NFL
By: Greg Rector
Super Bowl LVII has the usual suspects for who will be the MVP of the game. One of the quarterbacks, of course, be it Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts is most likely according to the oddsmakers to be the Super Bowl LVII MVP. The history of the Super Bowl itself though tells a different story. Right from the very first Super Bowl game where aging and very hungover Green Bay Packers wide receiver Max Mcgee was the star of the game even though Bart Starr was still the MVP, it was McGee’s receptions that paved the way for the victory. In the previous 56 Super Bowl games the quarterbacks have been named MVP 30 times. Unlike the regular season, MVP award many position players have stood out as the best player in the game in a given year. While it’s easy to assume one of the two quarterbacks will win the Super Bowl MVP history tells us differently. Let’s look at a couple of players on each team that just might be not named Mahomes or Hurts who could join the likes of Chuck Howley (Still the only SB MVP from the losing team) Larry Brown Ottis Anderson or Dexter Jackson to have been a non-quarterback to win the Super Bowl MVP. I am going to pick one player from each of the Chiefs’ and Eagles’ offense and defense.
Chiefs Defense
While Chris Jones is the engine for the Chiefs’ defense I’m not liking his chances of being the difference maker against the Eagles’ strong offensive line. Instead, I’m going to suggest a more unlikely hero emerges for the Kansas City defense. For that reason, I will select Chiefs middle linebacker, Nick Bolton. The reason I like Bolton’s chances is simple the Eagles love to run the ball and Bolton is pretty good at stopping the run. This also means I like his chances of possibly causing a fumble. Bolton will also have to see Dallas Goedert in his area, so let’s say Bolton steps in front of a Hurts to Goedert pass and Bolton returns the interception for a touchdown. A couple of big plays like that are all it takes to be a difference. Old guys like me would love to see a Super Bowl LVII MVP middle linebacker.
Chiefs Offense
Remember I mentioned Ottis Anderson earlier? Anderson was a veteran running back near the end of his career when he carried the Giants to the Super Bowl XXV title rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown with 21 carries. While everyone expects the Chiefs passing game to be the main focus what if Chiefs veteran running back Jerick Mckinnon has himself a day and scores a couple of touchdowns while rushing for over 100 yards? What if this a low-scoring game and the Chiefs’ passing attack isn’t as effective as it’s been all season? Enter McKinnon and like Anderson, before him, he’s surprisingly able to shine on Sunday. What a way to finish a career this would be Super Bowl LVII MVP.
Eagles Defense
Here I will go with the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles’ third-best all-time sack attack in a regular season. Hassan Reddick has a chip on his shoulder. He had an excellent season and wasn’t mentioned much for defensive player of the year. Remember the scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High when Forest Whittaker’s character sees that his car has been vandalized? Remember the destruction he wrought in his school’s next game? Well, that could indeed be Hassan Reddick on Sunday against Kansas City. How about three sacks and a forced fumble on one of seven tackles for loss? That type of domination would be worthy of consideration. Super Bowl LVII MVP would take away a bit of the pain of not being mentioned with the likes of Bosa and Parsons.
Eagles Offense
While the Eagles score most of their touchdowns on the ground, I’m going to with a wide receiver as the unlikely hero for the game on Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not going with AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, or even tight-end Dallas Goedert. The Chiefs’ defense instead has no answer for the Eagles’ third wide receiver Quez Watkins. How about Watkins has 8 catches for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns. Again this would be a flipping of the script from the regular season, but stranger things have happened in the Super Bowl. Go back to the Super XIII game when the Dallas Cowboys’ “Doomsday Defense” faced the Pittsburgh Steelers and their “Steel Curtain” defense what happened? The score was 35-31. Pretty sure the sportsbooks back then took a bit of a bath paying out on the over. A Super Bowl LVII MVP surprise choice indeed.
Beware The Obvious
As I said earlier the Super Bowl often sees unlikely heroes emerge. There are four players though even though I don’t gamble for those that do a small prop bet might pay off. Speaking of bets in the last 18 Super Bowl games the team wearing white jerseys has won 15 of the last 18 Super Bowls. One of the three to buck that trend? The Eagles when winning their only Super Bowl. Super Bowl LVII may indeed see someone other than the obvious choices walk away as the MVP of the game.
