NEW ORLEANS — What to watch for Sunday in the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Eagles:
When the Chiefs have the ball
The Chiefs aren’t rattled by close games. They’ve won 17 times in a row in one-score games, including 11 times this season. And they’ve done it by using the clock to their advantage and protecting the ball.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown 288 passes since his last interception. He hasn’t been prolific by his own standards — he had only 177 passing yards in a playoff win against the Texans and 245 in the AFC Championship Game against the Bills. Still, there’s no one in the world the Chiefs would rather have trying to win the game Sunday.
Tight end Travis Kelce remains Mahomes’ top target. His 174 postseason catches are the most in NFL history. His 2,039 postseason receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns rank second.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is considered one of the most creative schemers in the league and has spent the last two weeks searching for ways to disguise coverages against Mahomes. He’ll lean on two rookie cornerbacks — first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell and second-round pick Cooper DeJean — who will face the biggest test of their careers. The Eagles have been opportunistic this postseason with 10 takeaways, more than twice as many as the next-closest team.
Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith and defensive tackle Jalen Carter, both drafted in the first round in 2023, are playing at their best. They’ve totaled six sacks this postseason after combining for 11 in the regular season.
When the Eagles have the ball
Saquon Barkley has had one of the best rushing seasons in NFL history and needs just 30 more rushing yards to pass former Bronco Terrell Davis for the most in the regular season and postseason combined. He needs just 58 yards to become the third running back in history with at least 500 rushing yards in the postseason and the first since Davis ran for 581 in 1997.
Just as concerning for the Chiefs is the Eagles’ “Tush Push,” a play in which quarterback Jalen Hurts is shoved forward by his teammates on short yardage. They have converted 76% of those plays on third and fourth down this year. Two years ago against the Chiefs, Hurts ran for three touchdowns, the most for a quarterback in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have allowed an average of 148 rushing yards in their two games this postseason, although the Bills’ James Cook averaged 6.5 yards per carry on only 11 carries in the AFC Championship Game. Steve Spag-nuolo clinched that game by calling for a well-timed cornerback blitz, true to form for the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, who’s known for exotic looks. He’ll look to do the same Sunday on obvious passing downs, but he’s facing an Eagles offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranked the best in the NFL.
PFF considers Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones the best pass rusher at the position. Linebacker Nick Bolton, the quarterback of the defense, forced Hurts to fumble and returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown in the team’s last Super Bowl meeting.