After a season that saw these two teams come together to form an inseparable pairing, Super Bowl LVII was finally here. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles, 38-35, to claim their first title in franchise history.
The game also featured a lot of high-profile players, including the NFL’s MVP Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia’s ace quarterback Jalen Hurts. Let’s take a closer look at their results.
1. The Chiefs’ rushing attack
The Chiefs’ rushing attack did not have the most impactful performance in the AFC Championship Game against Cincinnati, and they struggled to get consistency out of their running backs this season. However, it is possible that the Chiefs could be more effective if they are able to stretch the ball out to the outside edges.
This is an area that is not typically emphasized on offense, but it can be a critical factor for teams. For the Chiefs, a strong run game could be crucial in a Super Bowl.
Andy Reid is known for his offenses that spread defenses thin, and this is one of the ways that he does so. When the Chiefs play a team like the Eagles, they need to have a way to beat their press coverage.
The best way to do this is to utilize jet sweeps and other misdirection techniques. For example, the Chiefs ran a play in the Super Bowl that had receiver Skyy Moore split out and then go in jet motion. This moved safety Marcus Epps to the left side of the line of scrimmage, making it easier for Patrick Mahomes and Jerick McKinnon to sweep into the end zone.
Another way to get the ball out of the air is to use RPOs. The Chiefs used RPOs in the Super Bowl against the Chargers, and they converted 93.8% of their down set conversions into another first down or touchdown. This was a huge feat for an offense that normally doesn’t run RPOs, but this was an important one in the Super Bowl.
While the Chiefs aren’t a run-heavy team, they do have a solid and determined running back room. This is especially true when paired with an offensive line that is willing to take care of business against the Eagles’ aggressive run defense.
In addition to their running game, the Chiefs have a solid and capable pass defense that will present a challenge for the Eagles. The Chiefs’ defense leads the NFL in pass breakups and ranks second in sacks, but it is important to remember that this isn’t a flawless unit.
2. The Eagles’ pass defense
The Eagles have the best pass defense in the NFL, allowing only 179.6 passing yards per game and a top 4.8 yards ceded per play. They haven’t been as good against the run, giving up 121.7 rushing yards per game, but they are still one of the better defenses in the league.
Patrick Mahomes is a mobile quarterback who can make plays with his feet, so Reid and Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy will have to find the right balance of running and passing to keep him in the pocket. If Mahomes gets time in the pocket, the Eagles’ pass rush will have to keep up or risk exposing him.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has a lot of trust in his young offensive line, including Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson and All-Pro center Jason Kelce. They’re also confident in the talent of their wide receivers, including Michael Gallup at tight end and Dallas Goedert and Torrey Smith at wide receiver.
But if the Eagles want to keep Mahomes in the pocket, they have to do more than just rely on their run-pass option (RPO). They need to get Mahomes off the ball, and they can do that by stacking defenders in short motion.
When the Eagles do that, they can force the quarterback to throw the ball out of his hands, as evidenced by this play from last season’s Super Bowl: Moore was sprinting across the formation in jet motion, and Maddox was locked up on a man. That created a great matchup for Mahomes, who could simply get the ball out quickly and run into the open space behind Cover 0 and win it.
It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s what we saw in the first half of the Chiefs’ 38-35 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. The Chiefs were able to exploit the Eagles’ pass defense by utilizing jet motion and stacking defenders in short motion.
They were able to keep Mahomes in the pocket for more than four minutes, which helped the Chiefs get into field position and score. They also ran the ball a lot, which allowed Mahomes to make his decisions and take advantage of favorable matchups in the red zone, where they were able to score on five consecutive touchdowns.
3. The Chiefs’ defense
The Chiefs may be a Super Bowl favorite, but their defense needs to deliver the performance of their lives in order for them to take home the Lombardi Trophy. They’ve risen from the ranks of the league’s worst to one of its best, and if they can do that in the Super Bowl, it will go down as a milestone for Kansas City football.
The Eagles’ pass rush will present a challenge for Kansas City, as the defense is a big part of Philadelphia’s success. The Eagles ranked ninth in the NFL with 3.17 sacks per game in 2019, and they also allowed an impressive 10.0 yards per carry during the regular season.
In order to limit the damage that the Eagles’ pass rush can do, Kansas City should focus on getting in front of them by putting their defensive backs in positions where they can blitz. That strategy can be a huge benefit when the Chiefs are playing dime personnel, which is how they’ll play against the Eagles.
On a third-and-18 play in the Divisional Round, for instance, linebacker Nick Bolton faked a blitz up the middle, and then used it to bring pressure on Cincinnati’s center Ted Karras. It caught Karras off guard, and he couldn’t help but give up a sack to Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones in the process.
That was a crucial move for the Chiefs’ defense, as it created single-team matchups for Cincinnati on the other side of the field. It helped the Chiefs’ pass rushers sack the quarterback in multiple areas, and it pushed the Bengals’ offensive line into a state that was incredibly hard to get through.
Those were the kinds of plays that led to some of the most memorable moments of the entire season, and the Eagles’ defense is going to have to do the same if it wants to keep the Chiefs from taking home their fifth straight AFC Championship.
The Eagles have a strong, stacked defense that could put some pressure on the Chiefs’ young players, especially when the Eagles use a lot of nickel and dime formations. But the Chiefs are a better team when they’re not using dime personnel, and it should be easy for them to get out in front of their opponents on Sunday.
4. The Chiefs’ special teams
Typically, Kansas City’s special teams are one of the strongest in the NFL. However, on Sunday, their unit made numerous mistakes that ultimately cost them the game against the Indianapolis Colts.
A strong kickoff return team is a key element of any good offense. Not only does it help to open the field for a possible long touchdown, but a successful kickoff return can also set up a short field goal that gives an offense an extra chance to win the game.
That’s why it’s crucial for the Chiefs to have a strong kickoff returner. Rookie running back Isiah Pacheco has won the team’s kickoff return job after a strong preseason, averaging 25.7 yards per return on three tries. He’ll be supported by a number of players on the Chiefs’ punt return subunit, including RB Isiah Hardman, WR Skyy Moore and rookie receiver Trent McDuffie.
The Chiefs also need to get their blocking right on their return teams. Blockers like Burton, Chenal, Lee, Lammons, Gray, Bush and possibly tight end Jody Fortson should act as jammers while cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams should work on the middle of the line.
In addition to blocking, Chiefs’ punt returners need to catch the ball cleanly. Whether they’re on the ground or in the air, the returners need to keep their eyes downfield and be prepared to take a hit.
Another big factor in the return game is the amount of time it takes for punts to travel. A team that’s a lot better at catching punts will be able to pick them up earlier, which means they can get more yardage on those plays.
With all this in mind, it’s important for the Chiefs to be a top-five kickoff coverage team. They’re currently ranked 24th in the NFL by DVOA, so they’ll need to be able to put the ball back in play.
The Chiefs’ kickoff coverage unit saw the field a lot this season, and they had a very high touchback percentage. It’s important for the Chiefs to limit opportunities for opponents to break off big kickoff return plays, especially against the Eagles’ notoriously tough defense.
