Super Bowl LVII | The Eagles will have to be perfect

The best offense against the best defense in the NFL. What more could you ask for for the ultimate match? If the Philadelphia Eagles want to win, they’ll have to be perfect. Flawless. Impenetrable. Otherwise, Patrick Mahomes will have fun like Simon Boulerice in a book fair.

The Chiefs’ last appearance at the Super Bowl dates back to 2021. At Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, they aimed to win a second consecutive championship. However, they folded against the Buccaneers. This outcome, however, had nothing to do with the performance of Tom Brady.

Thanks to the brilliance of linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David, Travis Kelce was limited to 10 receptions and no touchdowns. Their work will have been decisive.

Two years later, Andy Reid’s troupe is still just as dominant. The Chiefs’ offense finished first in the league in points scored, average yards per game and touchdown passes scored per game.

Mahomes’ excellence has gone under the radar because of all the hype around young quarterbacks, but he’s still the best in the world at his position. Last week, his former teammate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif told The Press why Mahomes was in a class of his own: “There aren’t a lot of quarterbacks who are able to lead an offensive line to make our blocks so much easier, because he knows where the pressure is coming from, he knows how to who he wants to cast. He knows where he wants to have a firm pocket. He’s able to diagnose so much in such a short time and he makes athletic moves with so much composure. »

Ditto for Travis Kelce. His production is similar to that of a catcher. Even though everyone knows how threatening he is, the tight end always finds a way to break free to make it easier for his passer. He was second among all NFL receivers this season with 12 touchdowns. His way of selling a route to his opponents and finding the space to get rid of his roofers is phenomenal.

The Chiefs will however find shoes at their feet, Sunday in Arizona. Haason Reddick and TJ Edwards could bring back bad memories for the Chiefs, as they are one of the worst linebacking pairings to face.

The reason the Eagles have led the “regular” season in yards allowed per game, yards allowed per play and quarterback sacks is because their defensive core seems unfazed. Its players are like bees in a hive. If a player is late or overpowered, another will arrive as reinforcements to do the job. This is why when a player crosses the line of scrimmage, he gets stopped immediately afterwards.

The queen of this colony is Reddick. He’s one of the most underrated quarterback rushers in the NFL and he’s been doing a demolition job since the playoffs began. His teammates Brendon Graham, Javon Hargrave and Josh Sweat are not left out. They all collected 11 sacks during the season, tied for 14^e circuit rank.

By the air

The aerial duels will be the most interesting to follow. Obviously, the fate of this match will be decided in the close areas, near the line of scrimmage, because both teams excel in this part of the field.

If Mahomes decides to stretch the game, it will become engrossing. With JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the Chiefs are in good hands. They are both quick, explosive, smart and competitive receivers in contested catches.

On the other hand, in the backfield, CJ Gardner-Johnson will be on the lookout. The Eagles have been one of the best teams against the pass this season thanks to him. The safety with the most interceptions in 2022 will have to secure the backs of their teammates. Gardner-Johnson can cover a lot of ground, but he can’t be everywhere at once. A smart quarterback like Mahomes will have to take advantage of that.

By running

The Chiefs’ biggest weakness remains the ground game. With their virtuosity through the pass, the aerial game has paid off and been sufficient since the start of the campaign. However, in front of such a voracious defense, the men in red will have to have a plan B, or even a plan C.

Isiah Pacheco showed great things in the last games. He’s not the problem. Getting the ball to a carrier just isn’t part of the Chiefs’ offensive DNA. This season, they have been one of the teams that have used the ground game the least (25^e) with the fewest rushing yards (21^e).

The Eagles aren’t particularly good against the run. They are average for NFL teams. They’ll give themselves a very good chance of winning, however, if they handcuff Mahomes and Kelce, as the Chiefs will have no choice but to run for a bit. If so, it will be to the Eagles’ advantage.