2023 super bowl

By Spencer Ripchik

The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The Super Bowl is set to declare who the best team in the league is.

The Eagles dominated the San Fransisco 49ers in a 31-7 win in the NFC Championship and the Chiefs won on a walk-off field goal to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 for the AFC Championship.

This is the first meeting in the Super Bowl between the two teams and there are a bunch of storylines like the two Kelce brothers playing against each other and Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni coaching against their former teams.

The biggest storyline, though, is who will have the edge and take home the Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl 2023

The Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last four years and the Eagles are in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last six years.

Led by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs are still cooking with one of the best offenses in the league. Without Tyreek Hill, Mahomes won the MVP, and his stats back up the potential accolade. He led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns with his primary target being tight end Travis Kelce, who has racked up 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was there when @PatrickMahomes needed him. 💪 pic.twitter.com/d1UgupcETq

— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2023

Kansas City’s offense does most of its damage through the air, but it can run behind its running back by committee with Jerick McKinnon and rookie Isiah Pacheco.

The Chiefs’ strength is Mahomes and its offense, but their defense is nothing to shrug your shoulders over.

Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones was one of the nominees for Defensive Player of the Year and had 15.5 sacks this season.

To help Jones out, defensive end Frank Clark has been the defensive star for the Chiefs in the postseason and has 2.5 sacks in two games, which is the fourth-most.

With Jones and Clark, Kansas City doesn’t have a problem getting to the quarterback, but where the Chiefs have struggled is in the secondary.

The Chiefs are middle of the road when it comes to passing yards allowed on the season, which could be a problem, especially against an offense like the Eagles.

Kansas City could be starting two rookie corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson if L’Jarius Sneed isn’t cleared from his concussion, so there is some inexperience in the secondary.

Philadelphia is a run-heavy team and has run the ball with ease in the postseason because the Eagles have one of if not the best offensive lines in the league.

The Eagles have a running back by committee approach, too, but the lead back is Miles Sanders while running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott comes in from time to time.

😂 Check out Jason Kelce dance after Miles Sanders TDpic.twitter.com/6xCOIVzuMY

— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) January 29, 2023

The Chiefs’ defense hasn’t been too shabby at stopping the run and has done better than the Eagles this season, but Kansas City hasn’t quite faced a rushing attack like the Eagles.

To make Philadelphia’s rushing attack even better, the Eagles have MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts, who can break off for a big rush if he’s out in space.

Hurts was a wildcard this season, but it is clear the Eagles might’ve found their guy for the foreseeable future.

The third-year quarterback has just gotten better and better.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has received a lot of criticism for some of the moves he’s made as general manager, like passing on Justin Jefferson for Jalen Reagor, but over the past couple of years, he’s constructed one of the best teams to come out of Philadephia in a long time.

One of the major moves he made was giving Hurts elite receiver A.J. Brown and he fit right into Philadelphia’s scheme. 

Brown, second-year receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are a three-headed monster in the passing game.

Smith has succeeded in the postseason with all the attention on Brown, so the Chiefs’ young secondary is going to have its hands full.

Devonta Smith going OFF! 154 yards in the first half.

📺: #PHIvsWAS on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/OC8Yw9hask pic.twitter.com/GTeh5Vc6fZ

— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022

On the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia just gets better. 

Linebacker Haason Reddick has been one of the best linebackers in the league this season and leads in sacks this postseason.

Philadelphia’s defense led the league in sacks in the regular season, so Mahomes is not going to have too much time to work.

The Eagles’ secondary might be its biggest strength. Cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry have been two of the best corners and are a major part of why the Eagles have allowed the least amount of yards through the air.

The Chiefs have a slightly better offense than the Eagles because of what Mahomes is able to do, but Philadelphia’s defense is clearly better than Kansas City’s.

Kansas City’s only chance in this game is that Mahomes balls out and pieces apart a tough Eagles defense.

Philadelphia is a much more well-rounded team on defense and offense, and that is why the Eagles will raise the Lombardi Trophy this year.

Philadelphia 31, Kansas City 27

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