Super Bowl LVII - Kansas City vs Philadelphia
Feb 6, 2023 0:58:52 GMT
KING KID, pduh, and 1 more like this
Post by @admin on Feb 6, 2023 0:58:52 GMT
It's one week to the big game so I thought we needed a thread for predictions and any news that comes up between now and next Sunday.
This is a matchup of easy headlines - Andy Reid facing off against his old team, the Kelce brothers on opposing sides, the first Super Bowl to feature two #1 seeds since the Eagles last won the Lombardi against the Patriots in 52, the first Super Bowl with two black quarterbacks, and two teams who scored the exact same number of points this season.
A little bit deeper beneath that we're looking at whether Kansas City are able to cash in on their fifth straight season making it to the AFC Championship with a second Super Bowl victory, securing their place among the most successful tandems of all time. While the Chiefs are building a dynasty with Mahomes and Reid, the Eagles have rebooted faster than any team ever as, they're back in the Super Bowl with a new HC and QB after just five seasons. Both Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts arrived in Philadelphia to limited fanfare, the selection of Hurts in the second round of the 2020 Draft confused most fans considering Carson Wentz was signed to a "franchise QB" contract, but proved to be another of Howie Roseman's very shrewd moves. Hurts was a dual threat wonder this season, becoming the first quarterback with a 100+ season passer rating plus rushing for double digit touchdowns. Sirianni became an instant meme after his awkward unveiling press conference, and even at this point isn't really getting the hype or credit that the Sean McVay's and Kyle Shanahan's of the world receive. Roseman's roster building has been nothing short of sensational, he made the big draft day trade to pair AJ Brown with his previous draftee DeVonta Smith to create one of the league's best receiver pairs for Hurts to throw to, he signed Haason Reddick to a great value FA contract and saw him finish second in the league in sacks, and on the eve of the season he got an absolute steal with CJ Gardner-Johnson for pennies from the Saints who was tied for the league lead with 6 interceptions.
Philadelphia's productivity on both sides of the ball is undoubtable, but the one big question remaining is whether they can do it against the very best opposition. Preseason, most people could see a successful season for the Eagles coming, they had a very easy schedule, and they've taken care of business. But unlike last campaign when they hit a brick wall against the Bucs in the playoffs, this season's postseason opponents have hardly raised the difficulty meter in the way you'd expect. The Giants had clearly hit the end of their road after beating the Vikings, and the 49ers were crushed as soon as Brock Purdy's elbow injury occurred. The Chiefs represent an completely different obstacle, and they're battle tested in a way the Eagles simply aren't having had to come through the AFC meat grinder.
The question for Kansas City this season was all about what they'd look like on offence post-Tyreek Hill. And the answer has been clear, still really very good. Patrick Mahomes will win his second MVP award, the Reid-Bienemy combination continue to delight and excite us with their unique and creative playcalling, and while the star power at the skill positions isn't quite the same, they are more well rounded with different names popping up in different weeks to share the load. Isiah Pacheco has taken over as the #1 running back, and his violent and dynamic rushing style has earnt him a lot of fans, while Jerick McKinnon has been on a tear as the receiving back down the stretch. The availability of the Chiefs WRs might play a key in Sunday's game - Mecole Hardman is likely out after rushing back to be available for the Bengals game, so Kadarius Toney and Juju Smith Schuster's recovery from ankle and knee injuries respective will be crucial to avoid Mahomes throwing to Skyy Moore and Marcus Kemp as he did at the end of the AFC Championship game.
If that does occur though will it really matter? Mahomes seems to be a man on a mission, barely slowed by his ankle injury at all last Sunday, making a typical arrangement of outstanding throws to slay an opponent that was looming as a bogey team. As mentioned he's responded to the loss of the league's most dynamic playmaker with an MVP season, and he could become the first since Kurt Warner in 1999 to win the MVP award and Super Bowl in the same season. His last appearance in the Super Bowl will also be providing some motivation, one of his worst performances forced by the pass rush of the Buccaneers, keeping him to a rare touchdownless game. That will be the recipe that the Eagles look to exploit, and Mahomes' final obstacle for the season, Philadelphia had four players record 10+ sacks this season, a multiple pass rush threat that has never been seen before.
This is a matchup of easy headlines - Andy Reid facing off against his old team, the Kelce brothers on opposing sides, the first Super Bowl to feature two #1 seeds since the Eagles last won the Lombardi against the Patriots in 52, the first Super Bowl with two black quarterbacks, and two teams who scored the exact same number of points this season.
A little bit deeper beneath that we're looking at whether Kansas City are able to cash in on their fifth straight season making it to the AFC Championship with a second Super Bowl victory, securing their place among the most successful tandems of all time. While the Chiefs are building a dynasty with Mahomes and Reid, the Eagles have rebooted faster than any team ever as, they're back in the Super Bowl with a new HC and QB after just five seasons. Both Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts arrived in Philadelphia to limited fanfare, the selection of Hurts in the second round of the 2020 Draft confused most fans considering Carson Wentz was signed to a "franchise QB" contract, but proved to be another of Howie Roseman's very shrewd moves. Hurts was a dual threat wonder this season, becoming the first quarterback with a 100+ season passer rating plus rushing for double digit touchdowns. Sirianni became an instant meme after his awkward unveiling press conference, and even at this point isn't really getting the hype or credit that the Sean McVay's and Kyle Shanahan's of the world receive. Roseman's roster building has been nothing short of sensational, he made the big draft day trade to pair AJ Brown with his previous draftee DeVonta Smith to create one of the league's best receiver pairs for Hurts to throw to, he signed Haason Reddick to a great value FA contract and saw him finish second in the league in sacks, and on the eve of the season he got an absolute steal with CJ Gardner-Johnson for pennies from the Saints who was tied for the league lead with 6 interceptions.
Philadelphia's productivity on both sides of the ball is undoubtable, but the one big question remaining is whether they can do it against the very best opposition. Preseason, most people could see a successful season for the Eagles coming, they had a very easy schedule, and they've taken care of business. But unlike last campaign when they hit a brick wall against the Bucs in the playoffs, this season's postseason opponents have hardly raised the difficulty meter in the way you'd expect. The Giants had clearly hit the end of their road after beating the Vikings, and the 49ers were crushed as soon as Brock Purdy's elbow injury occurred. The Chiefs represent an completely different obstacle, and they're battle tested in a way the Eagles simply aren't having had to come through the AFC meat grinder.
The question for Kansas City this season was all about what they'd look like on offence post-Tyreek Hill. And the answer has been clear, still really very good. Patrick Mahomes will win his second MVP award, the Reid-Bienemy combination continue to delight and excite us with their unique and creative playcalling, and while the star power at the skill positions isn't quite the same, they are more well rounded with different names popping up in different weeks to share the load. Isiah Pacheco has taken over as the #1 running back, and his violent and dynamic rushing style has earnt him a lot of fans, while Jerick McKinnon has been on a tear as the receiving back down the stretch. The availability of the Chiefs WRs might play a key in Sunday's game - Mecole Hardman is likely out after rushing back to be available for the Bengals game, so Kadarius Toney and Juju Smith Schuster's recovery from ankle and knee injuries respective will be crucial to avoid Mahomes throwing to Skyy Moore and Marcus Kemp as he did at the end of the AFC Championship game.
If that does occur though will it really matter? Mahomes seems to be a man on a mission, barely slowed by his ankle injury at all last Sunday, making a typical arrangement of outstanding throws to slay an opponent that was looming as a bogey team. As mentioned he's responded to the loss of the league's most dynamic playmaker with an MVP season, and he could become the first since Kurt Warner in 1999 to win the MVP award and Super Bowl in the same season. His last appearance in the Super Bowl will also be providing some motivation, one of his worst performances forced by the pass rush of the Buccaneers, keeping him to a rare touchdownless game. That will be the recipe that the Eagles look to exploit, and Mahomes' final obstacle for the season, Philadelphia had four players record 10+ sacks this season, a multiple pass rush threat that has never been seen before.
