The Super Bowl is upon us! The Eagles’ offense has proven itself a force to be reckoned with, and with the Chiefs’ defense preparing to face them, it’s clear that those 30-plus points might be necessary. In the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles put up an eye-popping 55 points against the Commanders, showing they have the ability to light up the scoreboard through both the air and on the ground. A big part of that success has been Saquon Barkley’s phenomenal first season in Philadelphia.
The running back has exceeded 2,000 yards in the regular season and has only raised the bar in the playoffs. Barkley has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in every playoff game so far, including a monstrous 205-yard performance against the Rams and a 118-yard, 3-touchdown game against the Commanders. His ability to score from anywhere on the field has been on full display, with touchdown runs of 60, 62, and 78 yards. He has been the key difference-maker for the Eagles, something they lacked even during their 2022 season, which ended with a tough loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
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Jalen Hurts is also a dual-threat quarterback, capable of making plays with his legs. Hurts had a 44-yard touchdown run against the Rams and, when combined with Barkley’s dominance, makes this offense even harder to stop. The Eagles’ offensive line has been outstanding, providing both Barkley with ample room to run and Hurts with a clean pocket to throw from. Though there are concerns with injuries to Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton, who was acquired from the Jets, has stepped up at right guard, giving the line even more strength. Behind Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell and Will Shipley have been solid, though they have not been relied upon heavily in the postseason.
However, the Eagles’ passing attack has been inconsistent at times. In their first two playoff games, Hurts threw for just 131 yards and 128 yards, respectively. While Hurts was effective on the ground, the passing game wasn’t as sharp, and A.J. Brown’s limited involvement led to visible frustration. He had just one catch in the Packers game, prompting him to open his copy of “Inner Excellence” on the sideline.
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DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert also had quiet games by their standards, with Smith accumulating 55 yards in the Packers game and Goedert 56 yards in the Rams game. But the passing game came alive in the NFC Championship Game, where Hurts threw for 246 yards and a touchdown, completing 20 of 28 passes. He connected with A.J. Brown for a crucial fourth-down conversion and later found him for a pivotal touchdown to put the Eagles ahead 27-12 before halftime. Goedert contributed with 85 yards on 7 receptions, and Smith added 45 yards on 4 catches. With the passing game now clicking, the Eagles’ two-dimensional offense will pose a serious challenge for the Chiefs’ defense.
The Chiefs’ defense, however, is no slouch. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is known for designing complex blitz packages and coverage schemes, and he’ll need all his creativity to slow down the Eagles’ offense. Kansas City’s defensive line, anchored by Chris Jones and Tershawn Wharton on the interior, is formidable, and edge rushers George Karlaftis and Mike Danna have been excellent at applying pressure. Linebackers Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton, and Leo Chenal will be critical in stopping Barkley at the second level.
The key for the Chiefs will be ensuring they don’t let Barkley break free for long runs, as he’s done repeatedly this season. While they can’t expect to fully neutralize him, limiting his explosive gains and forcing the Eagles into obvious passing situations will be critical. Once the Eagles are in passing downs, Spagnuolo will be able to unleash his aggressive blitzes, forcing Hurts to make quick decisions and potentially take risks he wouldn’t normally make. In the secondary, cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will be tasked with containing A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, while nickel corner Chamarri Conner may see time covering Jahan Dotson in the slot.
If the Chiefs can stifle Barkley and force Hurts to beat them with his arm, they may have a chance to neutralize the Eagles’ high-powered attack. While Hurts has proven his ability to make plays through the air, the Chiefs will feel more comfortable defending the pass than dealing with Barkley’s ability to break off game-changing runs. This matchup will come down to whether the Chiefs’ defense can execute its plan to limit the Eagles’ run game, while still finding a way to defend Hurts’ passing attack. If Kansas City can manage to do both, they have a real shot at taking control of this high-stakes battle.
