HOW THEY MATCH UP
CHIEFS RUN OFFENSE VS. EAGLES RUN DEFENSE
Isiah Pacheco has made a difference in Kansas City’s running game. Jerick McKinnon is a solid, all-around back and willing pass blocker. A healthy Patrick Mahomes is a big part of the running game, but he’s hampered by that bad ankle. The Eagles struggled against the run early in the season but added defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph, which helped plug the holes. Philadelphia doesn’t have a stone-wall run defense but doesn’t really get run over. Middle linebacker T.J. Edwards does a good job. If you’re going to run on the Eagles, it’s best to run around the edges.
CHIEFS PASS OFFENSE VS. EAGLES PASS DEFENSE
If you’re listing the most dangerous red-zone threats in NFL history, Travis Kelce has to be in the conversation. Marquez Valdes-Scantling isn’t going to catch a bunch of passes but can reel in the big one. By the end of the Bengals game, the Chiefs were without four of their top six receivers. Most are likely to return, although it’s hard to imagine Mecole Hardman (hip) will be healthy enough to make an impact. The Eagles have an excellent pass defense, which they didn’t have last time they were in the Super Bowl. James Bradberry and Darius Slay are both Pro Bowl corners. Philadelphia plays a lot of zone so it gives up some completions underneath. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson missed five games but still finished tied for the league lead with six interceptions. The Eagles also racked up a franchise-record 70 sacks, so opposing quarterbacks tend to rush their throws.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chiefs
EDGE: Eagles
Other than kicker Jake Elliott, special teams have been a weak spot for the Eagles. Two fake punts converted against them, blocked kicks, long runbacks, dumb penalties .... The Chiefs played well against Cincinnati, but their special teams have been pretty blah. The normally reliable Harrison Butker suffered a high-ankle sprain in the season opener and has struggled since, missing six field goals and three extra points. Punter Tommy Townsend has had a good season.
EDGE: Eagles
CHIEFS RUN DEFENSE VS. EAGLES RUN OFFENSE
Philadelphia has the best offensive line in the league and that paves the way for an excellent ground game. Not many teams run on San Francisco, but the Eagles did. The tight ends block well too. Running back Miles Sanders had a career year, and understudy Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott have established roles. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is a big part of the run offense, although the Eagles have dialed that back since his shoulder injury. The Chiefs haven’t been terribly consistent with their run defense, although they score so much that opponents are usually throwing to keep up.
CHIEFS PASS DEFENSE VS. EAGLES PASS OFFENSE
High marks for the Philadelphia pass offense this season, although it hasn’t been as good since Hurts suffered a shoulder injury. The two weeks of rest should help. With A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles have a receiving trio as good as or better than any in the NFL. Quez Watkins has great speed but tends to get pushed around at the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs were second in the league in sacks to Philadelphia, so they can get after the passer. Chris Jones is having an unbelievable season. Typically, he plays inside, but he can line up on the edge too. Three of Kansas City’s top four corners are rookies, and the veteran in that group, L’Jarius Sneed, left in the first quarter of the Cincinnati game with a concussion. Those rookies held up well against Joe Burrow. Sneed’s a good blitzer, and he tends to travel with the opponent’s best receiver.
EDGE: Eagles
COACHING
EDGE: Eagles
Nick Sirianni has a young, energetic staff that relates well to the players. The demonstrative Sirianni’s almost like a player. Both Eagles coordinators, Shane Steichen (offensive) and Jonathan Gannon (defensive), have been candidates for coaching jobs. Andy Reid is terrific coming off a bye and should be able to draw up an effective game plan, especially in light of Mahomes’ injury. But seasoned as he is, Reid is 1-2 in Super Bowls, all three of which involved Tom Brady.
EDGE: