Chiefs’ biggest matchup question to the Super Bowl 2025

Kansas City Chiefs chases the story. Only the Philadelphia Eagles stand in their way.

Chiefs are NFL ninth team that wins back-to-back super bowls and tries to become the first to win three straight championships in the Super Bowl era when they meet Eagles on February 9 in New Orleans for the Super Bowl Lix (18 : 30 ET, FOX).

Kansas City went 15-2 during the regular season and ties to the best record in the NFL with Detroit Lions. It was still overwhelming at times. Eleven of Chiefs’ wins came with a score, and they ranked 11 in the point margin per year. Fight of 3.47.

But they managed to win a ninth straight AFC West championship, clinker AFC’s top playoff seeds and serve the conference’s only first round after the season goodbye. Chiefs, who played both their playoffs at Arrowhead Stadium, beat Houston Texans 23-14 in the divisional round before winning the AFC Championship game over Buffalo Bills 32-29.

The victory over the bills was the 17th just for Chiefs in play decided by a score. Streak is an NFL record and dates back to 2023 when they won their last three postal season matches with seven points or fewer.

Prior to the Super Bowl Lix, we evaluate the biggest questions about this Chiefs team. — Adam Teicher

How well can Chiefs defend the Eagles’ tush shub?

Judging solely by how they defended the game against the bills in the AFC Championship Game, Chief’s reason to believe they can keep up well. Allen and Buffalo tried it six times against Chiefs, but converted twice. A stop came on fourth down in Kansas City 41 in the fourth quarter when Chiefs pulled off a point. They used the favorable field position to score the leading touchdown, although the bills would eventually score its own TD to tie the scoring at 29-29.

“The (defensive) line must be dominant, ” Defensive tackle Chris Jones said after the game about how Chiefs defended TUSH push.” Your two (nasal guards) and your two ends should be physical on the inside. We were very successful tonight with limiting Josh Allen at QB -Snig. ” ”

Kansas City has not been so good at defending quarterback Jalen hurts tush -push. He used it to score two touchdowns against chiefs in the Super Bowl LVII two years ago. Hurts also used it to score the winning touchdown against Kansas City in the fourth quarter of a week 11-season match last season. – Teicher

How does Eagles run back saquon Barkley change the plan plan for Chief’s offensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo?

I expect spagnuolo to get an extra defender in the front against Barkley, which would reduce the split security shells that the bosses like to use. Whether it happens with adjustment before snap or a security that turns out late, Kansas City simply needs more bodies in the box. This means that playing a heavier dose of male-free coverage and three deep zone coverage to add cut-off defender near the review.

Plus, Chiefs need to win the edges to limit the Eagles’ running games. Philly will use pin/pull concepts to get Barkley on the perimeter, often from condensed sets. Spagnuolo can put its defensive ends in a wide-9 or 7-technique that does not allow the eagles to crack or pin before light. It also means matching on the back to remove the run-pass option throws for quarterback Jalen hurts. – Matt Bowen

What is different about this chiefs team than the last two Super Bowl teams?

Kansas City won the last two championships with very different styles. This season group is much closer to the 2023 team. Chiefs, for the second equal season, is far less explosive offensively than they were in many of the years since Patrick Mahomes became their start -quarterback in 2018.

In 2023 and 2024, Kansas City ranked 15. In the league in the scoring, an average of 21.8 points per year. Match and 22.65 respectively. In contrast, the 2022 managers led NFL in the scoring of 29.2. Chiefs’ defense was number two in scoring defense (17.3) in 2023, while staying fourth in 2024 (19.2). And after a sluggish start to the season of rushing the opposite quarterback (21 sacks in the first 11 games), Chiefs turned things with 28 sacks in the last eight games and counts their two playoff matchups. They fired Texans QB CJ Stroud eight times in their Divisional Playoff -s victory over Houston. – Teicher

It’s natural to wonder how Chiefs ‘Wideouts will cope with Eagles after Hopkins, Brown and Smith-Schuster were held without a catch in Chiefs’ playoff victory over the Texans. No one was able to consistently shake free of cover, and Mahomes did not often have time to wait for them to open, which could also be a problem against Philadelphia’s Pasrush.

Kansas City has not been able to get many great plays down the field during the season, although protective problems have played a role in it. While Chiefs may be missing an advanced broad recipient like Eagles’ AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, they compensate for it in depth.

Worthy, Hopkins and Smith-Schuster have all had turns with big games for chiefs. Worthy, Chiefs’ first round draft of this season, has come a long way since training camp, and his development suggests he could become one of the league’s most effective broad recipients in time. He has evolved from a deep threat to a rounded recipient that the team has come to trust for yards after the catch. Smith-Schuster delivered Chiefs’ two longest passports of their AFC championship game victory over the bills, one of 31 yards and the other 29. Both contained Yard after the catch. Brown, after a Forsy season, played in just four matches, including two in the playoffs. He hardly missed connecting with Mahomes on a couple of great plays in the playoffs, suggesting that his turn to give great plays is not far away. – Teicher

How will Chiefs ‘offense adapt to attacking Eagles’ defense?

Just as they have attacked each defense this season: very, very accurate. A week after Travis Kelce’s divisional round -performance, which was considered “endgame Kelce”, is back, as he never left, he had two catches in 19 meters against the bills. In the same game, Mahomes had two rushing touchdowns for the first time in his career. His 11 bearer was also a single game high for him. Chiefs, who have now accumulated an impossible wealth of experience after the season and a deep bag of offensive styles, are ridiculously good at finding a few things that opponents will contend with, and then mercilessly turning these screws.

Against the Eagles in the Super Bowl LVII, Chiefs utilized the predictable man coverage in the low red zone, and threw several touchdown passes of the same movement before snap intended to put Eagles’ secondary in communication binding. I wouldn’t be surprised if much of the same thing occurs on the interior this time when the Backup Linebacker ORE Burks and Start of Security Reed Blankenship has been the most tested Eagles defenders. And of course, Mahomes’ legs will never fail him in the post -season. – Ben Solak

Could this be Kelce’s last game?

It could be, but I bet it’s not. Although it would be fair to say that 35-year-old Kelce has lost a step-Hans 8.5 meters per year. Reception and three touchdown catches were his lowest totals in the season since his 2013-rookie season when he had zero-catcher-offs he still increased incredibly productive.

Kelces 97 catches in 2024 marked his seventh consecutive season of 90 receptions or more, and he is still a basic piece of coach Andy Reid’s violation. His 117-Yard outing against the Texans in the Divisional Playoff round shows that he can still turn it on when it means the most. Kelce’s chemistry with mahomes is also difficult to quantify – his presence releases things for Kansas City’s talented receiving corps in ways that are not always visible. Plus, Kelce is under contract for 2025 and is responsible for collecting $ 17.25 million. Even with a potential acting career in his future, it would be difficult for Kelce to walk away from that kind of cash as well as a chance for a possible four-peat. – Jeremy Fowler