The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are days away from squaring off in a much-anticipated rematch. The last time that these teams met was back in November of 2023 when the Eagles defeated the Chiefs 21-17 behind an impressive defensive effort that sacked Patrick Mahomes 5 times. It was their revenge game after the sour ending that they witnessed in Super Bowl LVII where the Chiefs squeaked by with a 38-35 victory.
Here’s all that you need to know about the Eagles taking on the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
Gameday Guide
Date: February 9th, 2025
Kickoff: 6:30 PM EST
Channel listings: FOX, Telemundo, FOX Deportes, NFL App
Audio: NFL+, Sirius XM, Westwood One
Eagles’ road to redemption
The Philadelphia Eagles have waited quite some time for this very moment. Not just for another shot at the Lombardi Trophy, but for another chance to finish what they started back in 2022. The last time the Eagles and Chiefs faced off in Super Bowl 57, it ended in a way that sucked the air out of the stadium. Fans and media alike felt as if they were robbed of a great ending to an already classic game. A holding call against James Bradberry that was not as obvious as the holding that was being done by a Chiefs offensive lineman on the very same play.
Jalen Hurts had a historical performance against the Chiefs that should’ve ended on a different note. Hurts threw for 304 passing yards on 27 completions with one touchdown. He also ran for 70 yards and scored three touchdowns on the ground. The Eagles QB was determined to bring the Lombardi back to the City of Brotherly Love but ultimately fell short due to a questionable call against the Eagles’ defense as time as winding down in the fourth quarter. That call put the Chiefs in the perfect position for a Super Bowl victory.
After the loss, the Eagles attempted to force their way back to the Super Bowl in the following season but instead they collapsed on the way there as the team lost 5 of their last 6 games of the season. Philadelphia limped into the playoffs both physically and mentally before being blown out by the Tampa Buccaneers 32-9.
There was a lot to learn from that late-season collapse that helped Philadelphia bounce back in 2024 despite starting the season 2-2. The memory of their failed season helped paved the way this season and it helped that Howie Roseman built the team to be better than the 2022 Eagles. He drafted both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to be pivotal pieces within Vic Fangio’s defense. He also went ahead and signed a diamond in the rough in linebacker Zack Baun but his most important move came when the Eagles signed running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal after the Giants allowed him to walk.
Philadelphia invested in their team from top to bottom during the offseason and it paid off in big ways. From hiring veteran coordinators in Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio to bringing back a crucial piece in C.J. Gardner-Johnson and even taking a flier on Mekhi Becton. Every single move contributed to the Eagles’ success this season which has unsurprisingly led them back to the Super Bowl in hopes of finishing the story their way this time around.
Matchup Spotlight
While many people will focus on the battle between Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, the true story lies in the clash between Saquon Barkley and Steve Spagnuolo. Can the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator do what no other team has been able to do this season? Will they be the first team to stop Saquon Barkley?
Barkley had a season for the ages as he rushed for 2,005 yards and is now on pace to break Terrell Davis’s record for the most rushing yards in a season including the postseason. Barkley has 2,447 rushing yards and only needs 30 yards to break the record that Davis set back in 1998.
The Chiefs’ defense hasn’t had much of an answer for running backs this postseason. They allowed Joe Mixon to rush for 88 yards on 18 attempts in the divisional round in addition to a rushing touchdown. Kansas City also allowed James Cook to rush for 85 yards on 13 attempts while allowing him to score two touchdowns on the ground.
Saquon Barkley has rushed for 442 yards this postseason and doesn’t look like he’ll be stopping anytime soon. While the Super Bowl media row has been distracting at times, Barkley has remained focused on the reason that he’s even there in the first place and that’s to finish the job. The outcome of the game could favor the winner of this specific battle.
The Eagles and Chiefs are entering this game with huge expectations. The Chiefs have history awaiting them as they will look to be the first NFL team to ever win three Super Bowls in a row. While Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will look to put their names in the record books. Hurts is the Eagles first QB to play in two Super Bowls which shows just how special he is. Can Philadelphia stop Kansas City’s quest for a dynasty? Or will the Chiefs find a way to stop the talented roster of the Eagles?
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
