It’s finally here…the final game of the 2024 NFL season and the two teams that will battle for a Lombardi Trophy do not come as much of a surprise. The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs get a rematch of Super Bowl LVII as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles. For the Eagles, they will try to avenge that previous Super Bowl loss which was a 38-35 final score and the following season in 2023, Kansas City returned to the title game beating the San Francisco 49ers also by just three points to win their second in a row.
The hottest topic heading into Super Bowl Sunday is whether the Chiefs can become the first team in history to win three straight Super Bowls. A very tough Eagles team is standing in their way. Believe it or not, these two teams have only met on the gridiron 11 times in history. The first meeting was in 1972, and Philadelphia won a close game 21-20. Up until Super Bowl Super Bowl LVII, the Eagles and Chiefs would meet up 10 more times splitting those games between Philadelphia and Kansas City.
The Chiefs lead the series 6-5 with all games except that Super Bowl taking place in the regular season meaning with an Eagles victory in this year’s Super Bowl that would tie up the all-time series. Following that Super Bowl loss, Philadelphia got another shot at the Chiefs in the regular season on November 20, 2023, and beat Kansas City 21-17. Several games were not so close in the series, led by a 34-14 victory by the Eagles in 2009. In 2001, Philadelphia also won 23-10. In 2021, Kansas City laid the wood to the Eagles winning 42-30. All other games were decided by seven points or less except for a 26-16 win by Kansas City in 2013.
As for this forthcoming Super Bowl, there was a point made on the radio that made me lean towards favoring Philadelphia. The analysis given said the Chiefs have Mahomes and Kelce. The Eagles have Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and the best defense in the NFL this season. Additionally, I heard today their offensive line averages a height of 6’6” and over 300 pounds to a man. I don’t believe the Chiefs are prepared for that.
The Eagles offense averaged 28 points per game up through the NFC championship game when they destroyed the Washington Commanders and rookie Jayden Daniels 55-23. The Philly defense yielded only 15 points per game. That is a 13-point winning advantage by the Eagles. Kansas City on the other hand scored only 20 points per game and gave up an average of 17 thus their average margin of victory was only about three points. The Chiefs lost just two games but so many were ever so close, including the AFC title game that could have gone either way.
For me, the Chiefs have been playing with fire all season and if you continue to play with fire, you are eventually going to get burned. Now is the time I believe. It seems no one has been able to stop Saquon Barkley, and some teams may have underestimated Jaylon Hurts. That and the Eagles have coordinators that are excellent as does Kanas City, but I believe power wins over finesse and that in my opinion will be the determining factor come Super Bowl Sunday.
How do I see this game playing out? In my opinion the Eagles will need to jump out to an early lead, possibly a two-score advantage to have a chance in this game and then will hope their defense can be dominant. If the game stays close until late in the fourth quarter, then Philadelphia is risking the chance that Patrick Mahomes will work his magic and pull off a last-minute victory.
It is my belief that the Eagles have more talent across the board and with their huge offensive line and some dangerous weapons on offense, which will be the difference in the game and history will have to wait for some team to pull off a three-peat.
Prediction: Eagles 30 / Chiefs 20
Regular Season Picks
Week 1: 12/15
Week 2: 8/16
Week 3: 8/16
Week 4: 11/16
Week 5: 7/14
Week 6: 9/14
Week 7: 9/15
Week 8: 11/16
Week 9: 10/15
Week 10: 5/14
Week 11: 11/14
Week 12: 7/13
Week 13: 13/16
Week 14: 8/12
Week 15: 8/16
Week 16: 12/16
Week 17: 12/16
Week 18: 10/16
Postseason Picks
Wild Card Round: 4/6
Divisional Round: 2/4
Conference Championships: 1/2
Superbowl LIX: TBD
