By: Liam W. Cooney | Staff Writer
Another incredible NFL season and wildly entertaining NFL playoffs have reached its final stage as we preview Super Bowl LVII.
I am always a football fanatic but I was especially tuned into one during the NFL playoffs this year, as my New York Giants made a surprising berth into the Wild Card round, and would make their way to the Divisional round. Of course, they got obliterated against one of the two teams still alive, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Around week 5 of the season, I chose the Eagles to make a run and reach the Super Bowl. That of course has come true, and they will have a chance to win it all this coming Sunday.
This Sunday 2/12, is Super Bowl LVII. An extra week into the month of February than past Super Bowls due to the league adding on their extra Week 18 slate of games a few years back.
The matchup: Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs, current O/U is set at 51 points.
Location: State Farm Stadium, “The Toaster,” in Glendale, Arizona
A historic matchup, being that for the first time ever it will feature two African-American starting QBs, as well as the first and only matchup between brothers, Jason Kelce (PHI) and Travis Kelce (KC). These two teams have consistent throughout the year been serious favorites. The Eagles came in as the NFC one seed, beating my Giants and the 49ers after a bye week. The Chiefs, coming in also as the one seed, beating the Jaguars and Bengals also after a bye week, respectively.
These two teams were led by athletic and versatile QBs Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, showing the true change of the game. Ten years ago, these two would have been known as “Dual Threat” QBs, now they’re simply QBs every team is looking for, as they are passing, running and extending plays with their legs. Each team being tied first in points per game, with 28.7 per game on average, we may have ourselves a high scoring Super Bowl in our future.
The Eagles, and their brick wall of an offensive line, led by veteran center Jason Kelce, are further bolstered by playmakers such as WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert, and RB Kenneth Gainwell.
The Chiefs, in the first season since sending star WR Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, have found continued success with new as well as familiar faces. Team statistical leaders such as; TE and future hall of famer Travis Kelce, new star RB Isaiah Pacheco along with WRs Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Ju-Ju Smith Schuster, have led the similarly potent Kansas City attack.
If it is going to be a shootout (which I think it will be, if I was a betting man I would take the over), perhaps it’ll come down to which defense can make a stop when it matters most. This, a big reason why I will be taking the Eagles in this matchup, the Eagles allowing just 18.8 points per game, the Chiefs allowing 21.5 per game, still a small number. The second key reason I’m going with the birds, aside from their defense’s consistency all year long, would be their elite offensive line, led by Jason Kelce, and their ability to win in the “trenches.”
My score prediction for this matchup, Philadelphia 31 – Kansas City 24.
This Sunday, February 12th from Glendale, Arizona.
6:30 PM kickoff EST.
Enjoy the game!
Photos from Pixabay.com
