NFL trainers choose the Super Bowl: Eagles better on the paper, but is Mahomes the difference?

New Orleans-Kansas City Chiefs are 1.5-point favorites over Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl Lix, although most people agree that the lower dogs generally have the better watch list.

Of course, quarterbacks mean a lot, and Patrick Mahomes’ presence on Chiefs is the great equalization.

How’s NFL coaches Matchup? I collected insights and choices from five of them when the week was run and kickoff approached.

Defensive Coordinator: How Chiefs can frustrate Vic Fangio

What the Eagles are doing better now than they have done in the last few years is to play complementary football. They know that running the ball is their strength. This year they committed to it. Quarterback (Jalen hurts) is what he is. He understands his limitations.

Kansas City will be fine and score 25-30 points if they can remain on plan for offense. I don’t think it’s hard to do to that Philly defense right now. Rams were able to move the ball as they were able to play in rhythm and stay in front of the chains. There will be under the room for mahomes to operate. Then it’s all about scoring touchdowns in the red zone.

Vic Fangio cannot let this guy (Mahomes) stay on the field. He will be frustrated at some point and that’s how you beat him. He may start playing coverage 1. He will have to find an answer. Kansas City will have opportunities to run the ball and if you are within a fourth -quarter possession, you feel really good because Hurts doesn’t win the game in the two -minute exercise.

Defensive Coach # 1: What Mahomes are to do

Mahomes should get the ball out of his hands without encrypting too much. If he can’t do that, it will be a long day for Kansas City.

But I think Mahomes can quickly get the ball out of his hands. Kansas City is built to do so. Isiah Pacheco is a physical runner. They find stains to run the ball and I think they have enough things in their schedule where they can get the ball out to Travis (Kelce) on a 5-yard stick route.

Kansas City matches well. Spags (Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) will have a plan for (Eagles’) driving games, and I don’t think Hurts will be able to do much in the passport. Spags use some 5-1 structures, some 6-1 structures. It’s the best way to do it against Saquon Barkley.

Offensive Coach: Eagles are the better team

I like Eagles. I think they are the better team. Their Pasrush will be a big factor. They don’t slip and slip as if they were in Arizona (in the Super Bowl two years ago).

But as much as you credit Kansas City for winning all these close games, Buffalo didn’t make himself any favors (in the conference championship). Take the fourth-and-5 game late in the game. If you tighten your split, as Buffalo did, brings the spags corner flash. The recipient (Khalil Shakir) swung to the left and no one covered him. If Josh (Allen) does not panic and runs right, the recipient runs to the first down. Kansas City leaves guys revealed. And then on defense, it’s just hard to give up the late third-down conversion on the most basic Gotta-Hav-It Third-Down game in football. I don’t think Philly would let that happen.

Philly keeps the ball away from Mahomes. Quarterback (Hurts) Running. It’s hard on the flash things that spaggers will run. Now, if you go through matchups, you suddenly like Andy Reid over Nick Sirianni. You like Mahomes over evil. You like spagnuolo that calls the right call in a big place. You can talk yourself into the chiefs really quickly.

Offensive Coordinator: It’s a 50-50 game which means …

It’s a total of 50-50 games. Both defense are good. Both offenses are good. This is one of the most evenly created Super Bowls. What is not evenly created is that one quarterback is definitely better than the other and when it matters, it matters.

Philly’s only chance is if they can create enough (destruction) with 93 (Milton Williams) inside to push the pocket of mahomes and if saquon can break some of the big races, which I don’t think he will be able To do almost as much because spagnuolo blends it enough.

Philly can definitely win because they can deliver the ball and play Keep-Away enough, and they still have really good skill players outside. But the flashes versus the protection will become noticeable. They come to that quarterback (hurts) and rattles him. The question is, can they get Philly in passing situations? I don’t know they will be able to consistently.

As good as Eagles are ahead of offense, it’s hard to block 95 (Chris Jones).

It’s 50-50. I say that it is at most Kansas City with a field goal. They are not better on paper, but they will often play better enough. At the moment, when it means something, third down and fourth down, spaggers will have a flash coming home.

Philly doesn’t come after Mahomes enough. If you come after him with only four, he can move enough to buy time and throw it deep over the route late and all kinds of things. So I think Kansas City wins.

Defensive Coach # 2: When Jalen hurts, is best

This one is different from the last time for Philly, and it really is for the obvious reason: the back (Barkley).

Hurts is best when you load the box and he knows what he’s got. When he knows it is single high, some of his deep ball releases and the way he throws can be very accurate. AJ Brown can catch it from your Cornerback’s head, and then Devonta (Smith) is lightning quickly. You are not even aware of it until you are on the field and see him in person. That guy is quick.

The fact that spags play two-depth safeties with press corners, it takes you some time to find out where to throw the ball. There are very few times when you just go, ‘Oh, I can throw the ball here.’ If spaggles want to play in these Shell looks, Philly has to continue handing over the ball and it will be a matter of if spaggles have enough shifts if he flashes the right direction to get Barkley on the ground. Kansas City has given up some rushing yards on earth recently.

This can be a really short game because both teams can keep the ball on offense. They will both move it. They are both really good at converting the third and fourth down. It will be a question of who can quit. Philly is really good in the red zone defensively in critical moments.

It’s just hard to choose against chiefs. They know how to finish and they have received some calls. The bottom line I want to see Philly win, but I think Kansas City gets it done.

Last thoughts

I have chosen against Kansas City twice this season (both Buffalo games) and can make a good cause for Philadelphia here, but I run with Chiefs’ situational superiority. All their most important pieces – Andy Reid, Mahomes, Kelce, Chris Jones and Spagnuolo – seem to have the right answers at the most important times. The Eagles’ Red Zone defense is strong and could be Philly’s key to winning as an under dog. Chiefs 24, Eagles 20.

(Photos by Patrick Mahomes, Left and Jalen hurts: Todd Rosenberg, Sarah Stier / Getty Images)