By Luis Miguel Guerrero
SUPER SUNDAY – Super Bowl LVII is expected to be one of the closest in recent years, as it will be played between two leading teams, the Kansas City Chiefs (16-3) and the Philadelphia Eagles (16-3), who arrive to compromise with disturbingly even figures.
And it is that the numbers could not be more similar: For the first time, both contenders arrive at the event having accumulated the same number of points during the regular season and the postseason (546), and the same total of wins and losses in both ( 16-3).
Why can Philadelphia win?
The Eagles defensive line is sure to overwhelm the Chiefs attack. There’s a significant amount of talent on that defense that makes it the most effective in the league, racking up 70 sacks this season, including 16 from linebacker Haason Reddick. With James Bradberry, Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson in the secondary, the Eagles can limit the opponent’s passing plays.
And while on paper you don’t expect much of him, Jalen Hurts has the right stuff to overcome an overrated defense and give Philadelphia its second Super Bowl victory in five years.
Why can Kansas City win?
The odds are that Patrick Mahomes will pass for more yards than Hurts (292.5 to 238.5), and the expectation is that many of Kansas City’s passing yards will come from passes caught by Travis Kelce.
However, it will all come down to Mahomes and how well he can play. The Chiefs quarterback can’t afford to re-injure his ankle if the Chiefs want to win this game. In short, Kansas City has the experience and the best quarterback in a generation.
On top of that, it’s hard to bet against an “old sea dog” like Andy Reid, who is 28-4 when the team comes off a bye (4-0 after the postseason bye with Mahomes).
It is clear that, regardless of the winner, this Sunday’s game looks set to be an exciting match, and one that will surely not be left to the fans.
Pick: Kansas City 27, Philadelphia 24
Twitter @luismideportes
