Chiefs’ greatest matchup questions for Tremendous Bowl 2025

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are chasing historical past. Solely the Philadelphia Eagles are standing of their approach.

The Chiefs are the NFL ninth group to win back-to-back Tremendous Bowls and try to change into the primary to win three straight championships within the Tremendous Bowl period after they meet the Eagles on Feb. 9 in New Orleans for Tremendous Bowl LIX (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox).

Kansas Metropolis went 15-2 throughout the common season, tying for the perfect document within the NFL with the Detroit Lions. It was nonetheless underwhelming at occasions. Eleven of the Chiefs’ wins got here by one rating, they usually ranked eleventh in level margin per sport at 3.47.

However they managed to win a ninth straight AFC West championship, clinch the AFC’s high playoff seed and earn the convention’s solely first-round postseason bye. Taking part in each of their playoff video games at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 within the divisional spherical earlier than successful the AFC Championship Sport over the Buffalo Payments 32-29.

The victory over the Payments was the seventeenth straight for the Chiefs in video games determined by one rating. The streak is an NFL document and dates again to 2023 after they gained their last three postseason video games by seven factors or fewer.

Forward of Tremendous Bowl LIX, we assess the most important questions surrounding this Chiefs group. — Adam Teicher

How effectively can the Chiefs defend the Eagles’ tush push?

Judging solely by how they defended the play in opposition to the Payments within the AFC Championship Sport, the Chiefs have cause to consider they’ll maintain up effectively. Allen and Buffalo tried it six occasions in opposition to the Chiefs however transformed twice. One cease got here on fourth down on the Kansas Metropolis 41 within the fourth quarter when the Chiefs trailed by some extent. They used the favorable area place to attain the go-ahead landing, although the Payments would finally rating a TD of their very own to tie the rating at 29-29.

“The [defensive] line must be dominant,” defensive sort out Chris Jones mentioned after the sport on how the Chiefs defended the tush push. “Your two [nose guards] and your two ends should be bodily on the within. We had been very profitable tonight in limiting Josh Allen on the QB sneaks.”

Kansas Metropolis hasn’t fared as effectively in defending quarterback Jalen Hurts on the tush push. He used it to attain two touchdowns in opposition to the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LVII two years in the past. Hurts additionally used it to attain the successful landing in opposition to Kansas Metropolis within the fourth quarter of a Week 11 regular-season sport final season. — Teicher

How does Eagles working again Saquon Barkley change the sport plan for Chiefs offensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo?

I count on Spagnuolo to get a further defender in his entrance in opposition to Barkley, which would cut back the split-safety shells the Chiefs like to make use of. Whether or not it occurs with pre-snap alignment or a security spinning down late, Kansas Metropolis merely wants extra our bodies within the field. Meaning taking part in a heavier dose of man-free protection and three-deep zone protection so as to add the cut-off defender close to the road of scrimmage.

Plus, the Chiefs should win the sides to restrict the Eagles’ run sport. Philly will use pin/pull ideas to get Barkley on the perimeter, typically from condensed units. Spagnuolo can put his defensive ends in a wide-9 or 7-technique, which will not permit the Eagles to crack or pin inside as simply. It additionally means matching on the bottom to remove the run-pass choice throw for quarterback Jalen Hurts. — Matt Bowen

What’s totally different about this Chiefs group than the previous two Tremendous Bowl groups?

Kansas Metropolis gained the previous two championships with a lot totally different kinds. This season’s group is far nearer to the 2023 group. The Chiefs, for the second straight season, are far much less explosive offensively than they had been in lots of the years since Patrick Mahomes turned their beginning quarterback in 2018.

In 2023 and 2024, Kansas Metropolis ranked fifteenth within the league in scoring, averaging 21.8 factors per sport and 22.65, respectively. In distinction, the 2022 Chiefs led the NFL in scoring at 29.2. The Chiefs’ protection was second in scoring protection (17.3) in 2023 whereas they had been fourth in 2024 (19.2). And after a sluggish begin to the season in speeding the opposing quarterback (21 sacks within the first 11 video games), the Chiefs turned issues round with 28 sacks within the last eight video games, counting their two playoff matchups. They sacked Texans QB C.J. Stroud eight occasions of their divisional playoff win over Houston. — Teicher

It is pure to marvel how the Chiefs’ wideouts will fare in opposition to the Eagles after Hopkins, Brown and Smith-Schuster had been held with out a catch within the Chiefs’ playoff win over the Texans. None had been in a position to persistently shake freed from protection, and Mahomes did not typically have time to attend for them to get open, which is also an issue in opposition to Philadelphia’s cross rush.

Kansas Metropolis hasn’t been in a position to get many huge performs down the sphere throughout the season, although safety issues have performed a component in that. Whereas the Chiefs would possibly lack a high-end extensive receiver just like the Eagles’ A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, they make up for it in depth.

Worthy, Hopkins and Smith-Schuster have all had turns with huge video games for the Chiefs. Worthy, the Chiefs’ first-round draft decide this season, has come a great distance since coaching camp, and his growth suggests he might change into one of many league’s handiest extensive receivers in time. He has advanced from a deep menace to a well-rounded receiver the group has come to rely on for yards after the catch. Smith-Schuster delivered the Chiefs’ two longest cross performs of their AFC Championship Sport victory over the Payments, considered one of 31 yards and the opposite 29. Each featured yards after the catch. Brown, after a preseason harm, performed in simply 4 video games, together with two within the playoffs. He barely missed connecting with Mahomes on a pair of huge performs within the playoffs, suggesting his flip to supply huge performs is not far off. — Teicher

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How will the Chiefs’ offense alter to assault the Eagles’ protection?

The identical approach they’ve attacked each protection this season: very, very exactly. One week after Travis Kelce‘s divisional spherical efficiency deemed “Playoff Kelce” is again like he by no means left, he had two catches for 19 yards in opposition to the Payments. In that very same sport, Mahomes had two speeding touchdowns for the primary time in his profession. His 11 carries had been additionally a single-game excessive for him. The Chiefs, who now have accrued an not possible wealth of postseason expertise and a deep bag of offensive kinds, are ridiculously good at discovering a couple of issues that opponents will battle with, then relentlessly turning these screws.

Towards the Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LVII, the Chiefs took benefit of predictable man protection within the low purple zone, throwing a number of landing passes off the identical pre-snap movement meant to place the Eagles’ secondary in communication binds. I would not be shocked if a lot of the identical happens on the inside this time, the place backup linebacker Oren Burks and beginning security Reed Blankenship have been probably the most examined Eagles defenders. And, after all, Mahomes’ legs won’t ever fail him within the postseason. — Ben Solak

Might this be Kelce’s last sport?

It could possibly be, however I wager it isn’t. Whereas it might be truthful to say the 35-year-old Kelce has misplaced a step — his 8.5 yards per reception and three landing catches had been his lowest regular-season totals since his 2013 rookie season when he had zero catches — he stays extremely productive.

Kelce’s 97 catches in 2024 marked his seventh consecutive season of 90 receptions or extra, and he stays a basic piece of coach Andy Reid’s offense. His 117-yard outing in opposition to the Texans within the divisional playoff spherical reveals he can nonetheless flip it on when it issues most. Kelce’s chemistry with Mahomes can also be tough to quantify — his presence frees issues up for Kansas Metropolis’s gifted receiving corps in methods that aren’t at all times perceptible. Plus, Kelce is beneath contract for 2025 and stands to gather $17.25 million. Even with an potential appearing profession in his future, it might be robust for Kelce to stroll away from that type of money in addition to an opportunity at a doable four-peat. — Jeremy Fowler