Super Bowl: the ground game propelled the Eagles to the ultimate game

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PHOENIX – Although the Philadelphia Eagles song is ‘Fly, Eagles Fly‘, the team’s attacking success this season has come mainly through running games.

With three talented running backs, one of the best quarterbacks to carry the ball and a dominant offensive line, the Eagles have not gone through the popular approach of the past few years, which is to pass a lot. They favor racing games and attempt to physically exhaust their opponents.

“It’s like a boxing match,” running backs coach Jemal Singleton said. The goal is to get enough shots in the first two quarters so that in the second half, they become heavy for the opponent and allow us to take advantage of them and weaken them. Our goal is to be physical throughout the game. »

Few teams have been able to execute this style of play as well as the Eagles, who have rushed half of their offensive plays and are averaging 153.9 yards in the playoffs this year. ground per game.

That average would be the highest for a Super Bowl champion team since Denver in 1998. The squad’s 39 rushing touchdowns are the highest single-season total in league history.

The Eagles have several rushing options including Miles Sanders, who has a career-high 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

“This year I wanted everyone to know I’m here,” Sanders said. I decided to control what I could control and show up to every game doing my best, and make others regret that I got in their way. »

While some teams attempt to outwit the opposing defense with fakes and moves, the Eagles prefer a more static approach, believing that an offensive line led by center Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson can control play without do more than necessary.

On ground plays, the Eagles sent a player on the road just 34 percent of the time – 10 percentage points less than the second team at this level.

Although running backs get the majority of rushing yards, quarterback Jalen Hurts is key. Hurts has missed two games this season with a shoulder injury and each time the Eagles rushed for just 154 yards, about half their average per game this season.

Hurts rushed for 833 yards in 17 games and his 15 touchdowns, regular season and playoff combined, is a quarterback record.

In reality, his mere presence on the field brings success to the Eagles ground game.

“Even though he got the ball back, he can put the opponent one step behind and allow us to exploit a breach that will bring 10 more yards,” Singleton said. He is a very important part of our ground game. »

Kansas City prefers to leave the ball in the hands of Patrick Mahomes, favoring aerial games.

The Chiefs have gone for the pass in 62 percent of their plays this season. It would be the second-highest total for a Super Bowl champion team since Tampa Bay in 2020.

The Chiefs know stopping the Eagles’ ground game and forcing Hurts to pass will be key. It won’t be easy.

“Talent is everywhere on this team,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. Add a quarterback capable of doing what we’ve seen this season and it makes the team very difficult to counter. We have to be perfect in our game and our players have to be responsible. We saw how it went against clubs who failed to do so. They become vulnerable. »