Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the Philadelphia Eagles going through the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. This is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, after the 2022 season, during which the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35.
Kansas City is seeking to make historical past by turning into the primary NFL crew to win three straight Super Bowls. The final time the Eagles received the Super Bowl was after the 2017 season in Super Bowl LII. The Chiefs entered the playoffs because the AFC’s No. 1 seed, whereas the Eagles had been the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
We have you ever lined with every part you’ll want to know for Chiefs-Eagles, together with crew previews, field rating predictions, a breakdown of Super Bowl MVP candidates and sport picks. We additionally present recommendation from our sports activities betting specialists and in-depth statistics from ESPN Research. We have a look at the 2 quarterbacks, coaches, officiating, positional benefits and X components. And scroll all the best way down to take a look at our preview of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime present.
Let’s dive into this one-stop store cheat sheet, beginning with a preview of the matchup.
Jump to a piece:
What to know | Meet the groups | QBs
Projecting the field rating | Biggest questions
Keys to Chiefs win | Keys to Eagles win
Picks | MVP watch | Stats to know
Bold predictions | Injuries | Officiating
Betting the sport | Halftime | FAQs
Previewing Chiefs vs. Eagles
When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Television: Fox
Depth charts: Chiefs | Eagles
If the Chiefs need their three-peat, they’ll should beat the most effective crew they’ve performed in a Super Bowl within the Patrick Mahomes period. The Eagles have misplaced three video games all season, two of them after their receivers dropped passes that will have clinched victories. Since their Week 5 bye, they’ve gone 15-1, posted a plus-27 turnover margin and received their video games by a mean of 13.8 factors.
This Eagles crew is healthier than the one the Chiefs beat two years in the past in Super Bowl LVII and higher than both of the 49ers groups Kansas City topped in Super Bowls LIV and LVIII. Philadelphia is even scarier than the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers, who managed to present Mahomes his solely championship sport defeat in Super Bowl LV.
I would not say that is the most effective Chiefs crew we have seen, nevertheless it could be the wiliest. Rarely dominant however by no means out of it, the Chiefs put collectively a collection of spectacularly shut victories in 2024. Holding on to a victory in opposition to the Ravens in Week 1 by the size of Isaiah Likely’s toenail portended what was to return all season. The Chiefs received video games with fourth-down stops, area objectives bouncing off uprights, kicks getting blocked and snaps being dropped. They discovered a approach to sprinkle simply sufficient magic mud into every victory. Their win over the Bills within the AFC Championship Game, a measure of revenge for Buffalo costing the Chiefs an opportunity at an undefeated common season in November, was their fifteenth consecutive victory in video games determined by seven factors or fewer.
Can the Eagles deny the Chiefs from making historical past? A 2024 offseason for the ages has replenished Philadelphia’s roster, and it’s the higher crew — on paper. That begins with the participant who could be the story of the season, a working again Kansas City has to cease if it has any hope of profitable one other title: Saquon Barkley — Bill Barnwell, senior NFL author
Read extra: Barnwell previews the Super Bowl (ESPN+)
Meet the groups
Coach: Andy Reid
Reid brings a great deal of playoff and Super Bowl expertise. In 26 seasons — 12 with the Chiefs — Reid is 28-16 within the postseason and 3-2 within the Super Bowl. He was a finalist for the 2024 AP Coach of the Year award, an honor not often given to the chief of a two-time defending Super Bowl championship crew. The 2024 Chiefs had been hit laborious by accidents, had hassle at instances defending Mahomes and had been inconsistent for a lot of the season on protection. But thanks partially to Reid, they’re nonetheless one win away from profitable a 3rd consecutive championship.
How did they get right here?
Getting to 17-2 (together with two playoff victories) took lots of work. Kansas City received 11 regular-season video games plus the AFC Championship Game in opposition to the Bills by one rating and at instances was aided by a component of luck. But the Chiefs additionally confirmed a knack for making the proper play on the proper time. A blocked area purpose on the ultimate play to protect a two-point win in opposition to the Broncos in Week 10 was something however luck. — Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter
Coach: Nick Sirianni
Sirianni is the primary coach within the Super Bowl period to make the playoffs in every of his first 4 seasons whereas reaching the Super Bowl a number of instances. He guided the Eagles to the title sport in opposition to the Chiefs within the 2023 season, a 38-35 Eagles loss. With a regular-season file of 48-20, Sirianni has the third-highest profitable share (.706) by a head coach within the fashionable period (minimal 50 video games), trailing solely John Madden and George Allen.
How did they get right here?
The Eagles obtained off to a shaky 2-2 begin, testing the nerves of the fan base following a 1-6 collapse down the stretch final season. They grew to become extra of a Saquon Barkley-focused offense in the course of the Week 5 bye, and that propelled them to a 10-game profitable streak and a 14-3 regular-season file. Led by the NFL’s prime dashing sport and protection, Philadelphia earned the No. 2 seed within the NFC and received three straight postseason dwelling video games to punch its ticket to the Super Bowl, together with a 55-23 thumping of the Commanders within the NFC title sport. — Tim McManus, Eagles reporter
Read extra: Reid says he’ll return as Chiefs coach in 2025 … Sirianni is a gamers’ coach, it doesn’t matter what you consider him
QB breakdown
Mahomes is coming off a down 12 months — for him — as he ranked eighth with a 68 QBR within the common season. It wasn’t all on him, although, because the Chiefs struggled to settle their deal with scenario and his playmakers had been missing, particularly early within the season. But you’d nonetheless count on extra from the most effective quarterback on the planet enjoying for coach Reid (and with an elite inside offensive line). Of course, postseason Mahomes is just totally different. His 79 QBR ranks third within the playoffs, and his profession postseason QBR is roughly 10 factors greater than within the common season.
Strength: Decision-making. Despite Mahomes rating fifth with a 69 QBR this season (postseason included), he ranks first on third down (90). Despite throwing to the sticks solely 28% of the time on early downs (second lowest), his quantity jumps to 60% (eleventh most) on third down, demonstrating how Mahomes modifications his threat profile when the scenario warrants it. And when Mahomes decides to scramble, he’s hyperefficient, averaging 0.79 EPA per play, third highest and highest amongst any quarterback with at the least a 2% scramble fee.
Lastly, the Chiefs ranked second in common separation on the time of ball arrival (3.9), per NFL Next Gen Stats. That may sound like a large receiver statistic, nevertheless it may need extra to do with the scheme and quarterback; separation on this context is just measured on targets, and that is partially a mirrored image of Mahomes’ skill to seek out and throw to an open participant.
Weakness: Accuracy. It’s humorous that the consensus finest quarterback of this technology is mediocre on the subject of accuracy, nevertheless it has been true for years. Mahomes recorded a minus-2 completion share over expectation this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. His 14% off-target fee was twelfth finest, however that got here whereas averaging simply 6.2 air yards per goal (third lowest) — shorter passes are a lot much less prone to be off-target. Mahomes has had a detrimental completion share over expectation in each season since 2019. — Seth Walder, analytics author
Philadelphia has one of the vital run-heavy offenses within the league, with a minus-11% go fee over expectation (fourth lowest), per NFL Next Gen Stats. That is, to some extent, a mirrored image and knock in opposition to Hurts, who has additionally had the advantage of enjoying in very pleasant circumstances. He performs behind an excellent offensive line and with distinctive ability gamers (although the specter of his legs helps, too). Hurts’ 65 QBR ranks tenth — scrambles and designed runs are essentially the most environment friendly components of his sport. But on non-scramble dropbacks, Hurts nonetheless ranked eleventh in QBR (61), and he additionally led the league in completion share over expectation (plus-7, through Next Gen Stats).
Strength: Runs — each designed (together with the tush push) and scrambles. The Eagles working the tush push with such success is a credit score to Hurts and the offensive line, and its impact should not be minimized. Hurts ranks second amongst all quarterbacks in complete EPA (58) generated on runs and scrambles — one thing that was true even earlier than the postseason. And it is not all fourth-and-1 conversions. Looking at performs with 2 yards or extra to go, the Eagles’ EPA on Hurts’ runs (37) ranks third finest behind the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and the Bills’ Josh Allen.
Hurts can be simpler on runs up the center than going east and west; he averaged 0.29 EPA per play on runs and scrambles with at the least 2 yards to go outdoors the tackles, however 0.42 EPA per play inside.
Weakness: Sack avoidance. The Eagles’ offensive line deservedly receives loads of reward. It ranked sixth in go block win fee (67.4%) and has arguably the NFL’s finest deal with in Lane Johnson. And but, Hurts has taken sacks on 9.4% of his dropbacks, which is forward of solely the Titans’ Will Levis and the Bears’ Caleb Williams amongst QBR-qualifying quarterbacks. The results of that situation have been profound; the Eagles’ offense has recorded 1.1 anticipated factors added per drive that doesn’t embody a sack, however that quantity drops to minus-1.0 when there’s at the least one sack. — Walder
Read extra: Can Hurts present a Super Bowl win to quiet the doubters? … Every approach to guess Mahomes … Every approach to guess on Hurts
Projecting the passing field rating
In preparation for the Super Bowl, I got here up with predicted stat traces for each participant concerned, together with passing projections for the 2 QBs. When Mahomes is aware of what he is getting on any given play, he hardly ever misses the inform or the throw. On fast throws this season, Mahomes had a hit fee of 60.9%. But in opposition to fast throws, the Eagles allowed solely 5.5 yards per try — finest within the NFL. Something has obtained to present. Things may get tough within the crimson zone, the place hastily there is not any beneath house. But keep in mind, Reid cooked the Eagles within the crimson zone two Super Bowls in the past with back-and-forth motions.
Hurts, in the meantime, has been higher in opposition to the blitz, his largest criticism exiting 2023, and has usually develop into extra correct as a thrower. But the largest enchancment he made this season was not turning the ball over. He may really should throw the Eagles again into this sport, although. I count on Chiefs D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to current a ton of untamed seems to be to remove quick-game choices and encourage Hurts, one of many league leaders in time to throw (3.13 seconds), to carry onto the soccer. The longer the down, the extra probably it’s Hurts takes a nasty sack. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst
Read extra: Solak tasks the complete Super Bowl field rating (ESPN+)
Biggest questions
Can the Chiefs defend the Eagles’ tush push?
Judging solely by how they defended the Bills’ model of the play within the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs have purpose to consider they’ll maintain up effectively. Josh Allen and Buffalo tried it six instances in opposition to Kansas City however transformed simply twice. One cease got here on fourth down on the Kansas City 41-yard line within the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs trailed by a degree. They used the favorable area place to attain the go-ahead landing.
“The [defensive] line has to be dominant,” defensive deal with Chris Jones mentioned on how the Chiefs defended the play. “Your two [nose guards] and your two ends have to be physical on the inside.”
Kansas City hasn’t fared as effectively in defending Hurts on the tush push. He used it to attain two touchdowns in opposition to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Hurts additionally used it to attain the profitable landing in opposition to Kansas City within the fourth quarter of a Week 11 regular-season contest in 2023. — Teicher
Read extra: Chiefs’ greatest matchup questions
What do the Eagles want from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to enrich the run sport?
They’ll want the form of passing effectivity they obtained within the NFC Championship Game when Hurts went 20-of-28 for 246 yards, a landing and no interceptions. It marked simply the second time since mid-November that Hurts threw for 200-plus yards.
Questions continued concerning the aerial assault for a lot of the season. The manufacturing didn’t match the form of expectations that include gamers like Brown, Smith, Hurts and tight finish Dallas Goedert on the offense. But a lot of it was by design, because the teaching workers — armed with a dominant protection and floor sport — leaned conservative with the go to maintain turnovers at a minimal. That method has labored fairly effectively: The Eagles have 10 takeaways to zero giveaways within the playoffs.
Hurts quipped after the NFC title sport that Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit,” permitting him to air it out to Brown and Smith greater than common. Sirianni ought to go into this matchup assured about Hurts, who had probably the greatest performances of his profession in Super Bowl LVII (374 complete yards, 4 touchdowns). Smith (7 catches, 100 yards) and Brown (6 catches, 96 yards, TD) had been an enormous a part of that. They’ll probably be known as on once more on condition that the Chiefs are positive to be targeted on slowing down Barkley. — McManus
Read extra: Eagles’ greatest matchup questions
2:00
Stephen A.: Only a Super Bowl win will change Jalen Hurts’ narrative
Stephen A. Smith says Jalen Hurts will solely be capable to shake his “game manager” tag if he wins the Super Bowl.
Keys to a Chiefs win
Positional benefit: Quarterback
Mahomes’ success in important moments of a sport, plus his skill to create on scrambles, offers the Chiefs a definitive benefit at quarterback. His league-best QBR on third down within the common season (90) jumped to 98 within the playoffs. Mahomes additionally transformed 22 first downs as a runner on scramble makes an attempt within the common season, with 5 extra within the playoffs. With his elite instincts to win on cash downs, he can prolong drives along with his legs. The Eagles’ go rush will definitely warmth up the pocket and drive him to maneuver. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst
Chiefs’ X issue: Jaylen Watson, CB
After enjoying extra of a depth function in 2023, Watson was penciled in as a starter to switch the departed L’Jarius Sneed in 2024. And for the primary few video games, Watson was implausible. Through Week 7, his protection DVOA of minus-51.5% was fifth within the league amongst beginning cornerbacks. But he fractured an ankle in Week 7 and was misplaced for the common season.
There’s no query the Chiefs’ protection nosedived after Watson obtained damage. In Weeks 1 via 7, the Chiefs ranked second in defensive DVOA. In the next six weeks, Kansas City ranked twenty eighth in defensive DVOA. The Chiefs reversed issues within the closing few weeks of the season, with sturdy defensive performances in Weeks 14 via 17 earlier than they sat starters in Week 18.
Watson has returned to the lineup for the postseason, and he is again to shutting down opposing receivers. In the primary two playoff video games, FTN Data charting listed Watson as the principle defender in protection on 5 passes. The Texans and Bills weren’t throwing at him. The solely accomplished passes he allowed had been an 8-yard completion to Texans’ Xavier Hutchinson late within the fourth quarter and a completion for no achieve to Bills’ Ty Johnson in zone protection. Watson is often lined up because the left cornerback, which suggests he’ll be protecting whoever is the outermost Eagles receiver on the proper facet. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst
Rookie to look at: Xavier Worthy, WR
Worthy has develop into a go-to goal for the Chiefs’ offense. The first-round decide completed the common season with 59 catches for 638 receiving yards and 6 landing receptions. He might be up in opposition to the Eagles’ secondary, probably the greatest within the NFL, so coach Reid and Mahomes should determine the way to get Worthy concerned within the passing sport. But along with his pace and dynamic skills, count on to see many targets going his means within the Super Bowl. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst
Keys to an Eagles win
Positional benefit: Secondary
Since Week 6, when rookie slot nook Cooper DeJean was inserted into the beginning lineup, the Eagles have allowed a league-low 5.2 yards per try and 171.9 passing yards per sport. On the perimeter, corners Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay Jr. are sticky in protection, with high-end closing pace. And safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship can play top-down on the ball, which is a seamless match for coordinator Vic Fangio’s split-field schemes. This defensive unit has the personnel and the playcaller to create matchup benefits in opposition to the Chiefs’ extensive receivers and tight ends. — Bowen
Eagles’ X issue: Nolan Smith Jr., LB
After a quiet rookie season in 2023 (one sack, 18 tackles and no begins), Smith has been a way more vital a part of the Eagles’ go rush this season. He entered the beginning lineup for good in Week 9 and had 6.5 sacks within the common season. Smith has been on hearth within the playoffs, with 4 sacks whereas enjoying over 80% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps over the previous three video games. His go rush win fee of 16.6% would have ranked seventeenth if he had sufficient snaps to qualify for ESPN’s rankings.
Smith developed a lot this season that he basically made big-money free agent Bryce Huff disappear. Huff, who signed a three-year, $51.1 million deal within the offseason, misplaced his beginning job to Smith at midseason and has performed solely 13 complete defensive snaps within the playoffs.
Smith has 28 complete go pressures (together with the playoffs), which ranks third on the Eagles behind the better-known Jalen Carter (34) and Josh Sweat (36). As the left outdoors linebacker, Smith will spend a lot of the Super Bowl lined up in opposition to proper deal with Jawaan Taylor, who has given up essentially the most first pressures on the Chiefs (72, together with the playoffs). — Schatz
Rookie to look at: Quinyon Mitchell, CB
The Eagles’ protection is stuffed with impression rookies similar to Mitchell, DeJean and Jalyx Hunt, who’ve helped information the crew again to the Super Bowl. But none has been extra vital than Mitchell. The first-rounder has been superior at cornerback, particularly within the postseason, the place he has two interceptions. Facing a Chiefs passing assault that might be searching for methods to get the ball into the palms of Worthy, Mitchell’s man protection skill and playmaking abilities ought to come up massive for Philadelphia. The Eagles’ defensive position is a matchup benefit, and if they’ll get Mahomes transferring off his spot and making late throws, Mitchell might be in line to learn from it. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst
ESPN’s FPI has the Eagles profitable 56.1% of the simulations — and they’re favored to win by a mean of two.2 factors.
This matchup is a showdown between two top-10 groups in FPI: the No. 5 Eagles (6.0) and the No. 6 Chiefs (3.9). The Eagles are fifth on offense and the Chiefs rank seventh. On protection, Philadelphia ranks first and Kansas City is thirteenth. The Chiefs had been No. 2 in FPI within the preseason, whereas the Eagles had been No. 5.
In the preseason, the Chiefs had the second-best probability to make the Super Bowl (18.9%) and the Eagles had the third-best odds (16.4%). Kansas City was given a 9.4% probability to win it, whereas Philadelphia was at 9.6%.
Who wins the sport?
We requested 67 specialists to weigh in on who will win. The Chiefs had been picked by 41 of them (61.2%), whereas the Eagles claimed 26 votes (38.8%). The commonest rating predictions had been 27-24 (picked by 10 of our specialists), 27-23 (5) and 31-28 (5).
Read extra: ESPN workers predictions
Of the 67 specialists who weighed in, 37 (55.2%) picked Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes (+105), Barkley (+275) and Hurts (+360) are the ESPN BET betting favorites. We requested just a few specialists to clarify their MVP prediction.
Elizabeth Merrill, senior author: Barkley. On Sunday, he turns 28, the 12 months NFL working backs usually start their declines, however Barkley has by no means seemed higher. He has been unstoppable within the postseason.
Jason Reid, Andscape senior author: Mahomes. The NFL’s finest participant desires to develop into the best of all time by profitable his fourth award.
Jeremy Fowler, nationwide NFL reporter: Barkley. He is a near-unstoppable-force, averaging greater than 150 dashing yards per sport over his previous 5 video games. If the Eagles win, he’ll be the catalyst.
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Is Saquon Barkley the largest risk to a Chiefs three-peat?
Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky element how the Chiefs’ protection stopping Saquon Barkley is the important thing to a Super Bowl victory.
Lindsey Thiry, nationwide NFL reporter: Mahomes has led the Chiefs to a few Super Bowl titles and was named the MVP in every. He’s a confirmed champion who repeatedly has lifted his crew to many inconceivable victories. It is unfathomable to foretell anybody else however the star quarterback because the Most Valuable Player.
Seth Walder, analytics author: Hurts. Quarterbacks — sure, I consider even these on the identical crew as Barkley — have such an edge on this market. If the Eagles do certainly win, it is nearly sure Hurts could have made some massive performs. And so long as the receiving manufacturing is unfold out throughout a few gamers, the award will default again to him.
Read More: Experts predict Chiefs-Eagles rating, MVP … Betting buzz: An O-lineman for MVP?
Stats to know
Team stats: Chiefs | Eagles
Chiefs
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Mahomes has 4 straight playoff victories when trailing at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which is the longest streak by a quarterback all time. It began in opposition to the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
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Including the playoffs, Chris Jones ranks third in go rush win fee (15.3%) amongst inside defenders regardless of rating fifth in double-team fee (70%).
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This might be Reid’s forty fifth playoff sport as a head coach (with the Chiefs and Eagles), passing Bill Belichick for essentially the most all time. He is the primary head coach to face his former crew twice within the Super Bowl.
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The Chiefs have received 9 straight postseason video games courting to the 2022 postseason, which is tied for the second-longest streak in NFL postseason historical past. The Patriots received 10 straight from 2001 to 2005.
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Kansas City is sporting white jerseys for the second time in its three straight Super Bowl appearances. Dating to Super Bowl XXXIX within the 2004 season, the crew sporting white jerseys has received 16 of the previous 20 Super Bowls. The Chiefs wore crimson jerseys of their Super Bowl LIV and LVIII wins.
Eagles
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Hurts already has essentially the most dashing touchdowns by a quarterback within the postseason (9). Another rating will make him the ninth participant all time to succeed in 10. Only two others have performed that within the twenty first century — Marshawn Lynch (12) and LeGarrette Blount (11).
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The Eagles want 27 factors for essentially the most in a single postseason in NFL historical past. The file was set by the 1994 49ers (131), who achieved the mark in a single much less sport.
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There have been 36 gamers to see at the least 75 targets in protection this season, together with the playoffs. DeJean and Mitchell rank second and third, respectively, in yards per goal allowed as the closest defender in protection, trailing the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., per NFL Next Gen Stats.
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Barkley wants 30 yards to surpass Terrell Davis’ 1998 file for essentially the most dashing yards in a single season (2,476), together with the playoffs. Since Steve Spagnuolo grew to become the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2019, Kansas City has not allowed any participant to hurry for 100 yards in opposition to them within the playoffs.
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The Eagles completed the common season with extra rush makes an attempt (621) than go makes an attempt (448). Out of the primary 40 Super Bowl champions, 33 had extra rushes than go makes an attempt of their Super Bowl profitable seasons (83%). Since 2006, the 2013 Seahawks are the one crew to do this.
Read extra: Super Bowl LIX by the numbers: Key stats for Chiefs-Eagles … Super Bowl historical past: Facts, stats, and information to know
Bold predictions
Worthy will end as the highest extensive receiver in receiving yards. The rookie’s pace and flexibility are precisely what Reid will need to leverage in opposition to the Eagles, particularly when he is up in opposition to Mitchell. The Eagles might wrestle to give attention to shutting down one receiving playmaker for the Chiefs. Bracketing Travis Kelce or JuJu Smith-Schuster opens the door for Worthy to capitalize on one-on-one matchups. — Eric Moody, NFL analyst
Hollywood Brown will rating the game-winning TD. Brown could have an enormous day, gathering at the least 125 receiving yards. He will clinch Kansas City’s three-peat by discovering the top zone with seconds to go. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst
The Eagles will win convincingly. Even after we exclude Week 18 (each groups rested gamers), the Eagles maintain a solid-to-sizable edge in offensive, defensive and general EPA. The 2024 Chiefs are notorious for his or her knack of discovering methods to sneak by with wins, however the Eagles have had about the identical success within the win column after a sluggish begin (each are 15-1 of their previous 16 video games, excluding Week 18) and have performed so in a extra convincing style. — Mike Clay, NFL analyst
Barkley will rush for 125-plus yards and earn MVP honors within the course of. Of the 19 video games Barkley has performed this season, he has rushed for over 100 yards in 14 of them, topping 200 yards twice. Expect the Eagles to put on down a strong Chiefs protection and — as was the case most frequently this season — the majority of Barkley’s manufacturing will come within the second half. — Stephania Bell, NFL analyst
The deciding play will come from the foot of 1 crew’s kicker. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has had a tough common season, lacking eight complete area objectives — that’s as many as he missed over the prior three seasons mixed. But he, like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, has made no scarcity of big-time kicks for Philadelphia in his profession. Somehow, a way, this sport appears like it will likely be a good one and a area purpose might be the distinction. — Field Yates, NFL analyst
Who is in, and who’s out?
Injury studies: Chiefs | Eagles
Wide receiver Skyy Moore is listed as uncertain with an stomach damage, however Kansas City ought to have its decide of the remainder of its gamers for the Super Bowl. The Chiefs took benefit of the three weeks between clinching the AFC’s prime playoff seed in Week 17 and enjoying their preliminary postseason sport within the divisional spherical to present injured gamers like Mahomes (ankle), Jones (calf) and Isiah Pacheco (fibula) an prolonged break. Then the crew was lucky to not undergo a big damage in both of its playoff video games. Moore hasn’t performed a single snap since October. — Teicher
Center Cam Jurgens (again) and left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) missed components of the NFC title sport due to accidents. But Jurgens and Dickerson have been full members at observe this week and each have spoken optimistically about enjoying. DeVonta Smith has been restricted this week with a hamstring damage however intends to play. Veteran defensive finish Brandon Graham, who got here up with the game-defining strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, has been working again from a torn left triceps and is hopeful to go well with up. There is an opportunity the Eagles could have all of their authentic starters accessible besides linebacker Nakobe Dean, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee in the course of the wild-card sport in opposition to the Packers. — McManus
What to know concerning the officiating
Ron Torbert is one in all three referees the NFL has trusted to work the Super Bowl on this decade. He joins Bill Vinovich and Carl Cheffers to every obtain two Super Bowl assignments since 2020. In his first look (Super Bowl LVI), Torbert’s crew took a again seat for a lot of the sport, declining to throw a flag for a potential offensive go interference or face masks name on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, and totaling solely 4 flags via the primary 58 minutes of the sport. The Rams’ profitable possession, nonetheless, featured 4 extra flags, together with two in opposition to Bengals go defenders within the crimson zone.
In 2024, Torbert’s regular-season crew threw the third-most flags within the NFL (17.1). His divisional spherical crew threw 12 flags, six apiece in opposition to the Commanders and Lions, however none for both roughing the passer or offensive holding. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter
Read extra: NFL names Torbert referee for Super Bowl LIX … NFLRA says theories that officers favor Chiefs ‘insulting’ … Goodell shuts down notion NFL officers keen on Chiefs … Inexperience of Super Bowl officers is ‘big departure’
How to guess Super Bowl LIX
Current line from ESPN BET Sportsbook: Chiefs -1, O/U 48.5
Since 2021, underdogs are 4-0 in opposition to the unfold and 3-1 outright within the Super Bowl. Underdogs are 22-36 outright and 29-27-2 ATS within the Super Bowl all time. The Chiefs are 4-2 outright and ATS within the Super Bowl, profitable and protecting in every of the previous two seasons.
Mahomes is 3-1 outright and ATS within the Super Bowl. All of Mahomes’ Super Bowls have featured traces of three factors or much less. The factors complete hit the over in each of the Chiefs’ previous two Super Bowl appearances. The complete for the pending Chiefs-Eagles matchup opened at 49.5 at ESPN BET.
Read extra: Updated odds and tendencies for Chiefs-Eagles … Americans anticipated to guess $1.39B legally on Super Bowl … Betting for freshmen … Your information to creating the most effective picks on Sunday (ESPN+) … A Swiftie’s information to Taylor-themed Super Bowl prop bets … Mike Clay’s playbook (ESPN+)
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What to know earlier than betting on Super Bowl LIX
Check out what you have to know earlier than Sunday’s massive sport with this ESPN BET primer on Super Bowl LIX.
Who is enjoying the halftime present?
Kendrick Lamar will carry out on the halftime present. He is a 22-time Grammy winner, and in 2018, he grew to become the primary non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.”
Lamar’s final album, “GNX,” was launched in November. He garnered a lot consideration in 2024 along with his diss monitor “Not Like Us,” which was geared toward fellow hip-hop star Drake. At the 67th Grammy Awards, “Not Like Us” received 5 awards: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video and Best Rap Performance. Five-time Grammy winner SZA might be a particular visitor in Lamar’s efficiency.
Read extra: Lamar previews his upcoming halftime present … Most searched Super Bowl halftime exhibits … Who has carried out at Super Bowl halftime present? … SZA to hitch throughout Super Bowl halftime efficiency
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