The NFL divisional round of the playoffs set the scene for Super Bowl 59. The NFC Championship game matched division rivals in the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders, a tiebreaker for the team’s regular season games. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles shut down the cinderella-like season led by rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and what was expected to be a rebuilding Washington team, ending with a final score of 55-23.
In the AFC Championship, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes clashed for the fourth time in the playoffs, delivering another cinematic-like game that encapsulates the playoff atmosphere. Ultimately, the Kansas City Chiefs would prevail and knock the Buffalo Bills out of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row with a final score of 32-29.
In a Super Bowl rematch, the Eagles and Chiefs will battle on the biggest stage for the second time in three years. In their previous matchup, the Chiefs sealed the victory with a game-winning field goal with just eight seconds on the clock. However, both of these have changed since then and they both have a great chance to be the ones lifting up the legendary Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Eagles Argument: Eagles general manager, Howie Roseman, has been praised for the decisions he makes to improve the team’s roster and for good reason. Over the last two years, Philadelphia’s roster has tremendously improved and most of these upgrades have come from a multitude of diamonds found in the draft. Young stars such as Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith Jr, Nakobe Dean, Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell have all performed at an extremely high level, making play after play.
While the Eagles made major improvements in the draft, they weren’t afraid to make splashes in free agency either. The biggest name the team signed was this year’s rushing leader, running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley has elevated this offense to a new level, allowing the Eagles to lean on him whenever needed and ease some of the workload off of Jalen Hurts and the passing game. Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton signed with the team on a one year contract and has played up to the potential that scouts saw with him as a rookie. On the defensive side, linebacker Zack Baun has become the leader of a defense that hasn’t been this good in Philadelphia in over two decades.
The amount of positive changes this franchise has made in just two offseasons has proven to do wonders for the team. According to Pro Football Reference, the Eagles have the second highest margin of victory in the NFL, with an average of 9.4 points more than their opponents. Not only have they gotten better, but they’ve avoided the “Super Bowl hangover” that teams like the Cincinatti Bengals have felt, not being able to reach the Super Bowl again after a loss on that stage. The Eagles are back and they’re ready to do what they should’ve done two years ago; win.
The Chiefs Argument: The 2024-2025 NFL season has had a multitude of highs and lows throughout the year. Kansas City’s offense has sustained multiple injuries, most notably to running back Isiah Pacheco and recently acquired wide receiver Hollywood Brown. To counteract these road bumps, general manager Brett Veach made moves during the season, trading for veteran wide receiver Deandre Hopkins and signing running back Kareem Hunt. Along with rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy and veteran tight end Travis Kelce, this offense has shifted from the explosive, deep-ball offense they once were with Tyreek Hill years ago to a very methodical yet effective unit that has dissected defense after defense.
Under the lead of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuola, the Chiefs defense ranked top five in points allowed, only allowing an average of 19 points to opposing offenses this year. While Spagnuola’s defensive schemes play a lot into the team’s performance; the biggest jumps in performance being made by cornerback Trent McDuffie and linebacker Nick Bolton. Two years ago, McDuffie was still a rookie and was playing behind former Chiefs cornerback, L’Jarius Sneed and now he’s recognized as one of the best at his position. Bolton entered the league as one of Kansas City’s lead linebackers and with years of experience now under his belt, he has made multiple plays and is a key player for Spagnuola’s scheme. However, defensive tackle Chris Jones is the soul who shuts down offenses and haunts offensive lines and keeping him with the team after contractual complications may have been the most important decision the Chiefs have made in years.
Years of dominance and Super Bowl experience have allowed the Chiefs to prepare themselves for a possible three-peat. With the combination of a talented roster led by one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the sport, Patrick Mahomes and possibly the best coaching staff duo of Spagnuola and head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City can beat any opponent in front of them.
My Prediction: Both of these teams made their way back up the playoff mountain and both have great chances to come out of this game as the victor.
However, I believe the x-factor that Saquon Barkley is for the Eagles offense has had an unbelievable impact. If the offense can’t get the passing game going, Barkley can break off a run for a touchdown at any point and shift the tides in an instant. The moment they focus and feel like Barkley has been slowed down, at least one of either A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert will torch their defender for a touchdown.
The culmination of superstars on this defense have been historic; two defensive rookie of the year candidates in DeJean and Mitchell, a defensive player of the year candidate in Zack Baun. Playmakers that are ready to be crowned as champions in Darius Slay Jr, Josh Sweat and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. If there is a defense can stop Mahomes, this is the unit that will do it.
In my eyes, all of this will be enough to create the second outcome of Super Bowl 57 and bring a second Lombardi trophy for Philadelphia as the Eagles are crowned as the Super Bowl 59 champions.
