How far is Chiefs quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes from being the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) of the NFL if he and the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIX (59)?
One game to settle it all for who is your 2024-25 Super Bowl champion of the NFL. The Chiefs are looking to make history and become the first team in modern NFL history (1967-present) to three-peat (win Super Bowls back-to-back-to-back) while the Eagles are looking for revenge for their Super Bowl LVII (57) loss to the Chiefs. Who will take home the Lombardi?
For the third straight season the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl. Not only that but this marks their fifth super bowl appearance in the past six seasons (winning three of them so far). We have not seen a team this dominant since the Tom Brady Patriots dynasty that spanned from 2002 all the way till 2019. The Patriots won six super bowls in that span and appeared in nine of them.
While one could make the argument that the Patrick Mahomes Chiefs dynasty has been more dominant in a shorter span, people seem quick to forget how dominant the Patriots were as well. From 2002 to 2019, the Patriots appeared in 13 of a possible 18 AFC Championship games. To keep up that type of success over that long period of time is unheard of. If the Chiefs can keep it up though, they will easily have their name in the hat of elite NFL franchises.
Chiefs Breakdown:
The Chiefs overall have struggled this season, scoring over 30 points just once this season including regular and postseason games; that game being their 32-29 victory over the Bills in the AFC Championship game from this season. That being said they still have the best QB in football, Patrick Mahomes, and the best head coach (HC) and arguably play caller in football, Andy Reid.
Mahomes and Reid are never to be underestimated and things should not change this time around. Just last season the Chiefs had arguably a worst offense yet still went on to win the Super Bowl. While one side of the ball has struggled in the past two seasons, the other has taken flight and been one of if not the best defense in football over the past two seasons.
Defensive coordinator (DC) Steve Spagnuolo is a major part of that. His situational playcalling is arguably unmatched by any coordinator in the league. This comes in part from him having great players as well, featuring elite stars such as defensive tackle (DT) Chris Jones, defensive back (DB) Trent McDuffie and off-ball linebacker (LB) Drue Tranquill.
Even outside of those elite stars they still feature good to great players all over the defense such as the other two LBs in Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal; the safety duo of Justin Reid and Bryan Cook and defensive end (DE) George Karlaftis.
Eagles Breakdown:
The Eagles cannot be short changed though. This team also features elite talent all over the board and there is a reason this is the team’s second Super Bowl trip in the past three seasons. This team is hungry and eager to win this game. Last time around they were in the Super Bowl they faced a heart-crushing defeat to the Chiefs 38-35 in Phoenix. This time around they have traveled to New Orleans looking for revenge.
The Eagles offense was amazing this year and most of that credit can be given to first-year Eagle running back (RB) Saquon Barkley. Barkley rushed for over 2000 yards and 13 touchdowns (TD) while adding another 200 yards and two TDs through the air. He could have had even more rushing TDs but those were given to the infamous tush push by his QB Jalen Hurts.
That is not to discredit Hurts though as he was also very dangerous on the ground having 630 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs. That being said, he did have a down year as a passer. He did not hit the 3000 yard passing mark nor did he hit the 20 passing TD mark. While he “struggled” there, he also kept the ball safe by only having seven total turnovers on the year (five interceptions and two lost fumbles).
Similar to the Chiefs though, the Eagles real strength this season has been their defense. What a turn around by this team. Just last season, you could have made the argument the Eagles posted a bottom five or even 10 defense. Turn around to this season and they arguably had the best.
This massive turnaround can be thanks to two people, DC Vic Fangio and LB Zack Baun. Fangio has always been a great defensive play caller through his career but this just felt different. Whether it was the blitzes or coverage dropbacks, he transformed Baun from a potential rotational pass rusher to some would say the best LB in the 2024-25 season.
The Eagles defense may only have one bad starter on the squad. Almost every position had a good to elite season overall including both of the rookie DBs in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.
Score Prediction:
This should be an amazing game and a great chess match between Andy Reid versus Vic Fangio and Steve Spagnuolo versus Kellen Moore. In the end, the Eagles will come out on top and get their revenge and stop the Chiefs from three-peating.
Final Score: Chiefs 24 – Eagles 31
