Depth of roster gives Eagles the edge in championship tilt
If the Super Bowl is decided in the trenches: Advantage Philadelphia Eagles with their two All-Pro offensive linemen and four double-digit sack artists.
If it comes down to which team has better receiving and running options: Advantage Eagles with their pair of 1,000-yard receivers and record-setting running game.
If it comes down to the superior secondary: Advantage Eagles and their two proven cornerbacks.
Philadelphia has built a team without any holes, which should set the stage for a repeat from five years ago when the Eagles used a more complete roster to outduel an MVP quarterback and win the Super Bowl.
The Eagles will do to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs what they did to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and deliver Philadelphia its second Lombardi Trophy.
“We've been getting overlooked all year, but for what reason I don't know,” edge rusher Haason Reddick said. “Because we have dogs across every position, people who can make plays. This team is talented from top to bottom. I don't think I've been on a more talented team.”
This version of the Eagles might be even better than the 2017 team, which got to the title game with backup quarterback Nick Foles.
While Foles delivered a surprise MVP performance in that 41-33 victory with three TD passes, one TD catch and a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, it would be little shock to see Jalen Hurts lead the way on Sunday.
While Hurts isn't at the level of two-time MVP Mahomes, he proved in his third season that he is a legitimate threat of his own and the Eagles lost just once when he started this season.
Hurts was a second-team All-Pro and finished second to Mahomes in MVP voting after tying a franchise record with 35 combined TD passes and runs despite missing two games with a shoulder injury.
To beat Mahomes and the Chiefs, the Eagles defense will also need to step up and the league's deepest group of pass rushers should do the trick.
Reddick led the way for Philadelphia with 16 sacks in the regular season and he has been even better in the playoffs with 3 1/2 sacks in wins over the Giants and 49ers.
Reddick will line up against the weak link on Kansas City's line — right tackle Andrew Wylie, whose nine sacks allowed in the regular season were fourth most in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
If the Chiefs want to pay extra attention to Reddick, good luck against the rest of the defensive line. Brandon Graham, Javon Hargrave and Jose Sweat each had 11 sacks as the Eagles had the highest sack rate in the NFL in more than 30 years.
With Fletcher Cox and Ndamukong Suh also in the mix, Mahomes could be on the run on his gimpy ankle as he was in a Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay two years ago.