Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles for extra yardage during the first half of Super Bowl 57 against the Chiefs on Feb. 12, 2023.
The best Eagles coverage is always local, but it’s helpful to get a national perspective as well. Here’s what they’re saying about your Birds’ chances against the Chiefs, in what looks to be a Super Bowl for the ages.
"The Eagles finished the regular season with the fewest yards allowed per game (278.4) and were the second-best scoring defense (17.8 points per game). Since Week 10, they have been the No. 1 defense in terms of EPA per play. Signing Saquon Barkley will go down as one of the best free agency moves of all time. The former No. 2 overall pick has been the best player in the NFL and showed it all postseason.
"The Eagles' offensive line will continue to bulldoze the way for Barkley and Hurts. Philadelphia just trampled Washington for 55 points and seven rushing scores, the most scored by any team in a conference championship game since the Super Bowl merger in 1970. These Birds are on a redemption tour from their Super 57 loss.
"Philadelphia ran inside zone at the fourth-highest rate, and the Chiefs allowed 4.3 yards per play (21st in the NFL) against this scheme. Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 times this season, which could be devastating against the Eagles' pass rush that ranked second in PFF's team pass rush grade. Jalen Carter could be a game-wrecker.
"Philly will control the tempo long enough to thwart off the Mahomes magic."
With one game left, Saquon Barkley is 30 rushing yards away from history. 👀 pic.twitter.com/fSjXBIjeiv
"The last time the Eagles faced the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, their lead back Miles Sanders hurt their cause, rushing for 16 yards on seven carries while also fumbling. Barkley proves one more time that he's Philadelphia's missing piece by powering the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX triumph as their bell cow back."
the Chiefs run defense splits are staggering vs 11 personnel
vs 2+ TE sets:
#3 in YPC
#7 in EPA
vs 11 personnel:
#24 in YPC
#17 in EPA
Philly is using 11 personnel on 81% of snaps this postseason (Q1-3)
Saquon Barkley is gaining 6.9 YPC out of 11... 5.2 YPC out of 12 pic.twitter.com/OmZDay3KDk
"Kansas City feels inevitable, but it is going to lose at some point. It was a solid-but unspectacular 15th in the league in points per game this season and was outgained in total yardage in each of its playoff victories over the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.
"In fact, Houston enjoyed a 336-212 advantage in total yards, while Buffalo held a closer advantage at 374-368.
. . .
"The Eagles are also perfectly suited to pick up the short-yardage plays that proved to be Buffalo's undoing in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. The Bills held a one-point lead with the ball in the fourth quarter but were stopped on a quarterback sneak near midfield, which allowed Kansas City to get the ball back and go down and score a go-ahead touchdown.
"Yet Philadelphia has Hurts and the famous tush-push to pick up those yards. Of course, it can also turn to Barkley to pick up those first downs, which will be necessary to keep Mahomes and Co. away from the ball in the final minutes.
"Look for a narrow Eagles victory."
Jalen Hurts says he calls the "Tush Push" the "Quarterback Sneak". "I keep it very standard." #SuperBowlLIX pic.twitter.com/a7yO5Ubqsc
"We had the Lions winning this game over the Chiefs in our predictions for the Super Bowl before the wild-card round and the divisional round, but the Commanders' win over the Lions obviously changed things.
"This is a rematch of the Super Bowl in 2023 and we like the Chiefs to get the better of the Eagles this season like they did that season when they earned a 38-35 win. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid just know how to win in the postseason and their legends will only grow with a third straight Super Bowl title in a narrow win over Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles."
The Eagles are the only defense in the entire NFL that created negative EPA/play when they *didn't* get pressure--a notable stat vs a Chiefs offense that gets the ball out quick and racks up YAC. https://t.co/oFMulwhOnT
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