As the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles gear up for their highly anticipated clash in the Super Bowl, both teams are making strategic moves to ensure they stand out on the grand stage. With the Chiefs aiming to make history by becoming the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, they've utilized the three-week gap between securing the AFC's top playoff seed and their initial postseason game to rest key injured players. This downtime was crucial for players like Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from an ankle injury, Chris Jones with a calf issue, and Isiah Pacheco dealing with a fibula injury.
The Chiefs have been a formidable force in the postseason under head coach Andy Reid. In his 26 seasons, with 12 spent at the helm of the Chiefs, Reid boasts a 28-16 postseason record and has led his teams to Super Bowl victories three times, with two losses. The Chiefs' recent triumphs include a remarkable streak of nine consecutive postseason wins, dating back to the 2022 postseason. This impressive run ties them for the second-longest in NFL postseason history.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have had their own journey of highs and lows. After a shaky start to the season with a 2-2 record, they managed to turn their fortunes around despite a nerve-wracking 1-6 collapse at the end of last season. The Eagles have mirrored the Chiefs' success, boasting a 15-1 record in their past 16 games, excluding Week 18. Their victories have often been more convincing than their counterparts.
A striking statistic that might play into this year's Super Bowl outcome is the color of the jerseys. The team donning white jerseys has emerged victorious in 16 of the past 20 Super Bowls since the 2004 season. With such a trend in mind, fans and analysts alike may wonder about its influence on this year's game.
The Chiefs' performance has been notable on both sides of the ball. Their pass rush win rate stands at 16.6%, which would have ranked them 17th if they had enough snaps to make ESPN’s rankings. Defensively, they've been exceptionally resilient against the run, having not allowed any player to rush for 100 yards against them in the playoffs since Steve Spagnuolo took over as defensive coordinator in 2019. Their defensive DVOA was ranked second in the league through Week 7, showcasing their strength on that front.
On the offensive side, Mahomes has consistently faced challenges with a negative completion percentage over expectation since 2019. However, his leadership and skill have continued to drive the Chiefs forward. The team has also strategically used their time off to ensure that injured players recover well enough to contribute significantly in upcoming games.
The Eagles have demonstrated strong defensive capabilities as well. They've allowed only 5.5 yards per attempt on quick throws, marking them as the best in the NFL in this category. Their offense, notably run-heavy, has a minus-11% pass rate over expectation, placing them fourth lowest according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
In preparation for the big game, optimism surrounds the Eagles as players Jurgens and Dickerson have been full participants in practice this week. Both have expressed positive sentiments about their readiness to play.
The officiating will also be in experienced hands with Ron Torbert, one of three referees trusted by the NFL to officiate Super Bowls in this decade.
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