This is it folks, the Super Bowl LVII is on its way this weekend and we’re excited and we hope you are too.
The racket at the State Farm Stadium is going to be deafening as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles fans roar for every play, in the hopes of clutching the coveted Lombardi Trophy.
What’s more, we’ll also get the classic half-time show headlined by Grammy award-winning performer Rihanna.
Lest we forget
Just before we get into our brief analysis of the two opponents, let’s take a moment to remember that the G.O.A.T is leaving the game.
Tom Brady is hanging up his cleats on the game which saw him literally become a Hall of Famer three times over.
In fact, six of his Draft peers became inductees to the NFL Hall of Fame in the course of his playing career.
Now, this is of course his second time Brady is retiring but he says this time it’s ‘for good’. Check out our recent blog on 8 Amazing Facts about Tom Brady right here.
How did we get here?
Philadelphia Eagles – 14 – 3
This is arguably the best recorded season for the Eagles. They started the 2022 season with a eight game win-streak, something unseen by them since 2004’s 7 – 0 streak.
It’s also their second appearance in the Super Bowl final in the last six seasons. They beat the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship in a formidable display, defeating them 31 – 7.
Eagles dominated in defence. While their offence has had its issues in previous games, it would be the defence game that ultimately suffocated the 49ers’ chances to penetrate the Eagles’ lines.
Add into that mix, the fact that the 49ers’ Third-String Quarterback got injured in the first Quarter, worked in their favour.
You can read more about the NFC Conference game right here
They are a well-rounded team and it’s no surprise that they made it to the final.
Kansas City Chiefs – 14 – 3
After a sputtering start to their digest of games, the Chiefs have managed to build knock down opponents inside the AFC and inter-conference.
The biggest shock during the season was the 27 – 24 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in December.
The Playoffs would be where they would get their revenge, not only for the season game but to heal the scars left by their defeat in last year’s Playoffs.
They’d dish it up with a victory in the AFC Championship.
A game of Two Halves
It would not be an easy confrontation and it was clear that both halves had distinct stories to tell, with the Chiefs building momentum in the First and Bengals managing to scratch their fortunes back in the Second.
The team were also contending with Patrick Mahomes’ lingering ankle injury which meant he wasn’t 100%.
Get the lowdown on that AFC Championship game here
Much like the Eagles, the Chiefs deserved to reach the final.
Any prior history?
It’s the first time these two teams have faced each other in the Super Bowl. In fact, the last time they clashed was during the Inter-conference game during Week 4 of the 2021/22 season.
The Chiefs managed a 42 – 30 beatdown on the Eagles. Both teams would drop out of the Playoffs that season.
Concerns going into Sunday?
The ankle. The question likely pressing on Chiefs fans and on Patrick Mahomes himself … Will the ankle cost Chiefs the game?
It was the Divisional Round which saw Patrick Mahomes suffer a high-ankle sprain which luckily for him was not so serious to be season-ending. However, as seen in the AFC Conference Round, Chiefs were not taking any chances. The follow up question is… Is two weeks enough time to heal it up?
It’s not just Mahomes. Chiefs do have a series of injuries on their injury report. Wide Receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman (Doubtful) and Kadarius Toney, as well as CB L’Jarius Sneed and LB Willie Gay, are Questionable for Sunday.
There’s so far no information on injuries in the Eagles camp.
Tactics
For Eagles
They have to close down Mahomes, pure and simple. While he’s dealing with the high-ankle strain and his top-tier Wide Receivers are walking in bruised, he’s the key target.
The Eagles have already developed their counter-Quarterbacking strategy and executed it against the 49ers with great success. However, Brock Purdy is not Patrick Mahomes.
They’ll need to close him down early and prevent throws to the Wide Receivers.
So long as the Eagles’ defence stays together, Jalen Hurts won’t need to do something crazy to create chances.
For Chiefs
It’s the Pass Rush that’ll worry the Chiefs. Eagles are 14 – 0 when performing a run of 100 or more yards and that’s going to be a problem.
Chiefs also has a tendency to give up yards when a team goes into the ground game and begins to grind them down.
Eagles are also a very well-rounded team. just take their Running-Backs for example.
Miles Sanders and Boston Scott have both achieved incredible runs in recent weeks. If they collect the throw from Jalen Hurts, Chiefs better be ready to shut them down. It gives Travis Kelce a chance to earn his ring.
Talking of Travis, he’ll be facing his brother Jason in one of the first sibling vs sibling Super Bowl Finals… what a turn up for the books.
The winner?
So who do you think will win the the 57th Edition of the NFL Super Bowl? Will it be a well-rounded Eagles or a quick-thinking Chiefs?
Both teams have their eyes on the prize but only one can raise the trophy.
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