Super Bowl LIX is three days away, and the excitement for the big game is already starting to bubble up.
The Kansas City Chiefs look to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. Standing in their way are the Philadelphia Eagles, who are hoping to win their second Super Bowl.
At the end of the day, the team with the better roster top to bottom will be the organization that wins the Super Bowl, so let’s look at which squad has the positional advantage over the other and who has a better lineup.
Offense
Quarterbacks
This is one of the few no-brainers on this list. Patrick Mahomes is a better quarterback than Jalen Hurts. Mahomes’ 17-game averages far exceed Jalen Hurts’.
Even if we put on blinders and just compare their numbers this postseason, Mahomes passes the eye test. He has been better than Hurts in terms of passing yards per game, average yards per pass attempt, quarterback rating, and QBR. Hurts has a clear advantage as a runner, but Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks need to be elite passers as well.
Hurts is a great runner, but he is not playing that well as a passer right now.
Advantage Chiefs
Running Backs
The biggest positional disparity between these two teams might be at running back.
The Eagles’ Saquon Barkley is averaging 147.3 yards per game in the playoffs by himself. On the other side, Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are only good for 69 rushing yards per game COMBINED. Saquon alone is more than twice as productive as KC’s running back room.
When you remember that Kenneth Gainwell is averaging 4.6 yards per carry while Will Shipley has run for 77 yards on four postseason rushing attempts, it’s clear that the Eagles have a huge edge at the running back position.
Advantage Eagles
Wide Receivers
This is a fascinating category because only four Chiefs wideouts and three Eagles wide receivers have caught passes in this year’s playoffs. That tells me that depth will not play a big role in Sunday’s game. Instead, it will be about each team making sure their top receivers make plays.
When framed like that, I am picking Philly’s wide receiver room over KC’s.
Firstly, I think that the Eagles have a ton of talent at the wideout position. A.J. Brown is one of the most physically gifted receivers the NFL has ever seen. Meanwhile, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson are both former first-round picks, so they have always had the potential to be great.
Secondly, I think Philadelphia’s wide receivers will have an easier time working against KC’s secondary rather than vice versa. The Eagles’ defensive backs have been much better than KC’s.
Not much separates these wide receiver rooms. I just like the Eagles slightly more.
Advantage Eagles
Tight Ends
I have gone on the record and said that Dallas Goedert would easily be the best tight end in the playoffs if Travis Kelce didn’t exist. He’s first amongst all playoff tight ends in receiving yards and second in receptions.
Unfortunately for Goedert, Travis Kelce does exist, and as long as he’s playing in the NFL, Kelce will be the best tight end in the playoffs. After all, he has more receiving yards than Goedert despite recording fewer catches.
This one is close because I think Dallas Goedert is really good, but Travis Kelce is playing like the better tight end currently.
Advantage Chiefs
Offensive Line
I have expressed my excitement regarding Philly’s offensive line many times. They had three Pro Bowlers this season when they actually should’ve had four. You can see how good the Eagles’ offensive line has been by just looking up the team’s rushing numbers (227.7 ground yards per game).
The Chiefs have one truly excellent offensive lineman: center Creed Humphrey. In fact, I would say that Humphrey is the best center in the NFL. After him though, KC’s offensive linemen are good, but not great the same way Philly’s are.
The Eagles might have given up more sacks than the Chiefs, but they have played in more games than KC. Also, Jalen Hurts’ mobility was limited by a knee injury, so I don’t think those numbers accurately reflect how good Philly’s line has been in pass protection.
Advantage Eagles
Defense
Defensive Line
This is a real toss-up.
Of the Eagles’ ten sacks, only four of them have come from defensive linemen. Simultaneously, nine of the Chiefs’ ten sacks have come from the d-line. Based on these statistics, I think KC’s defensive line is better against the pass.
Philly clearly has a better run defense (105.7 yards per game vs. 148 yards per game). However, I think a lot of that run defending comes from the linebacker position, where Philly has a clear advantage.
Across the entire defensive line, I think the Chiefs have more playmakers than the Eagles. Philly’s Jalen Carter might be the best defensive lineman in the Super Bowl, but KC’s line is better as a unit.
Advantage Chiefs
Linebackers
Like I just said, the Eagles have the advantage at linebacker. Three of the ten most prolific tacklers in the postseason play for Philly (Zack Baun – 26, Oren Burks – 20, and Nolan Smith Jr. – 16). Those are just the tackling numbers. They’ve also combined for five sacks, nine tackles for loss, an interception, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. What’s most impressive is that’s not even the entire linebacker room. That is just the production of THREE guys!
Kansas City has had five linebackers record at least one tackle in the postseason. Those five guys have fewer tackles, sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries than Baun, Burks, and Smith Jr.
If we also include the contributions of Nakobe Dean, Nicholas Morrow, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Josh Sweat, and Jalyx Hunt, it becomes obvious that Philly has the better linebacking corps.
Advantage Eagles
Cornerbacks
Philly’s corners are much better than KC’s statistically. Philly’s guys have combined for 14 pass deflections and three interceptions. KC’s cornerbacks have only amassed four pass deflections and zero interceptions in the postseason.
I don’t want to discredit the Chiefs, who are allowing 207 passing yards, way less than Philly (245.7 yards per game). But the Eagles’ defense is allowing quarterbacks to complete 60.3% of their passes, the second-lowest mark in the playoffs.
Philly’s corners are better than KC’s at disrupting passes, which is why they get the edge.
Advantage Eagles
Safeties
I do think that Reed Blankenship has been an underrated member of the Eagles’ defense. His 24 total tackles are the fourth-most this postseason. Plus, C.J. Gardner-Johnson has racked up 11 total tackles in his last two games after posting zero in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
Chamarri Conner and Justin Reid aren’t slouches, either. They have combined for 26 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss.
With the starters so close to each other in terms of skill level and production, we need to analyze the backups. Philly’s backup safeties have combined for six total tackles. That number jumps up to 24 for the Chiefs.
It’s really close, but I am going with KC.
Advantage Chiefs
Best Roster
There are some positions where the Eagles are clearly better than the Chiefs. Philly has an obvious edge in terms of running backs, linebackers, and offensive linemen. At the same time, KC has some undeniable advantages like at quarterback and tight end.
Philly’s excellence along the offensive line and in the secondary will make this a very difficult game for the Kansas City Chiefs, who give up a lot of rushing yards while being just average when it comes to passing the ball.
I think that Philadelphia has the better roster heading into Super Bowl LIX.
Advantage Eagles
