The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are only a few days away from the biggest game of their entire careers. Super Bowl LIX which is taking place on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Cedars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will aired on FOX, as the Chiefs continue to chase history and attempt to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
The Kansas City Chiefs secured its spot in the big game with playoff wins over the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, Philadelphia seeks redemption after falling to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. The Eagles dominated the NFC Playoffs defeating the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Commanders.
Both teams stand one game away from etching their names in NFL history. With Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts leading their respective squads, this matchup features two of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks. The Chiefs are seeking to cement themselves as the NFL’s next dynasty, while the Eagles hope to reclaim their status as Super Bowl champions.
With a history on the line for Kansas City and revenge fueling Philadelphia, Super Bowl LIX promises to be another classic clash of two powerhouse franchises.
Game/Team Matchup Info
Kansas City enters this matchup with a 17-2 record, while Philadelphia stands at 17-3. The Chiefs hold a slim 6-5 edge in the all-time series, including a 38-35 victory in Super Bowl LVII. However, the Eagles won their most recent meeting, rallying for a 21-17 win on November 20, 2023.
According to ESPN odds, the Chiefs are 1.5-point favorites. The game’s over/under is set at 49.5. Both teams enter this game as the two most complete teams in the NFL. The Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl in five of the last six seasons and have played in seven consecutive AFC Championship Games. The Eagles, meanwhile, are making their third Super Bowl appearance in the past eight seasons.
Statistically, Kansas City ranks 16th in total offense and fourth in scoring defense. Philadelphia counters with the eighth-ranked offense and the No. 1 overall defense. The Eagles allow just 278.4 yards per game, with a stifling pass defense that has held opponents to an average of 174.2 passing yards per game.
With the KC offense led by Mahomes and the Eagles’ defense ranking among the best in recent memory, this game is a battle of strength versus strength.
Kansas City Chiefs: A Dynasty In the Making
Kansas City is one away win from cementing NFL history, aiming to complete the first ever three-peat. No team in the Super Bowl era has ever won three straight championships, making this the game’s most compelling storyline.
Much of Kansas City’s success comes from the leadership of Mahomes and Head Coach Andy Reid. Mahomes, who is a career 17-2 in the playoffs. He trails only Tom Brady in postseason victories. Mahomes has also thrown for 1,071 yards and seven touchdowns across his four Super Bowl appearances. Mahomes and Reid as a duo are 3-1 in the big game. They look to win one more game as a duo. With their careers as decorated as they already are, they do not have an achievement as significant as a three-peat.
The Chiefs’ defense has been their driving force of success for multiple seasons. The orchestrator of this defense has been Steve Spagnuolo. He has the defense ranked fourth in points allowed per game (19.2). The weak spot defensively lies within their ability to defend the pass where they rank 18th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (3,720) and 12th in passing touchdowns allowed (24). However, their points allowed grade is due to their ability to stop run where they rank eighth in the league. With only 1,731 total rushing yards allowed, and in terms of rushing touchdowns the Chiefs rank 10th having surrendered 13 rushing touchdowns this season.
With Mahomes leading the offense and the defense continuing to do what it has during this entire run, Kansas City enters this game as the slight favorite.
Philadelphia Eagles: A Shot At Redemption
Then turning the page to the Eagles who have been on a mission since their heartbreaking Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs. Since their defeat they have built the most balanced team in the entire NFL, featuring the best defense in the NFL and an all-time great rushing attack.
He may not always get the credit he deserves, but Jalen Hurts continues to be a winning player. His ability to raise his level of play as the moment demands it is something only a few players in his position can do. Hurts enters this game accounting for just one turnover in his last seven playoff games dating back to 2022. He is also a dominant runner with 64 career rushing touchdowns, including playoffs.
Defensively, the Eagles are led by Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. His defense has allowed 17.8 points per game which is good for second-best in the NFL. We already know they rank first in both total yards allowed and defending the pass. Then their run defense is a slight notch below the rest of their unit, but they are still 10th-best when it comes to stopping the run allowing 104.2 yards per game.
With the deepest roster in the league and a hunger for revenge, this Eagles team poses the most serious threat to Kansas City’s championship hopes.
Kansas City Players to Watch
With this being the biggest game in everyone’s life, it is only right to look at the players who made getting here possible and will likely be the most vital in their respective teams coming out on top. Starting with the Chiefs’ two most important offensive players. Heading into this game we have Mahomes, who may not have had his most explosive statistical season but remains the ultimate clutch performer. He has thrown 13 touchdowns without an interception since Week 11 and has a history of delivering in big moments. Mahomes has also been able to lead the Chiefs to an NFL record 17 straight one-score victories, a feat no one else in history has ever been close to accomplishing. He might be adding one more victory to that record in a few days.
Then his right-hand man, Travis Kelce who even now still remains his go-to target, leading the team with 97 receptions this season. The veteran’s ability to find openings in the defense is simply like no other player to ever play his position. It will be a crucial aspect of their gameplan against Philadelphia’s top-ranked pass defense.
Turning to the other side of the ball, which has been the backbone of this team there is no better player to begin with than the anchor of this defense, Chris Jones. With 61 quarterback pressures and nine tackles for loss, the six-time All-Pro remains the Chiefs’ most dangerous defensive weapon. He will need to continue being so as he disrupts the Philadelphia offensive line. However, he’s not alone, the Chiefs are not where they are today without the heart of their defense in Nick Bolton. Leading the defense with a team-high 106 tackles he is a versatile defender. He can blitz the quarterback, stop the run, or drop back in coverage. The defensive signal caller will once again be paramount to their chances.
To wrap up Kansas City’s defense is their best coverage defender on the team, Trent McDuffie. He leads the team with 13 pass breakups and according to Pro Football Focus has been graded out as the third-best cornerback this season. The trio of Jones-Bolton-McDuffie is why even though the Chiefs don’t have the depth the Eagles they eclipse Philadelphia in experience. In games of this magnitude, it usually comes down to a play here or there which these players have shown the ability to make time and time again.
Philadelphia Eagles Players To Watch
The Eagles have many more players to keep an eye on in this game, but at the center of everything they’ve been able to accomplish so far has been Hurts. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs, while also limiting turnovers and extend plays, will be required once more against Kansas City’s defense.
However, the driving force of this year’s Eagles team has been no other than Saquon Barkley. The NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year also had a franchise-record 2,005 yards rushing during the regular season. Then in the playoffs, he’s somehow gotten even better. He is averaging 147.3 yards through three games with five touchdowns on just 66 attempts. If he can continue this trend and dominate on the ground, not only will it take pressure off Hurts, but he could single-handedly win them this game like he’s practically done in every game during their playoff run.
Defensively the Eagles have a long list of talented players, but look no further than their Defensive Tackle Jalen Carter. In just two seasons, he has already put himself on a short list of the most disruptive players in the sport. Carter leads the Eagles’ defense with 12 tackles for loss and is the embodiment of hard-nosed physical football, and then there’s the guy who follows right in his footsteps, Linebacker Zack Baun.
Baun was an offseason acquisition who has become one of the Eagles’ most important defenders with five forced fumbles on the season. He has basically been a part of every Eagles takeaway this postseason run.
However, we cannot talk Eagles’ defense without bringing up their backline which includes rookie Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean who have both helped to steady the secondary. Pairing them up with veterans like Corner Darius Slay and ball-hawking Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has given Philadelphia the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense this year.
Final Thoughts
Super Bowl LIX has many compelling storylines from the Chiefs seeking a historic three-peat to the Eagles looking for redemption and becoming the team to stop history from happening. Both teams are stacked with talent, and this game, like games before, will come down to a handful of key plays.
Kansas City’s experience and championship pedigree might give them an edge, but Philadelphia’s dominant defense and balanced offense make them the toughest opponent the Chiefs have had to face yet. The battles between Mahomes versus Hurts, Reid versus Sirianni, and Spagnuolo versus Fangio will likely be where the outcome of this game is determined.
