So what makes this Super Bowl so special?

Winning a Super Bowl is career defining. Winning multiple Super Bowls and breaking records along the way is legacy defining. Fortunately for the fans, history-watch is on overdrive this year when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s take a closer look at what’s at stake

• Kansas City Chiefs - Hoping to become the first and only team ever to win 3 Super Bowls in a row.

• Patrick Mahomes - Widely recognized as being second only to Tom Brady in the GOAT quarterback discussion. Even Brady didn’t do this.

• Saquon Barkley - Only 30 yards shy of breaking the all time record for most rushing yards ever in a season (regular season + playoffs). This record might be broken on the Eagle’s first drive of the game.

• Travis Kelce - Trailing Jerry Rice by 2 TDs and 206 yards, Kelce is one of the best playoff performers of all time. Unlikely to break the records, but you wouldn’t put it past him.

• Andy Reid - Another GOAT title chaser, the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs is already a legend. Becoming the only coach ever to win back to back to back Super Bowls though would in many eyes elevate him over his arch rival Bill Belichek (Tom Brady’s ex-coach). Also, since success is the best form of revenge. Andy Reid was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012 and if the Chiefs win this game, it will be the second time that Reid has beaten his ex-employers in a Super Bowl. Cold.

Keys To Victory - Philadelphia Eagles

• Stick To Your Offensive Identity And Run The Ball - The Eagles with Saquon, have the deadliest running game in the NFL this year. The Chiefs have not let a running back rush for over a 100 yards in the playoffs since 2019. Teams also seem to have a tendency to make mind-melting errors in judgement while playing the Chiefs in the playoffs. Saquon’s success on the ground is a flywheel for the Eagle’s offense because he commands so much attention from the other team’s defense. This creates opportunities for their star receivers AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and the underrated Dallas Goedert. Philadelphia’s offensive co-ordinator Kellen Moore will need to be at his creative best but the Eagle’s have to stay committed to the run game through 4 quarters to unleash Saquon.

• Watch Out For Spags - If there’s one thing you need to know about Kansas City’s defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo (affectionately known as Spags), he likes to bring the heat. He will find a way to sack your quarterback in a big moment. With Spags, we all know the blitz is coming, we just don’t know where it’s coming from. The Eagles have to protect Jalen Hurts throughout the game. This will be especially challenging because Jalen, his center Cam Jurgens and backup center Landon Dickerson are all dealing with injuries.

• Don’t Give Mahomes Any Time - This is a multi-faceted concern. Play by play, if you give Patrick Mahomes time, he will carve you up. The weakest part of the Eagle’s defense is their young secondary and given the opportunity Mahomes will likely find success with Kelce, Worthy, Hopkins and other weapons down the field. The other concern of course is not to leave Patrick much time at the end of the game. He famously drove his team down the field for a game-tying field goal with 13 seconds left to play against the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 playoffs. Constantly compared to Michael Jordan at the end of games and it’s hard to disagree.

Keys To Victory - Kansas City Chiefs

• Take An Early Lead - Sounds easy right? Of course, it’s easier said than done but taking an early lead will massively boost the Chief’s chances of winning this game. Most teams that rely on the run game like the Eagles, struggle when playing from behind due to clock management concerns (the game clock doesn’t stop when you run the ball). Forcing Jalen Hurts to make ambitious throws is a much better situation for the Chiefs than trying to contain Saquon Barkley.

• Protect The Ball - I know what you’re thinking - “thank you Captain Obvious”. To that I say, elegance is in simplicity. Okay but seriously, the Philadelphia Eagles are forcing teams to turn the ball over at a historic rate. In the NFC championship, a game that everyone thought was going to be close the Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 55-23. Yes, their offense was terrific, but the defense had 4 takeaways and 3 of them were in the Commanders half.

• A ‘Hurry-Up’ Offense Is Your Best Friend - The Eagle’s defense has been dominant through the season including the playoffs. However, they did display a moment of vulnerability earlier in the playoffs when the Los Angeles Rams almost came back to beat them on the last drive of the game in the divisional round. The Rams, with barely any time on the clock had to revert to a ‘Hurry-Up’ offense (which is when a team runs plays back to back with no time lost in a huddle). Surprisingly, this sent the Eagle’s defense reeling and the Rams almost pulled off the comeback. The Chiefs have shown that they can turn up their passing attack almost at will and it will surprise no one if Patrick Mahomes does it again to win yet another big game on Sunday.