On February 9th 2025, the Chiefs will attempt to become the first team in NFL history to get the Three-Peat. After winning Super Bowls LVII and LVIII, the Chiefs 2025 campaign has been one for the record books, with a 17-2 record on the season, an AFC West title, the AFC #1 seed and an AFC Championship for a fourth time in five years. Standing in their way are the Philadelphia Eagles who themselves have been on somewhat of a historic run, led by their new running back and soon-to-be OPOY Saquon Barkley. This will be the second time in three years that these two teams have met in the Super Bowl with the Chiefs edging out a controversial victory in Super Bowl XLII by a score of 38-35.
It's no secret that the Chiefs have been called the "Worst 15-win team" throughout the season, along with claims "the refs are winning these games for them." So in a neutral game like this against another one of the best teams in the league, they should finally meet their match and lose right?
WRONG.
Here's what you're missing... and why the Chiefs will not only win, but become Three-Peat Champions.
Defense Wins Championships
The Chiefs defense was the focal point of this team for a second year in a row. While Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce get the biggest praises, names like Chris Jones, Nick Bolton and Trent McDuffie have gone criminally underrated. The Chiefs defense as a whole was one of the best units in football this year. The 4th ranked Defense in the league this year, the Chiefs only allowed 101 rush yards per game all season; a stat that will be very telling when trying to stop Barkley.
With 6 Pro Bowlers starting on this side of the ball alone and 4 in their Front-7, the Chiefs make teams work for every inch gained and this game will be no exception. In the previous 2 Super Bowls, the Chiefs have prioritized run defense, holding the Eagles to 32 carries for 115 yards, and last year holding the 49ers to 31 carries for 110 yards, or 3.5 YPC for both games. Both teams were Top-3 running teams just as the Eagles are this year... Is that a sign of things to come?
Mahomes Underrated?
Hear me out. Yes I understand this claim seems ridiculous to most and to a specific group of haters may be the most egregious claim in NFL history, but for this season in particular it's true.
The narrative ALL YEAR was that Mahomes was having a very bad season (For Mahomes' standards) and was getting bailed out by the refs and his defense. Rightfully so, these claims and thoughts mostly stemmed from his poor play at the start to the season along with the multiple close-games the Chiefs barely won.
This narrative only tells half of the story however, take a look with me at Mahomes stats over his final 9 regular season games plus his 2 playoff games this year.
-11 games
-20 passing TDs
-3 rushing TDs
-3 Turnovers (2 INTs)
-245.4 pass yards/game
-8-1 record
Mahomes 23/3 TD-to-turnover ratio is excellent, not to mention a crisp 106.2 passer rating in that time. It won't win him MVP honors as he started flowing too late into the season, but that may have been all part of the plan. The goal for Mahomes or anyone on the team was never individual awards or statistics, it's always been another championship. Mahomes may have been a bit rusty or may have been below-par for the first 7 games of the season, (9/9 TD-to-turnover ratio) but when it mattered down the stretch Mahomes is balling.
From the narrative "Mahomes had a down year", Mahomes was truly underrated this season. As an NFL realist that statement truly does hurt me to make but it's true and if you deny it it's either because you're not looking hard enough or you just don't like the man.
Winners
I addressed this point a bit in the last section, but the Chiefs first and only priority this season was to win the Super Bowl. The team has already won the previous 2 championships with another in 2020 and a Super Bowl loss in 2021. While the Eagles have enjoyed a lot of Postseason success in the last decade, winning in 2018 and coming up just short in 2023, the Chiefs still remain superior in experience.
The fact of the matter is that retention rate amongst these two teams from Super Bowls is the biggest reason why the Chiefs will win on Sunday. From their 2018 team, Lane Johnson and Jake Elliot are the only remaining starters on the team, the team even as a new Head Coach since then. Even from their 2023 Super Bowl losing team, only 11 of the 24 starters will play again in Super Bowl LIX. Whereas the Chiefs will return 7 offensive starters and remarkably 9 defensive starters from 2023, returning 17 of 24 starters.
Conclusion
This will be one heck of a game, with both teams sure to embellish what brought them to the dance. For the Chiefs, winning experience with a smash-mouth defense and ball control. For the Eagles, a historic run game with huge play ability in both run and pass and an in-your-face defense. Truly the best two teams have made it to the Super Bowl this year in a rematch for the ages.
For the Chiefs, one of the best dynasty's in NFL history has a chance at immortality; even the Patriots didn't get three-in-a-row.
For the Eagles, revenge and a 2nd title in the city of Brotherly Love. Another added storyline is the sensation known as Saquon Barkley could cap off his season as OPOY, rushing champion and then Super Bowl winner on his first season as an Eagle.
Both teams want it... Both teams need it... But who will WIN it? I can't wait to watch and find out.
Still think the Eagles will win?
Check out Elias Meredith's article: https://www.fansonlysportz.com/post/philly-philly-why-the-eagles-will-win-the-super-bowl
Check out fansonlysportz.com for more sports media content posted daily!
Make sure to stay tuned as we continue Super Bowl LIX coverage up unil the BIG GAME!
-Z.D.
Comments