After their 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders, the Philadelphia Eagles are NFC champions for the second time in three years. They will play in the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans against the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated the Eagles 38-35 two years ago in the 2023 Super Bowl.
The Eagles enter the grudge match after a bounce-back season. After going 11-6 and crashing out in the Wild Card round last year, the Eagles won 14 games and the NFC East division title this time around. The Chiefs, meanwhile, continued their dominance. The back-to-back reigning champions went 15-2 in the regular season, with one loss coming in the final week when all their starters rested. This is their fifth Super Bowl appearance in six years.
The Chiefs offense was not at their best this year, but they still found success. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the best passer of this era and always pulls through in clutch moments. His ability to scramble and extend passing plays makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. Do not expect Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to bring extra pressure, however. Fangio does not call many blitzes, instead relying on the defensive line to get to the quarterback. Defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis have their hands full. Chasing Mahomes could wear them out quickly and tip the game in favor of the Chiefs.
The advantage for the Eagles lies in their secondary and run game. Veteran defensive backs Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, as well as rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, shut down opposing receivers all year. Kansas City lacks an elite wideout, making this a big advantage for the Eagles. They can put First-Team All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun on tight end Travis Kelce, who is less effective than he was two years ago. However, the Chiefs always find a way to score, meaning Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will need to take care of the ball for the Eagles to keep pace. He was excellent against Washington, throwing for 246 yards and zero turnovers. Avoiding costly turnovers, like his lost fumble that the Chiefs returned for a touchdown two years ago, will be key to success for the Eagles.
The Eagles have the biggest game-breaker in this matchup: running back Saquon Barkley. He ran for 118 yards and three scores against Washington, including a 60-yard touchdown on the Eagles’ first offensive play. Kansas City has a much tougher run defense than Washington. Defensive tackle Chris Jones is a wrecking ball in the middle. However, the Eagles offensive line is excellent and found success blocking for Barkley on the outside against Washington. Expect offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to call running plays for Barkley to get going downhill toward the sideline and away from Jones.
The 2025 Super Bowl is set to be a tightly contested matchup. These are two teams that both possess elite defenses and transcendent offensive talents. Stylistically, they are very different from one another, however. The Chiefs run their offense through Mahomes and the passing game, while the Eagles look to establish their run game through Barkley, who can rip a big run at any moment. Both teams are hungry for a win. The Chiefs want to be the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. The Eagles want revenge. The Chiefs are slight favorites, but do not count the Eagles out in this one.
