NFL Playoffs Briefing: Chiefs-Eagles set for historic Tremendous Bowl matchup

Chris Myers

Play-by-Play Announcer, Reporter and Studio Host

Editor’s Observe: All through the NFL playoffs, Chris Myers and his analysis workforce analyze upcoming matchups, whereas offering information, notes, and nuggets for inside entry to the data an NFL broadcaster makes use of to arrange for calling a sport.

Each residence groups received on Sunday, with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs now heading to New Orleans for Tremendous Bowl LIX to tackle the Philadelphia Eagles, the identical workforce they defeated in Tremendous Bowl LVII to begin their streak of consecutive titles. That is simply the second time in Tremendous Bowl historical past that two groups will meet twice in a span of three large video games. In 1992 and 1993, the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Payments met in back-to-back Tremendous Bowls.

Two years in the past, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts offered loads of highlights in Kansas Metropolis’s 38-35 win. This would be the third time two quarterbacks have met for a second time within the Tremendous Bowl. Troy Aikman’s Cowboys beat Jim Kelly’s Payments in each Tremendous Bowl XXVII and Tremendous Bowl XXVIII. Eli Manning additionally matched up twice with Tom Brady, however these two New York Giants wins got here in a span of 5 Tremendous Bowls.

CHRIS MYERS ANALYSIS: “The Tremendous Bowl matchup is between a few powerhouse groups we’re accustomed to. Sure, there are NFL followers who’ve had sufficient of the Chiefs’ success and people who have not warmed as much as the accomplishments of the Eagles, however the success of Kansas Metropolis and Philadelphia, each lately and this season can’t be denied.

“There isn’t any scarcity of star energy, with Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Swiftie impact with Travis Kelce for the Chiefs and the animated Nick Sirianni and the likable Saquan Barkley for Philadelphia. I believe as impartial followers digest this matchup, they are going to admire what ought to be a extremely aggressive sport and decide about who to root for.

“It’s notable that Tom Brady will likely be calling his first Tremendous Bowl in a sport that pits the final workforce he beat (Kansas Metropolis, Tremendous Bowl LV) towards the final workforce to beat him there (Philadelphia, Tremendous Bowl LII).”

HERE’S HOW BOTH TEAMS GOT HERE

Philadelphia Eagles 55, Washington Commanders 23

Just one workforce was capable of win on the highway in these playoffs, the Commanders who did it twice — in Tampa and Detroit. However they may not make it three in a row because the Eagles grew to become the primary workforce since 1982 to win three residence playoff video games in a single postseason.

The Eagles at the moment are plus-10 in turnover differential on this postseason, with six fumbles recovered, 4 interceptions and never a single giveaway of both variety.

The Eagles tied an 85-year-old NFL report with their seven dashing touchdowns Sunday. The 1940 Chicago Bears scored seven dashing TDs within the NFL Championship Recreation — and that additionally occurred towards Washington. In profitable 73-0, these Bears scored 11 whole touchdowns with three on interception returns and one on a ahead cross.

The Eagles have rushed for 10 TDs this postseason, tied for second-most in NFL postseason historical past. The report of 12 was set by Denver in 1997 after they ended up dropping to Inexperienced Bay in Tremendous Bowl XXXII.

Saquon Barkley went 60 yards for a landing on Philadelphia’s first play. It was his seventh TD of 60-plus yards on this prolonged season, setting an NFL report. His three TDs of 60+ yards are additionally a report for anyone postseason.

Barkley now has 2,447 dashing yards within the prolonged season (common season and postseason) and desires 53 within the Tremendous Bowl to change into the primary NFL participant with 2,500. He wants 30 to eclipse Terrell Davis’ 1998 report of two,476 which was finalized by 102 yards towards the Falcons in Tremendous Bowl XXXIII.

Like Barkley, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts rushed for 3 TDs towards Washington. He now has 9 dashing TDs, a brand new profession report for a quarterback. Former 49ers QB Steve Younger had the prior mark with eight.

Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert had one carry in his 103-game profession (with playoffs), good for one yard, previous to Sunday. However Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore gave it to him twice on the bottom for positive factors of 9 and 4 yards towards the Commanders.

On the Washington facet, punter Tress Approach had not thrown a cross since 2018, however he hit an ideal strike for 23 yards to Ben Sinnott on a pretend punt Sunday. Approach ended the three-game postseason with solely two whole punts on his actual job.

Kudos to tight finish Zach Ertz on his 11-catch efficiency to set a Washington postseason report. It was his highest whole in a sport since 2019 when he performed for Philadelphia.

ONE THING WE LIKED FROM THE BROADCAST: FOX got here up with an ideal shot from the tip zone on Nate Shipley’s late 59-yard run, exhibiting his assorted expressions as he struggled to remain forward of the pursuing Commanders. And Tom Brady, capping a powerful efficiency, adroitly offered a well timed and charming narration for the photographs.

CHRIS MYERS ANALYSIS: “For Washington to win this sport they might have needed to play a close to error-free sport and drive a turnover or two. As an alternative, it was Philadelphia which pressured the fumbles that fueled an enormous lead.

“Can the Eagles play from behind? After the 18-play discipline aim drive that made it 3-0 Washington, a drive that would have been a blueprint for a Commanders’ victory, the Eagles grabbed the lead and hit the sport pedal, closing out the sport in spectacular vogue.

“Along with the three fumbles, the Commanders dedicated some ‘panic penalties’ and for the primary time in these playoffs confirmed their inexperience.

“I can’t inform you what number of occasions in our manufacturing conferences, coaches cite giveaways and takeaways as the important thing to victory – and with a plus-10 margin to date and 0 giveaways, the Eagles are proving that system. Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator was maybe the important thing teaching rent of 2024, and he’s maximizing the nice skills of Jalen Carter.

“The Eagles have a 10-3 ratio of dashing TDs to passing TDs this postseason, and if they’ll do one thing like that towards the Chiefs, say three rush and one cross, I like their probabilities.”

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 32, Buffalo Payments 29

The Chiefs at the moment are the primary workforce to go to 5 Tremendous Bowls in a span of six seasons. They’ve change into the primary workforce to get inside one win of a three-peat, though the Payments circa 1990 are nonetheless the one workforce with 4 straight Tremendous Bowl appearances (L-L-L-L). The Miami Dolphins within the early 70s (L-W-W) and the Patriots beginning in 2017 (W-L-W) additionally had runs of three straight SB appearances.

The Chiefs have a 17-2 report this season regardless of not as soon as scoring greater than 30 factors in a sport.

Josh Allen had now produced 28.3 PPG in 4 postseason conferences with the Chiefs — and he’s 0-4.

For Patrick Mahomes, he now has 17 postseason wins, transferring previous Joe Montana into second place on the all-time checklist. He’s nonetheless not midway to Tom Brady’s 35 postseason wins. Mahomes has a number of wins in his final six postseasons.

ONE THING WE LIKED FROM THE BROADCAST: We favored how Jim Nantz, a grasp of the well timed nugget, slipped within the inside data after a Patrick Mahomes-Xavier Worthy TD cross that every was drafted with a first-round choose obtained in a commerce with the Payments.

CHRIS MYERS’ ANALYSIS: “Whereas there have been just a few officiating points that appeared to favor Kansas Metropolis, in the end the Chiefs had been the higher workforce in crunch time. After the Payments tied it with six minutes left, they drove to a discipline aim, stopped the Payments on downs after which ran out the clock.

“Down three, you thought that Josh Allen would at the very least get them to discipline aim vary, however the fourth-and-5 play was disrupted by Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz and the Chiefs then trusted Mahomes for a pair of profitable passes for first downs.

“James Prepare dinner was a revelation for the Payments on this sport with 138 scrimmage yards, however he didn’t contact the ball on Buffalo’s closing 11 offensive performs.

“So, it’s again to the drafting board for the Payments. Prior to now six seasons they’ve received 78 video games (together with the postseason) — that’s 13 wins per season. However they’re caught in a convention with the Chiefs (the one workforce with extra wins at 94) and haven’t been capable of get previous them to make the Tremendous Bowl. Very like the Marv Levy Payments who went to 4 Tremendous Bowls in a row, the present model of the Payments has had some nice achievements that hopefully received’t get misplaced of their lack of ability to win a Tremendous Bowl to date.

“In the meantime, this Chiefs workforce stands 17-2 and on the cusp of an unprecedented achievement – regardless of not scoring greater than 30 factors in any sport and having some extent differential of plus-71 that’s solely the eleventh finest within the NFL this season. The 17-3 Eagles are +210 this yr, however Kansas Metropolis opens up the betting as a slight favourite. It may not be a glamorous match-up (aside from one Chiefs participant’s girlfriend) nevertheless it ought to be tightly performed and interesting.”

Chris Myers is an Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer, reporter and studio host for FOX Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter @The_ChrisMyers.