NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles will meet the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LlX this Sunday. The Eagles are looking to ride the wave of a 14-3 season while the Chiefs are looking for the immorality that comes with a first-ever 3-peat in NFL History.
These teams share a history of meeting in big games. Two seasons ago in Super Bowl LVll, the Chiefs came out on top 38-35. Can the Chiefs continue their stingy run defense and contain Saquon Barkley? Can Jalen Hurts quiet the critics with a great performance and walk away a champion?
Here are 3 keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LlX.
Attack The Middle Of The Field
Running the ball will be a top priority but the Eagles can go back to their last SB appearance against the Chiefs and see what worked for them when Jalen Hurts passed for 304 yards and a total of 4 TDs against that stout defense. Working the middle of the field should be something that Kellen Moore hangs his hat on. Even if Barkley is having a career day, Hurts must find Dallas Goedert and AJ Brown across the middle of the field and exploit the Chiefs’ LBs.
The same way the Chiefs will look to get Kelce going against the Eagles LBs is the same way they must approach their offensive game plan. No DB can cover Brown one-on-one but coming across that middle, no LB has the skills to keep up either. If Hurts has a deep shot, he has to take it. The middle will be open. It’s up to the Eagles to use it to their advantage.
Play With Discipline
To beat the Chiefs, you have to play with poise. No matter the score, you can never count Mahomes out of any game. With all the whispers surrounding the Chiefs and their so-called help from the refs, the Eagles must play with discipline even if things don’t go their way early. There will be missed calls, that’s just part of the game. They cannot afford to let their heads hang low if a bad call goes against them.
Then, most importantly, don’t let Mahomes get to work his magic. The Philadelphia Eagles must make sure he doesn’t have open lanes to run as he has done in the past. Do not let Travis Kelce get going. The defense has played outstanding ball all season. They have been patient. Mahomes is good but he does make mistakes and if the Eagles are patient and play with discipline, they can turn the tables and run away with this.
Use Every RB
While Saquon Barkley is a main reason the Philadelphia Eagles made it to the Super Bowl, now is the time to show the Kansas City Chiefs just how dominant the offensive line is. Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, and even Will Shipley should see the ball at least 5 times or more each. What this does is offer different looks for the defense.
The focus of the game is to keep Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense off the field as much as possible. Gainwell can catch the ball out of the backfield and Shipley is a power runner who can wear down the defensive line. As for Barkley, well, he does what he does. Moore must force the Chiefs to rotate players in and out of the lineup with different running schemes and then let Barkley run wild in the 4th.
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