 2022 season, throughout which the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35.
Kansas City is searching for to make historic previous by turning into the first NFL crew to win three straight Super Bowls. The closing time the Eagles acquired the Super Bowl was after the 2017 season in Super Bowl LII. The Chiefs entered the playoffs as a result of the AFC’s No. 1 seed, whereas the Eagles had been the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
We have you ever ever lined with each half you’ll wish to know for Chiefs-Eagles, along with crew previews, subject score predictions, a breakdown of Super Bowl MVP candidates and sport picks. We moreover current suggestion from our sports activities actions betting specialists and in-depth statistics from ESPN Research. We take a look on the 2 quarterbacks, coaches, officiating, positional advantages and X elements. And scroll all the easiest way down to try our preview of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime current.
Let’s dive into this one-stop retailer cheat sheet, starting with a preview of the matchup.
Jump to a chunk:
What to know | Meet the teams | QBs
Projecting the sphere score | Biggest questions
Keys to Chiefs win | Keys to Eagles win
Picks | MVP watch | Stats to know
Bold predictions | Injuries | Officiating
Betting the game | Halftime | FAQs
Previewing Chiefs vs. Eagles
When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Television: Fox
Depth charts: Chiefs | Eagles
If the Chiefs want their three-peat, they’ll ought to beat the best crew they’ve carried out in a Super Bowl inside the Patrick Mahomes interval. The Eagles have misplaced three video video games all season, two of them after their receivers dropped passes that can have clinched victories. Since their Week 5 bye, they’ve gone 15-1, posted a plus-27 turnover margin and acquired their video video games by a imply of 13.8 components.
This Eagles crew is more healthy than the one the Chiefs beat two years previously in Super Bowl LVII and better than each of the 49ers teams Kansas City topped in Super Bowls LIV and LVIII. Philadelphia is even scarier than the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers, who managed to current Mahomes his solely championship sport defeat in Super Bowl LV.
I might not say that’s the best Chiefs crew we’ve got seen, nonetheless it could possibly be the wiliest. Rarely dominant nonetheless certainly not out of it, the Chiefs put collectively a set of spectacularly shut victories in 2024. Holding on to a victory in opposition to the Ravens in Week 1 by the dimensions of Isaiah Likely’s toenail portended what was to return all season. The Chiefs acquired video video games with fourth-down stops, space aims bouncing off uprights, kicks getting blocked and snaps being dropped. They found a strategy to sprinkle merely adequate magic mud into each victory. Their win over the Bills inside the AFC Championship Game, a measure of revenge for Buffalo costing the Chiefs a chance at an undefeated frequent season in November, was their fifteenth consecutive victory in video video games decided by seven components or fewer.
Can the Eagles deny the Chiefs from making historic previous? A 2024 offseason for the ages has replenished Philadelphia’s roster, and it’s the upper crew — on paper. That begins with the participant who could possibly be the story of the season, a working once more Kansas City has to stop if it has any hope of worthwhile one different title: Saquon Barkley — Bill Barnwell, senior NFL creator
Read additional: Barnwell previews the Super Bowl (ESPN+)
Meet the teams
Coach: Andy Reid
Reid brings an excessive amount of playoff and Super Bowl experience. In 26 seasons — 12 with the Chiefs — Reid is 28-16 inside the postseason and 3-2 inside the Super Bowl. He was a finalist for the 2024 AP Coach of the Year award, an honor not usually given to the chief of a two-time defending Super Bowl championship crew. The 2024 Chiefs had been hit laborious by accidents, had problem at situations defending Mahomes and had been inconsistent for lots of the season on safety. But thanks partially to Reid, they’re nonetheless one win away from worthwhile a third consecutive championship.
How did they get proper right here?
Getting to 17-2 (along with two playoff victories) took a number of work. Kansas City acquired 11 regular-season video video games plus the AFC Championship Game in opposition to the Bills by one score and at situations was aided by a element of luck. But the Chiefs moreover confirmed a knack for making the right play on the right time. A blocked space goal on the final word play to guard a two-point win in opposition to the Broncos in Week 10 was one thing nonetheless luck. — Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter
Coach: Nick Sirianni
Sirianni is the first coach inside the Super Bowl interval to make the playoffs in each of his first 4 seasons whereas reaching the Super Bowl quite a few situations. He guided the Eagles to the title sport in opposition to the Chiefs inside the 2023 season, a 38-35 Eagles loss. With a regular-season file of 48-20, Sirianni has the third-highest worthwhile share (.706) by a head coach inside the trendy interval (minimal 50 video video games), trailing solely John Madden and George Allen.
How did they get proper right here?
The Eagles obtained off to a shaky 2-2 start, testing the nerves of the fan base following a 1-6 collapse down the stretch closing season. They grew to develop into additional of a Saquon Barkley-focused offense in the middle of the Week 5 bye, and that propelled them to a 10-game worthwhile streak and a 14-3 regular-season file. Led by the NFL’s prime dashing sport and safety, Philadelphia earned the No. 2 seed inside the NFC and acquired three straight postseason dwelling video video games to punch its ticket to the Super Bowl, along with a 55-23 thumping of the Commanders inside the NFC title sport. — Tim McManus, Eagles reporter
Read additional: Reid says he’ll return as Chiefs coach in 2025 … Sirianni is a players’ coach, it doesn’t matter what you take into account him
QB breakdown
Mahomes is coming off a down 12 months — for him — as he ranked eighth with a 68 QBR inside the frequent season. It wasn’t all on him, though, as a result of the Chiefs struggled to settle their cope with state of affairs and his playmakers had been lacking, significantly early inside the season. But you’d nonetheless rely on additional from the best quarterback on the planet having fun with for coach Reid (and with an elite inside offensive line). Of course, postseason Mahomes is simply completely completely different. His 79 QBR ranks third inside the playoffs, and his occupation postseason QBR is roughly 10 components larger than inside the frequent season.
Strength: Decision-making. Despite Mahomes score fifth with a 69 QBR this season (postseason included), he ranks first on third down (90). Despite throwing to the sticks solely 28% of the time on early downs (second lowest), his amount jumps to 60% (eleventh most) on third down, demonstrating how Mahomes modifications his menace profile when the state of affairs warrants it. And when Mahomes decides to scramble, he’s hyperefficient, averaging 0.79 EPA per play, third highest and highest amongst any quarterback with as a minimum a 2% scramble payment.
Lastly, the Chiefs ranked second in frequent separation on the time of ball arrival (3.9), per NFL Next Gen Stats. That could sound like a big receiver statistic, nonetheless it might want additional to do with the scheme and quarterback; separation on this context is simply measured on targets, and that’s partially a reflection of Mahomes’ talent to hunt out and throw to an open participant.
Weakness: Accuracy. It’s humorous that the consensus most interesting quarterback of this know-how is mediocre with regards to accuracy, nonetheless it has been true for years. Mahomes recorded a minus-2 completion share over expectation this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. His 14% off-target payment was twelfth most interesting, nonetheless that acquired right here whereas averaging merely 6.2 air yards per purpose (third lowest) — shorter passes are lots a lot much less liable to be off-target. Mahomes has had a detrimental completion share over expectation in every season since 2019. — Seth Walder, analytics creator
Philadelphia has one of many important run-heavy offenses inside the league, with a minus-11% go payment over expectation (fourth lowest), per NFL Next Gen Stats. That is, to some extent, a reflection and knock in opposition to Hurts, who has moreover had the benefit of having fun with in very nice circumstances. He performs behind a superb offensive line and with distinctive skill players (though the specter of his legs helps, too). Hurts’ 65 QBR ranks tenth — scrambles and designed runs are basically essentially the most setting pleasant elements of his sport. But on non-scramble dropbacks, Hurts nonetheless ranked eleventh in QBR (61), and he moreover led the league in completion share over expectation (plus-7, by means of Next Gen Stats).
Strength: Runs — every designed (along with the tush push) and scrambles. The Eagles working the tush push with such success is a credit score rating to Hurts and the offensive line, and its affect shouldn’t be minimized. Hurts ranks second amongst all quarterbacks in full EPA (58) generated on runs and scrambles — one factor that was true even sooner than the postseason. And it isn’t all fourth-and-1 conversions. Looking at performs with 2 yards or additional to go, the Eagles’ EPA on Hurts’ runs (37) ranks third most interesting behind the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and the Bills’ Josh Allen.
Hurts may be less complicated on runs up the middle than going east and west; he averaged 0.29 EPA per play on runs and scrambles with as a minimum 2 yards to go outside the tackles, nonetheless 0.42 EPA per play inside.
Weakness: Sack avoidance. The Eagles’ offensive line deservedly receives a great deal of reward. It ranked sixth in go block win payment (67.4%) and has arguably the NFL’s most interesting cope with in Lane Johnson. And however, Hurts has taken sacks on 9.4% of his dropbacks, which is ahead of solely the Titans’ Will Levis and the Bears’ Caleb Williams amongst QBR-qualifying quarterbacks. The outcomes of that state of affairs have been profound; the Eagles’ offense has recorded 1.1 anticipated components added per drive that doesn’t embody a sack, nonetheless that amount drops to minus-1.0 when there’s as a minimum one sack. — Walder
Read additional: Can Hurts current a Super Bowl win to quiet the doubters? … Every strategy to guess Mahomes … Every strategy to guess on Hurts
Projecting the passing subject score
In preparation for the Super Bowl, I acquired right here up with predicted stat traces for every participant involved, along with passing projections for the two QBs. When Mahomes is conscious of what he’s getting on any given play, he infrequently misses the inform or the throw. On quick throws this season, Mahomes had a success payment of 60.9%. But in opposition to quick throws, the Eagles allowed solely 5.5 yards per strive — most interesting inside the NFL. Something has obtained to current. Things could get powerful inside the crimson zone, the place swiftly there’s no beneath home. But take into accout, Reid cooked the Eagles inside the crimson zone two Super Bowls previously with back-and-forth motions.
Hurts, within the meantime, has been greater in opposition to the blitz, his largest criticism exiting 2023, and has often turn into additional right as a thrower. But the biggest enchancment he made this season was not turning the ball over. He could actually ought to throw the Eagles once more into this sport, though. I rely on Chiefs D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to present a ton of untamed appears to be to take away quick-game decisions and encourage Hurts, one in every of many league leaders in time to throw (3.13 seconds), to hold onto the soccer. The longer the down, the additional most likely it’s Hurts takes a nasty sack. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst
Read additional: Solak duties the entire Super Bowl subject score (ESPN+)
Biggest questions
Can the Chiefs defend the Eagles’ tush push?
Judging solely by how they defended the Bills’ mannequin of the play inside the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs have goal to contemplate they’ll keep up successfully. Josh Allen and Buffalo tried it six situations in opposition to Kansas City nonetheless remodeled merely twice. One stop acquired right here on fourth down on the Kansas City 41-yard line inside the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs trailed by a level. They used the favorable space place to realize the go-ahead touchdown.
“The [defensive] line has to be dominant,” defensive cope with Chris Jones talked about on how the Chiefs defended the play. “Your two [nose guards] and your two ends have to be physical on the inside.”
Kansas City hasn’t fared as successfully in defending Hurts on the tush push. He used it to realize two touchdowns in opposition to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Hurts moreover used it to realize the worthwhile touchdown in opposition to Kansas City inside the fourth quarter of a Week 11 regular-season contest in 2023. — Teicher
Read additional: Chiefs’ biggest matchup questions
What do the Eagles need from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to counterpoint the run sport?
They’ll need the type of passing effectivity they obtained inside the NFC Championship Game when Hurts went 20-of-28 for 246 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. It marked merely the second time since mid-November that Hurts threw for 200-plus yards.
Questions continued in regards to the aerial assault for lots of the season. The manufacturing didn’t match the type of expectations that embody players like Brown, Smith, Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert on the offense. But lots of it was by design, as a result of the instructing employees — armed with a dominant safety and flooring sport — leaned conservative with the go to keep up turnovers at a minimal. That methodology has labored pretty successfully: The Eagles have 10 takeaways to zero giveaways inside the playoffs.
Hurts quipped after the NFC title sport that Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit,” allowing him to air it out to Brown and Smith larger than frequent. Sirianni ought to enter this matchup assured about Hurts, who had most likely the best performances of his occupation in Super Bowl LVII (374 full yards, 4 touchdowns). Smith (7 catches, 100 yards) and Brown (6 catches, 96 yards, TD) had been an infinite part of that. They’ll most likely be generally known as on as soon as extra given that the Chiefs are optimistic to be focused on slowing down Barkley. — McManus
Read additional: Eagles’ biggest matchup questions
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Stephen A.: Only a Super Bowl win will change Jalen Hurts’ narrative
Stephen A. Smith says Jalen Hurts will solely be succesful to shake his “game manager” tag if he wins the Super Bowl.
Keys to a Chiefs win
Positional profit: Quarterback
Mahomes’ success in necessary moments of a sport, plus his talent to create on scrambles, gives the Chiefs a definitive profit at quarterback. His league-best QBR on third down inside the frequent season (90) jumped to 98 inside the playoffs. Mahomes moreover remodeled 22 first downs as a runner on scramble makes an try inside the frequent season, with 5 additional inside the playoffs. With his elite instincts to win on money downs, he can delay drives alongside along with his legs. The Eagles’ go rush will certainly heat up the pocket and drive him to maneuver. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst
Chiefs’ X challenge: Jaylen Watson, CB
After having fun with additional of a depth operate in 2023, Watson was penciled in as a starter to modify the departed L’Jarius Sneed in 2024. And for the first few video video games, Watson was implausible. Through Week 7, his safety DVOA of minus-51.5% was fifth inside the league amongst starting cornerbacks. But he fractured an ankle in Week 7 and was misplaced for the frequent season.
There’s no question the Chiefs’ safety nosedived after Watson obtained harm. In Weeks 1 by way of 7, the Chiefs ranked second in defensive DVOA. In the subsequent six weeks, Kansas City ranked twenty eighth in defensive DVOA. The Chiefs reversed points inside the closing few weeks of the season, with sturdy defensive performances in Weeks 14 by way of 17 sooner than they sat starters in Week 18.
Watson has returned to the lineup for the postseason, and he’s once more to shutting down opposing receivers. In the first two playoff video video games, FTN Data charting listed Watson because the precept defender in safety on 5 passes. The Texans and Bills weren’t throwing at him. The solely achieved passes he allowed had been an 8-yard completion to Texans’ Xavier Hutchinson late inside the fourth quarter and a completion for no obtain to Bills’ Ty Johnson in zone safety. Watson is commonly lined up as a result of the left cornerback, which suggests he’ll be defending whoever is the outermost Eagles receiver on the right aspect. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst
Rookie to take a look at: Xavier Worthy, WR
Worthy has develop right into a go-to purpose for the Chiefs’ offense. The first-round resolve accomplished the frequent season with 59 catches for 638 receiving yards and 6 touchdown receptions. He is perhaps up in opposition to the Eagles’ secondary, most likely the best inside the NFL, so coach Reid and Mahomes ought to decide the best way to get Worthy involved inside the passing sport. But alongside along with his tempo and dynamic expertise, rely on to see many targets going his means inside the Super Bowl. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst
Keys to an Eagles win
Positional profit: Secondary
Since Week 6, when rookie slot nook Cooper DeJean was inserted into the start lineup, the Eagles have allowed a league-low 5.2 yards per attempt to 171.9 passing yards per sport. On the perimeter, corners Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay Jr. are sticky in safety, with high-end closing tempo. And safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship can play top-down on the ball, which is a seamless match for coordinator Vic Fangio’s split-field schemes. This defensive unit has the personnel and the playcaller to create matchup advantages in opposition to the Chiefs’ intensive receivers and tight ends. — Bowen
Eagles’ X challenge: Nolan Smith Jr., LB
After a quiet rookie season in 2023 (one sack, 18 tackles and no begins), Smith has been a far more important part of the Eagles’ go rush this season. He entered the start lineup for good in Week 9 and had 6.5 sacks inside the frequent season. Smith has been on fireside inside the playoffs, with 4 sacks whereas having fun with over 80% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps over the earlier three video video games. His go rush win payment of 16.6% would have ranked seventeenth if he had adequate snaps to qualify for ESPN’s rankings.
Smith developed lots this season that he principally made big-money free agent Bryce Huff disappear. Huff, who signed a three-year, $51.1 million deal inside the offseason, misplaced his starting job to Smith at midseason and has carried out solely 13 full defensive snaps inside the playoffs.
Smith has 28 full go pressures (along with the playoffs), which ranks third on the Eagles behind the better-known Jalen Carter (34) and Josh Sweat (36). As the left outside linebacker, Smith will spend lots of the Super Bowl lined up in opposition to correct cope with Jawaan Taylor, who has given up basically essentially the most first pressures on the Chiefs (72, along with the playoffs). — Schatz
Rookie to take a look at: Quinyon Mitchell, CB
The Eagles’ safety is filled with impression rookies much like Mitchell, DeJean and Jalyx Hunt, who’ve helped info the crew once more to the Super Bowl. But none has been additional important than Mitchell. The first-rounder has been superior at cornerback, significantly inside the postseason, the place he has two interceptions. Facing a Chiefs passing assault that is perhaps trying to find strategies to get the ball into the palms of Worthy, Mitchell’s man safety talent and playmaking talents ought to return up huge for Philadelphia. The Eagles’ defensive place is a matchup profit, and in the event that they’ll get Mahomes transferring off his spot and making late throws, Mitchell is perhaps in line to be taught from it. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst
ESPN’s FPI has the Eagles worthwhile 56.1% of the simulations — and so they’re favored to win by a imply of two.2 components.
This matchup is a showdown between two top-10 teams in FPI: the No. 5 Eagles (6.0) and the No. 6 Chiefs (3.9). The Eagles are fifth on offense and the Chiefs rank seventh. On safety, Philadelphia ranks first and Kansas City is thirteenth. The Chiefs had been No. 2 in FPI inside the preseason, whereas the Eagles had been No. 5.
In the preseason, the Chiefs had the second-best chance to make the Super Bowl (18.9%) and the Eagles had the third-best odds (16.4%). Kansas City was given a 9.4% chance to win it, whereas Philadelphia was at 9.6%.
Who wins the game?
We requested 67 specialists to weigh in on who will win. The Chiefs had been picked by 41 of them (61.2%), whereas the Eagles claimed 26 votes (38.8%). The commonest score predictions had been 27-24 (picked by 10 of our specialists), 27-23 (5) and 31-28 (5).
Read additional: ESPN employees predictions
Of the 67 specialists who weighed in, 37 (55.2%) picked Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes (+105), Barkley (+275) and Hurts (+360) are the ESPN BET betting favorites. We requested only a few specialists to make clear their MVP prediction.
Elizabeth Merrill, senior creator: Barkley. On Sunday, he turns 28, the 12 months NFL working backs often begin their declines, nonetheless Barkley has certainly not appeared greater. He has been unstoppable inside the postseason.
Jason Reid, Andscape senior creator: Mahomes. The NFL’s most interesting participant needs to turn into the perfect of all time by worthwhile his fourth award.
Jeremy Fowler, nationwide NFL reporter: Barkley. He is a near-unstoppable-force, averaging larger than 150 dashing yards per sport over his earlier 5 video video games. If the Eagles win, he’ll be the catalyst.
1:49
Is Saquon Barkley the biggest danger to a Chiefs three-peat?
Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky ingredient how the Chiefs’ safety stopping Saquon Barkley is the necessary factor to a Super Bowl victory.
Lindsey Thiry, nationwide NFL reporter: Mahomes has led the Chiefs to some Super Bowl titles and was named the MVP in each. He’s a confirmed champion who repeatedly has lifted his crew to many inconceivable victories. It is unfathomable to predict anyone else nonetheless the star quarterback as a result of the Most Valuable Player.
Seth Walder, analytics creator: Hurts. Quarterbacks — positive, I take into account even these on the an identical crew as Barkley — have such an edge on this market. If the Eagles do definitely win, it’s almost positive Hurts may have made some huge performs. And as long as the receiving manufacturing is unfold out all through a couple of players, the award will default once more to him.
Read More: Experts predict Chiefs-Eagles score, MVP … Betting buzz: An O-lineman for MVP?
Stats to know
Team stats: Chiefs | Eagles
Chiefs
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Mahomes has 4 straight playoff victories when trailing initially of the fourth quarter, which is the longest streak by a quarterback all time. It started in opposition to the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
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Including the playoffs, Chris Jones ranks third in go rush win payment (15.3%) amongst inside defenders no matter score fifth in double-team payment (70%).
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This is perhaps Reid’s forty fifth playoff sport as a head coach (with the Chiefs and Eagles), passing Bill Belichick for basically essentially the most all time. He is the first head coach to face his former crew twice inside the Super Bowl.
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The Chiefs have acquired 9 straight postseason video video games courting to the 2022 postseason, which is tied for the second-longest streak in NFL postseason historic previous. The Patriots acquired 10 straight from 2001 to 2005.
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Kansas City is sporting white jerseys for the second time in its three straight Super Bowl appearances. Dating to Super Bowl XXXIX inside the 2004 season, the crew sporting white jerseys has acquired 16 of the earlier 20 Super Bowls. The Chiefs wore crimson jerseys of their Super Bowl LIV and LVIII wins.
Eagles
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Hurts already has basically essentially the most dashing touchdowns by a quarterback inside the postseason (9). Another score will make him the ninth participant all time to achieve 10. Only two others have carried out that inside the twenty first century — Marshawn Lynch (12) and LeGarrette Blount (11).
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The Eagles need 27 components for basically essentially the most in a single postseason in NFL historic previous. The file was set by the 1994 49ers (131), who achieved the mark in a single a lot much less sport.
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There have been 36 players to see as a minimum 75 targets in safety this season, along with the playoffs. DeJean and Mitchell rank second and third, respectively, in yards per purpose allowed because the closest defender in safety, trailing the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., per NFL Next Gen Stats.
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Barkley desires 30 yards to surpass Terrell Davis’ 1998 file for basically essentially the most dashing yards in a single season (2,476), along with the playoffs. Since Steve Spagnuolo grew to develop into the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2019, Kansas City has not allowed any participant to rush for 100 yards in opposition to them inside the playoffs.
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The Eagles accomplished the frequent season with additional rush makes an try (621) than go makes an try (448). Out of the first 40 Super Bowl champions, 33 had additional rushes than go makes an try of their Super Bowl worthwhile seasons (83%). Since 2006, the 2013 Seahawks are the one crew to do that.
Read additional: Super Bowl LIX by the numbers: Key stats for Chiefs-Eagles … Super Bowl historic previous: Facts, stats, and knowledge to know
Bold predictions
Worthy will finish as the very best intensive receiver in receiving yards. The rookie’s tempo and suppleness are exactly what Reid might want to leverage in opposition to the Eagles, significantly when he’s up in opposition to Mitchell. The Eagles may wrestle to present consideration to shutting down one receiving playmaker for the Chiefs. Bracketing Travis Kelce or JuJu Smith-Schuster opens the door for Worthy to capitalize on one-on-one matchups. — Eric Moody, NFL analyst
Hollywood Brown will score the game-winning TD. Brown may have an infinite day, gathering as a minimum 125 receiving yards. He will clinch Kansas City’s three-peat by discovering the highest zone with seconds to go. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst
The Eagles will win convincingly. Even after we exclude Week 18 (every teams rested players), the Eagles keep a solid-to-sizable edge in offensive, defensive and common EPA. The 2024 Chiefs are infamous for his or her knack of discovering strategies to sneak by with wins, nonetheless the Eagles have had in regards to the an identical success inside the win column after a sluggish start (every are 15-1 of their earlier 16 video video games, excluding Week 18) and have carried out so in a additional convincing fashion. — Mike Clay, NFL analyst
Barkley will rush for 125-plus yards and earn MVP honors inside the course of. Of the 19 video video games Barkley has carried out this season, he has rushed for over 100 yards in 14 of them, topping 200 yards twice. Expect the Eagles to placed on down a robust Chiefs safety and — as was the case most often this season — nearly all of Barkley’s manufacturing will come inside the second half. — Stephania Bell, NFL analyst
The deciding play will come from the foot of 1 crew’s kicker. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has had a tricky frequent season, missing eight full space aims — that’s as many as he missed over the prior three seasons blended. But he, like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, has made no shortage of big-time kicks for Philadelphia in his occupation. Somehow, a approach, this sport seems like it’s going to probably be a very good one and a space goal is perhaps the excellence. — Field Yates, NFL analyst
Who is in, and who’s out?
Injury research: Chiefs | Eagles
Wide receiver Skyy Moore is listed as unsure with an abdomen harm, nonetheless Kansas City must have its resolve of the rest of its players for the Super Bowl. The Chiefs took good thing about the three weeks between clinching the AFC’s prime playoff seed in Week 17 and having fun with their preliminary postseason sport inside the divisional spherical to current injured players like Mahomes (ankle), Jones (calf) and Isiah Pacheco (fibula) an extended break. Then the crew was fortunate to not endure a giant harm in each of its playoff video video games. Moore hasn’t carried out a single snap since October. — Teicher
Center Cam Jurgens (once more) and left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) missed elements of the NFC title sport on account of accidents. But Jurgens and Dickerson have been full members at observe this week and every have spoken optimistically about having fun with. DeVonta Smith has been restricted this week with a hamstring harm nonetheless intends to play. Veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who acquired right here up with the game-defining strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, has been working once more from a torn left triceps and is hopeful to go properly with up. There is a chance the Eagles may have all of their genuine starters accessible apart from linebacker Nakobe Dean, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee in the middle of the wild-card sport in opposition to the Packers. — McManus
What to know in regards to the officiating
Ron Torbert is one in every of three referees the NFL has trusted to work the Super Bowl on this decade. He joins Bill Vinovich and Carl Cheffers to each acquire two Super Bowl assignments since 2020. In his first look (Super Bowl LVI), Torbert’s crew took a once more seat for lots of the game, declining to throw a flag for a possible offensive go interference or face masks identify on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, and totaling solely 4 flags by way of the first 58 minutes of the game. The Rams’ worthwhile possession, nonetheless, featured 4 additional flags, along with two in opposition to Bengals go defenders inside the crimson zone.
In 2024, Torbert’s regular-season crew threw the third-most flags inside the NFL (17.1). His divisional spherical crew threw 12 flags, six apiece in opposition to the Commanders and Lions, nonetheless none for each roughing the passer or offensive holding. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter
Read additional: NFL names Torbert referee for Super Bowl LIX … NFLRA says theories that officers favor Chiefs ‘insulting’ … Goodell shuts down notion NFL officers eager on Chiefs … Inexperience of Super Bowl officers is ‘big departure’
How to guess Super Bowl LIX
Current line from ESPN BET Sportsbook: Chiefs -1, O/U 48.5
Since 2021, underdogs are 4-0 in opposition to the unfold and 3-1 outright inside the Super Bowl. Underdogs are 22-36 outright and 29-27-2 ATS inside the Super Bowl all time. The Chiefs are 4-2 outright and ATS inside the Super Bowl, worthwhile and defending in each of the earlier two seasons.
Mahomes is 3-1 outright and ATS inside the Super Bowl. All of Mahomes’ Super Bowls have featured traces of three components or a lot much less. The components full hit the over in every of the Chiefs’ earlier two Super Bowl appearances. The full for the pending Chiefs-Eagles matchup opened at 49.5 at ESPN BET.
Read additional: Updated odds and tendencies for Chiefs-Eagles … Americans anticipated to guess $1.39B legally on Super Bowl … Betting for freshmen … Your info to creating the best picks on Sunday (ESPN+) … A Swiftie’s info to Taylor-themed Super Bowl prop bets … Mike Clay’s playbook (ESPN+)
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What to know sooner than betting on Super Bowl LIX
Check out what you need to know sooner than Sunday’s huge sport with this ESPN BET primer on Super Bowl LIX.
Who is having fun with the halftime current?
Kendrick Lamar will perform on the halftime current. He is a 22-time Grammy winner, and in 2018, he grew to develop into the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.”
Lamar’s closing album, “GNX,” was launched in November. He garnered lots consideration in 2024 alongside along with his diss monitor “Not Like Us,” which was geared towards fellow hip-hop star Drake. At the 67th Grammy Awards, “Not Like Us” acquired 5 awards: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video and Best Rap Performance. Five-time Grammy winner SZA is perhaps a specific customer in Lamar’s effectivity.
Read additional: Lamar previews his upcoming halftime current … Most searched Super Bowl halftime displays … Who has carried out at Super Bowl halftime current? … SZA to hitch all through Super Bowl halftime effectivity
Super Bowl FAQs
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