by Tony Fiorello
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 3: A detail shot of the Lombardi Trophy next to Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles helmets prior to a news conference ahead of the NFL Super Bowl LIX football game at Caesars Superdome on February 3, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Welcome to Super Bowl Sunday. Here at Buffalo Sports Page we will attempt to inform and educate our readers about the upcoming championship game and the teams involved, and what each squad might do to emerge victorious.
The 59th edition of the NFL’s biggest game will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana as the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s what you should know:
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 26: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his touchdown with teammates Saquon Barkley #26 and Jalen Hurts #1 while playing the Washington Commanders during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
EAGLES’ OFFENSE A DUAL THREAT
After Doug Pederson brought a Super Bowl championship to Philadelphia in 2017, things began to sour rather quickly in the City of Brotherly Love. Following a deterioration of talent thanks to age, free agency and the salary cap, general manager Howie Roseman let go of Pederson and hired his replacement in former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni, who worked for Pederson’s championship-winning offensive coordinator Frank Reich, has brought a similar system to the Eagles. It’s a West Coast-style unit that’s built off misdirection concepts, quick underneath throws (especially on slant-flat concepts), screens, bootlegs, run-pass options and downfield route combinations borrowed from the Coryell system. Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore also rarely utilize formations from under center – except for their patented “Tush Push” play, their famous (or infamous) version of a quarterback sneak – and have increased their number of “empty” and three-by-one sets to spread the field and make easier reads in the passing game.
Moore, who is in his first season calling the plays after stints in Dallas and Los Angeles, does a good job of using tight splits for his wide receivers and motion to get defenders to commit to soft coverage. He then has his wideouts defeat them with double moves, and he’ll also go no-huddle from time to time.
The Eagles’ top offensive weapon is arguably running back extraordinaire Saquon Barkley. The 6-foot, 233-pound Barkley evokes comparisons to Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders for good reason – able to make plays in both the passing and running game, Barkley possesses the strength and quickness to break tackles and slither in and out of gaps. The quote “Give me 18 inches of daylight, that’s all I need” from Gale Sayers certainly applies to Philly’s tailback, as he can make big plays with his burst and excellent vision – as evidenced by nearly breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record in 2024.
Thanks to Barkley and backup Kenneth Gainwell, the Eagles have consistently been a top-10 rushing offense in the NFL over the last four years. They were second this year and were eighth, fifth and first in each of Sirianni’s seasons at the helm of Philadelphia.
Helping them in that department has been quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts, a product of Oklahoma, has utilized his mobility on several types of read option plays with zone, power and counter concepts built into them and capitalized by rushing for double-digit touchdowns in each of the last four years – the only signal-caller ever to do so. He also has a strong arm and his accuracy, ability to identify coverages, manipulate safeties with his eyes and decision-making post-snap has grown by leaps and bounds while executing a passing game with defined primary reads.
But Hurts has developed a habit of looking at the opposing pass rush too much and bailing out of the pocket prematurely, and he needs to get rid of the ball quicker. He also doesn’t like throwing the ball into tight windows over the middle and is more comfortable throwing outside the numbers.
To accelerate his growth, in 2022 Roseman acquired one of pro football’s most physical wide receivers in A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans. Brown, perhaps the Eagles’ best pass-catching threat since Terrell Owens, performs well out of high-low concepts and he, deep threat DeVonta Smith, slot receiver Jahan Dotson and tight end Dallas Goedert make up one of the NFL’s best receiving corps.
Blocking for Hurts and his cohorts is an elite offensive line made up of Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton and Cam Jurgens (the latter two replacing the departed Jason Kelce and Issac Seumalo). They’ve become one of the best thanks to the development prowess of position coach Jeff Stoutland and can execute most rushing concepts (gap schemes, duo, inside zone, outside zone etc.).
Beyond their rushing accolades, the Eagles were also eighth in total yards and seventh in scoring. But they were just 29th in passing.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Jalen Carter #98 and Nolan Smith Jr. #3 of the Philadelphia Eagles sack Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
PHILLY DEFENSE, GREAT TWO YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN REBUILT
The Eagles’ defensive play-caller from 2022, Jonathan Gannon, is now in Arizona as head coach of the Cardinals. Last year he was replaced by former Chicago Bears coordinator Sean Desai, and both were avid fans of longtime defensive guru Vic Fangio (a consultant for the Eagles two years ago).
Gannon took Fangio’s approach and got impressive results with them while leading Philly to a Super Bowl berth. Desai, meanwhile, struggled in 2023 which led to an in-season demotion in favor of Matt Patricia and neither were brought back this fall. Instead, Sirianni opted to re-hire Fangio.
Fangio doesn’t like to blitz much. Relying on a four-man pass rush with stunts, twists and slants and two-deep safety looks often, he employs well-disguised hybrid coverages that feature man and zone concepts – especially Cover Four, or “quarters”, with each defensive back dividing the field into fourths and matchup principles to take away vertical concepts.
This approach has been gaining in popularity in recent years throughout the NFL. According to Smart Football’s Chris B. Brown, “It’s the most important defensive scheme of the past decade…. At first glance, Cover 4 looks like an anti-pass prevent tactic, with four secondary defenders playing deep. But therein lies its magic. The four defenders are actually playing a matchup zone concept, in which the safety reads the tight end or inside receiver. If an offensive player lined up inside releases on a short pass route or doesn’t release into the route, the safety can help double-team the outside receiver. If the inside receiver breaks straight downfield, it becomes more like man coverage. This variance keeps quarterbacks guessing and prevents defenses from being exploited by common pass plays like four verticals, which killed eight-man fronts.
“The real key to Cover 4, however, is that against the run both safeties become rush defenders (remember, the outside cornerbacks play deep). This allows defenses to play nine men in the box against the run – a hat-tip to the 46’s overwhelming force.”
Although the Eagles were just 17th versus the run, they ended 2022 second in total yards given up, first against the pass, eighth in points allowed, tied for fourth in takeaways and were first in sacks with an eye-popping 70 – 15 more than the second-closest team (Kansas City). In fact, Philadelphia became just the fourth team ever to reach 70 sacks in a season – along with the 1984 and ’87 Bears and ’89 Minnesota Vikings – and were just three away from breaking the ’84 Bears’ all-time record.
In 2023 the Eagles’ defense fell off a cliff. While 10th against the run, they were just 19th in sacks, 26th in total yards surrendered, second-last against the pass and tied for 23rd in takeaways. With Fangio now back, Philly’s defense is back as well – they were first in total yards and against the pass (the first team ever to go from 22nd or worse to first), 10th versus the run, second in points allowed, sixth in takeaways and tied for 13th in sacks.
To have success this way, you need to get pressure from a defensive line that has depth and talent. Which the Eagles have in spades, allowing them to use a 5-2 base front at the line of scrimmage (a departure from most teams who use a four or three-man unit).
It helps that Philly has rebuilt this unit from one that was veteran-laden to the youngest defense in the NFL. Once boasting names such as Fletcher Cox, Haason Reddick, Linval Joseph, Derek Barnett, Javon Hargrave, Ndamukong Suh and Robert Quinn, now the Eagles can roll out names like Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Bryce Huff, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith on every snap and not miss a beat.
More change has come at the second and third levels of their defense. While cornerbacks Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox remain (Bradberry has missed the entire season due to injury), the Eagles drafted Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo in the first round and Cooper DeJean from Iowa in the second. DeJean has had a very good rookie season as he’s displayed good blitzing ability, patience and physicality at the top of opponents’ routes from the nickel position. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, one of the game’s rangiest and smartest centerfielders who can also play in the slot, holds down the back end along with Reed Blankenship.
After employing T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White at linebacker two years ago and Zach Cunningham and Nick Morrow last season, Philly has upgraded in the form of Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean (currently injured) and Oren Burks. Baun has made a near-seamless transition from the defensive line due to his excellent awareness.
The Eagles are in their fifth Super Bowl all-time, their second in three years and third in eight seasons. They will try to take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time in their history.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass to Travis Kelce #87 during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 07, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
CHIEFS’ OFFENSE IS TYPICALLY DANGEROUS, BUT SLOWING A BIT
Andy Reid’s version of the West Coast offense has taken on many forms over the years. In Philadelphia his passing game with quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick was vertical-based to take advantage of their arm strength, conversely with Alex Smith it became conservative and horizontal.
Now with Patrick Mahomes under center it has returned to its downfield version, although their horizontal concepts have increased as of late. The system has also incorporated many college concepts in recent years and heavily relies on the design of the play to get people open. According to former MMQB/SI writer Andy Benoit, “Kansas City’s passing game is unique because it doesn’t depend on wide receivers winning one-on-one battles outside. The scheme relies on route combinations and creating opportunities for tight ends and running backs. This means the throws are more about timing than velocity.
“Reid features presnap motion, misdirection and multi-option reads. Those tactics put a defense on its heels by presenting the illusion of complexity, but they can transition into traditional concepts once the ball is snapped…. (they) aim to isolate specific defenders – often linebackers – present them with run/pass assignment conflicts and also get defenders flowing one way as the ball goes another.”
Some other calling cards of the Chiefs’ include their creative red zone concepts. Reid will concoct unusual formations with screens and shovel passes with motion, and these have set Kansas City apart from the rest of the league for years.
Between 2015 and ‘21 Kansas City employed wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is perhaps the league’s fastest player and can line up anywhere – out wide, in the backfield and in the slot, where he is especially dangerous on post routes out of trips formations. Following a trade to the Miami Dolphins, Reid and general manager Brett Veach decided to replace him by committee.
Although they don’t boast quite the same speed as Hill does, men like Rashee Rice, Mecole Hardman, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy (who has shown that he can be the third man in trips formations – Hill’s old spot) give the Chiefs a group who can beat anyone vertically and all are used liberally in motion by Reid. Juju Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson have also gotten in on the action this year to varying degrees and Reid also likes to give his wideouts reduced splits along the line of scrimmage to use defenders’ leverage against them and present two-way go’s.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, this group has been banged up all season. Rice, who the offense had shifted its focus to early in the year due to his versatility and ability to pick up yards after the catch, is out for the rest of 2024 following knee surgery and Hardman and Moore have also been hurt. Enter former All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Tennessee Titans.
Hopkins might not be the fastest wideout in football but succeeds with physicality, body control, route-running ability and excellent hands – akin to Hall of Famer Cris Carter. He’s also versatile by being able to align all over the formation and is especially adept on intermediate in-breaking routes over the middle of the field.
Travis Kelce, one of the best talents at his position, is versatile and can also align in different ways in the formation (especially as the lone receiver on the backside in bunch – otherwise known as the boundary ‘X’ receiver). Perhaps the most athletic tight end in football, he can beat most defensive backs and linebackers on many different routes, especially on corners, sticks and crossers, is excellent at creating yards after the catch and has a good feel for finding voids in zone coverage.
Kelce set a record for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,416 in 2020 and continues to remain his usual elite self after passing Jerry Rice for the most receptions in playoff history last year (he’s on the verge of passing Rice for the most catches in the Super Bowl as well, needing just three). Backups Noah Grey, Jody Fortson (out with an injury) and Peyton Hendershot’s roles have expanded as Kansas City has incorporated more formations featuring multiple tight ends over the last two years.
At running back the powerful Isiah Pacheco (a downhill, north-south type of runner), Samaje Perine and Kareem Hunt are adept at hurting teams not just on the ground but through the air as well, especially on screen passes. Pacheco’s offensive snaps have steadily decreased over the last few weeks, however – perhaps he has been slow to recover from an earlier in-season injury.
Those backs and Mahomes operate behind an offensive line that has undergone many changes over the last few years. Injuries and underperformance have seen the Chiefs say goodbye to names like Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz, Austin Reiter, Kelechi Osemele, Orlando Brown Jr., Donovan Smith, Andrew Wylie and hello to new faces like All-Pro Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, D.J. Humphries and Mike Caliendo. Taylor hasn’t quite worked out so far and because of this Reid has been using his tight ends and backs to help in pass protection more often (Taylor has taken more penalties than anyone in the NFL over the last two years). Thuney has also been moved to left tackle – while he’s been serviceable at that spot, he hasn’t lit the world on fire and Caliendo has been a liability (he can be beaten on stunts by opposing defensive linemen). They also have had a hard time blocking in the run game lately too, as they have shown issues in reaching linebackers after getting past defensive lines.
The widespread comparisons of Mahomes to Brett Favre aren’t unfounded, as the former possesses most of the latter’s attributes – a cannon for an arm, an uncanny ability to extend plays and good mobility and intelligence, plus a willingness to fit passes into tight windows and the ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes. He’s also underrated at using dummy cadences to get defenses to declare their intentions and then setting the pass protection accordingly. But he hasn’t always played the way his coaches want him to.
At times Mahomes shows too much unnecessary movement both in and outside the pocket due to anticipating pressure that isn’t there, sloppy footwork and not playing within the timing and structure of Reid’s attack. He also sometimes doesn’t take what defenses give him coverage-wise and forces plays down the field that don’t need to be.
When this happens, Reid usually gets Mahomes to settle down by incorporating more short and intermediate concepts like “smash” and “flood” – resulting in him being more decisive and his offense becoming more rhythm-based and less vertical. His mechanics also need touching up at times – especially by holding the ball higher so he can throw quicker and fixing his lower body base.
Two years ago the Chiefs’ offense was their usual lethal selves, ending 2022 first in total yards, points scored and passing and 20th in rushing. Last year they fell off a bit – 15th in points (21.8, the lowest in the Mahomes era), ninth in total yards, sixth in passing and 19th in rushing are usually not bad numbers for anyone but given Kansas City’s lofty standards they should have been better.
It’s been more of the same in 2024 as they ended the regular season 15th in scoring, 17th in total yards and 14th in passing. But they’re also 22nd in rushing and red zone efficiency, and most of their wins have come in one score games (they’ve won each of their last 17 one-possession games including playoffs, the longest such streak ever).
Also their plus-59 scoring differential is 62 points worse than any other 15-win team ever, and was just 11th in the NFL this year.
The Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the seventh time going back to 1966 (the third-most appearances all-time), the third straight year (the fourth team ever to go three seasons in a row) and for the fifth time in six years. They’re aiming to become the first ever three-peat Super Bowl champion and have won nine straight playoff games – tied for the second-longest streak all-time.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 18: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs pressures the pocket as Laremy Tunsil #78 of the Houston Texans blocks during the first half of the AFC Divisional playoff game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY’S DEFENSE STILL CREATIVE
From 2013 through 2018 the Chiefs’ defense was conducted by Bob Sutton, a former longtime assistant with the New York Jets. During the first three seasons Sutton applied his scheme in Kansas City the Chiefs had an upper-echelon unit, but between 2016-18 it took a nosedive – bottoming out in ’18 by finishing the regular season in the bottom-half of the league in nearly every statistical category.
Reid promptly replaced Sutton with one of his old assistants from Philadelphia in Steve Spagnuolo. “Spags”, a former head coach with the Rams and Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, implemented a 4-3 system characterized by cleverly disguised five-man overload blitzes, multiple coverages with press technique by the cornerbacks and safety rotations before the snap.
The biggest key to Kansas City’s defense used to be former Arizona Cardinal and Houston Texan Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu is one of the most versatile back-end defenders in football, as evidenced by his many snaps at slot cornerback, box safety, nickel/dime linebacker, free safety and outside cornerback. His athleticism and intelligence were valuable to the Chiefs – so valuable to the point where he was mainly used as the team’s middle hole defender in Cover Two zone and not a linebacker. But Mathieu left in free agency for the New Orleans Saints two years ago along with fellow safety Daniel Sorenson, and in their place now are ex-Texan Justin Reid (who matches up well with tight ends) and Bryan Cook.
The Chiefs also underwent a makeover at cornerback. Veterans L’Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward, Mike Hughes, Rashad Fenton and DeAndre Baker are gone and that position is now held down by Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Chamarri Conner. This group is mainly used by Spagnuolo in dime packages (and at the highest rate in the NFL) with McDuffie and Conner being able to line up both in the slot and on the outside. Conner can also play safety, and besides their favored man coverages “Spags” likes to use zone-blitzes with Cover Four principles out of dime.
The Chiefs’ defensive line is the most talented part of this unit. All-Pro Chris Jones is their linchpin and one of the best defensive linemen in the league thanks to his combination of burst and hand usage off the line of scrimmage. Ex-Patriot Josh Uche (who has surprising power for his size with quickness and coverage ability), Derrick Nnadi, Charles Omenihu, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Danna and George Karlaftis are the team’s other contributors in their front four and all are versatile. At linebacker Kansas City employs Nick Bolton – who is their best second-level defender – Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal. Bolton is smart and athletic, and Tranquill excels in zone coverage.
Over the last few years the results from Spags’ defense were uneven, ranging anywhere from great to good to mediocre in multiple categories. Although 18th against the run and 27th in takeaways, his defense last season was sublime ranking second in points allowed (17.3, the lowest of any Reid-coached team since the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles), second in total yards given up, fourth against the pass and second in sacks. The Chiefs also set a record for the most games in a season allowing less than 28 points with 20 such instances.
This year Kansas City is fourth in points allowed, ninth in total yards surrendered and eighth against the run. But they’re just 14th in takeaways, 18th versus the pass and in sacks. Additionally their blitz rate is the fifth-highest in the NFL (35.6) and the Chiefs’ pressure rate is 10th – but when they don’t send extra rushers they have the third-worst pressure rate.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles and Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs meet on stage during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night at Caesars Superdome on February 03, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
STATS AND MUSINGS
· Reid will coach in his sixth Super Bowl which is tied for the second-most appearances ever by a head coach with Don Shula. He’ll attempt to tie Chuck Noll for the second-most rings ever with four.
· Philadelphia and Kansas City are the first teams to go against one another twice in a Super Bowl in a three-year span since the Bills and Dallas Cowboys also did the deed in 1992-93. The other Super Bowl rematches belong to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cowboys (three times), San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals, Washington and Miami Dolphins, Patriots and Rams, Patriots and Eagles, and Patriots and New York Giants.
· It will also be the fifth Super Bowl rematch between coaches. Reid and Sirianni will join Reid and Kyle Shanahan, Noll and Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Marv Levy, and Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick as the only pairs to do so.
· Sirianni is the third head coach to get to a Super Bowl twice in his first four seasons, along with Joe Gibbs and Mike Tomlin.
· Spagnuolo is the only coordinator to win a Super Bowl with multiple teams, having done so with the Chiefs and Giants, and has more rings than any other coordinator in NFL annals.
· Mahomes and Hurts are the only pair of African American signal callers to go against one another in a Super Bowl. It will be the fourth quarterback rematch in the history of the Big Game, joining Eli Manning-Tom Brady, Troy Aikman-Jim Kelly and Terry Bradshaw-Roger Staubach (the same quarterback won both games in the first three matchups).
· Mahomes is in the Big Game for the fifth time before age 30 (two more than anyone else) and has never lost a game indoors (15-0).
· Reid is going against an Eagles franchise that he led from 1999-2012 – a team he took to five NFC title games and a berth in Super Bowl XXXIX.
· Additionally, Reid is the only coach with 10 or more postseason wins with two teams and will participate in his 45th playoff game – breaking a tie with Belichick for the most all-time. He and Dan Reeves are one of two head coaches to reach the NFL’s ultimate game and go against a squad he previously coached in a Super Bowl.
· Reid is the only coach to win a Super Bowl against a team that fired him (Jon Gruden was traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
· Only four men are on the Eagles’ active roster who won the Super Bowl with Philly in 2017 –Johnson, Graham, long snapper Rick Lovato and kicker Jake Elliott.
· Fox’s Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will call the game. Brady will make his Super Bowl broadcasting debut in the Superdome – the same building where he won his first Lombardi Trophy in 2001. It’s also the eighth Super Bowl for the Saints’ building – the most ever.
· Barkley needs 30 yards to pass Terrell Davis’ 1998 season for the most combined rushing yards ever in one year (regular season and playoffs). Hurts needs two rushing scores to tie Emmitt Smith for the most career rushing touchdowns in the Super Bowl, and the two teammates became the first pair to each have three touchdowns on the ground in one playoff game against Washington two weeks ago.
· Additionally, in the NFC title game the Eagles had seven rushing touchdowns – tied for the most ever in a playoff game – and scored the most points ever in a conference championship game with 55, breaking the record held by the 1990 Bills.
· Philadelphia also has 10 takeaways and no turnovers this postseason – the best-ever margin going into a Super Bowl.
· DeVonta Smith is looking to become the fourth player ever to win a Super Bowl, NCAA championship and a Heisman Trophy and will attempt to do so in his home state of Louisiana.
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