Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is essentially the most dynamic offensive participant within the NFL, however he won’t be sufficient to guide Kansas City to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday.
Because of his accuracy and talent to improvise, Mahomes, who was named NFL Most Valuable Player for the second time Thursday night time, has change into virtually unbeatable. But the staff that wins the Lombardi Trophy is normally essentially the most balanced, and the Eagles had been essentially the most full staff within the league this season.
Their inside strains dominated on either side of the ball, particularly on protection, as Philadelphia led the league with 70 sacks — 15 greater than the second-place Chiefs — and allowed opponents to transform solely 38.6% of their third downs. The Eagles are one of many few groups that may get strain with their entrance 4, which is why their blitzes are much more deadly.
“That’s a really good defensive line. They got Ndamukong Suh over there and Brandon Graham,” stated Joe Cullen, the previous Ravens defensive position coach now in the identical capability with Kansas City. “[Haason] Reddick has had a great year and they get after you. They roll guys through like we do, to keep them fresh in the fourth quarter.”
But can the Eagles make a magical quarterback like Mahomes disappear?
The 27-year-old famous person has led the Chiefs to 5 straight AFC championship video games and appeared in two Super Bowls, successful one in 2019. Even with out star large receiver Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins within the offseason, Mahomes accomplished 67.1% of his passes for a league-leading 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns.
If this was imagined to be considerably of a rebuilding season, nobody advised Mahomes, who nonetheless has a significant weapon in tight finish Travis Kelce (110 receptions for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns) and located one other in rookie operating again Isiah Pacheco (170 carries for 830 yards and 5 touchdowns).
Mahomes makes lots his massive performs outdoors the pocket. He has that uncommon potential to scramble and make that last-second completion.
The Eagles, although, have solutions. They have 4 gamers with double-digit sack totals in Reddick (16), Graham (11), defensive sort out Javon Hargrave (11) and defensive finish Josh Sweat (11).
On the alternative facet of the road, each Kansas City tackles — former Ravens starter Orlando Brown Jr. on the left and Andrew Wylie on the fitting — have struggled in go safety.
Mahomes is shifting moderately effectively contemplating he suffered a high-ankle sprain almost three weeks in the past within the AFC divisional-round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, however that harm gained’t absolutely heal till the offseason. If Mahomes will get hit early and infrequently, he may begin limping once more like he did within the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals within the convention championship.
Cullen has his personal model, to a lesser diploma, of Mahomes to take care of in Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Cullen stated the Chiefs are lucky as a result of they see Mahomes day by day in coaching camp and perceive the worth of a cell quarterback.
But he additionally is aware of that the Eagles’ offensive line is maybe the most effective within the NFL. Hurts has accomplished 66.5% of his passes for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns whereas operating again Miles Sanders has rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns on 259 carries.
There are not any weaknesses within the beginning group of tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, guards Landon Dickerson and Isaac Seumalo and middle Jason Kelce.
“They are well-coached, really strong, physical and all athletic,” Cullen stated. “They do it all — zone, gap scheme, do all the college scheme drive runs, much like Greg Roman did with the Ravens but with Hurts. They are all playing at a high level but I think we’re a good defensive line and this is going to be a real challenge.”
Two main keys shall be whether or not Philadelphia can run the ball early and if the Eagles can take a fast lead. They haven’t trailed a lot this season, so that they’ve stayed in manageable third-down conditions.
If Philadelphia is compelled to go, the Chiefs have among the best go rushers within the NFL in defensive sort out Chris Jones (15 1/2 sacks), in addition to rookie George Karlaftis (six) and veterans Michael Danna (5) and Frank Clark (5).
“Our guys have stayed healthy most of the time and guys like Danna and [rookie linebacker Leo] Chenal all play all over the line,” Cullen stated. “We’ve brought in a good mixture of veterans like Carlos Dunlap and [former Raven] Brandon Williams for the run. These guys have worked hard since Day 1 and they don’t care who gets the credit. They just want to win.”
Most groups know they must run to beat Kansas City, which allowed 107.2 speeding yards per sport in the course of the common season. Opponents don’t wish to get right into a shootout towards Mahomes as a result of he could make performs out and in of the pocket. He’ll make throws solely he could make.
But the Eagles are totally different. They are too full and have an excessive amount of muscle up entrance on either side of the ball.
That shall be sufficient to push them to victory.
Super Bowl LVII
Eagles vs. Chiefs
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Sunday, 6:30 p.m.
TV: Chs. 45, 5
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com