Saints News Network

Super Bowl LVII Predictions

My predictions for the Super Bowl LVII matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

Bob Rose

Super Bowl LVII Predictions
Super Bowl LVII Predictions /

The 2022-23 NFL season concludes with a Super Bowl LVII showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams ended the year as the Number 1 seed in their respective conferences.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was an offensive assistant for the Chiefs from 2009-2012. He was relieved of duties when Andy Reid took over as Kansas City coach in 2013.

Reid was Philadelphia's head coach from 1999-2012. He has more victories (163) than any other coach in Philadelphia franchise history. Current Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was also a defensive assistant on Reid's Philadelphia staff from 1999-2007. The pair helped guide the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004.

The Chiefs (16-3) are making their fifth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Their third in the last four seasons. They won Super Bowl IV in 1970 and Super Bowl LIV in 2019-20.

The Eagles (16-3) are making their fourth appearance on football's biggest stage. They won Super Bowl LII in 2017-18. These teams last met in Week 4 of the 2021 season, a 42-30 Kansas City win.

Here are my predictions for Super Bowl LVII. 

Oct 3, 2021; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks for a receiver under pressure form Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann (56). Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY

Super Bowls through the 1980s and most of the 1990s were often routs that by the fourth quarter were more of a coronation for the champion instead of a competitive battle. This game feels like it has that kind of potential. 

The Kansas City Chiefs have been on an incredible run. They've played in the last five AFC championships and are making their third Super Bowl appearance in four years with one title already under their belt. 

Kansas City, and former Philadelphia, coach Andy Reid has an explosive top-ranked passing game led by NFL MVP QB Patrick Mahomes and elite TE Travis Kelce. However, the Chiefs rank just 20th in rushing production and were just the middle of the pack in most defensive categories. 

Oct 3, 2021; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat (94). Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

While the nation fawned over the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC, the Philadelphia Eagles were the league's most consistently good team all season.

The Eagles were third in total offense and points scored and held top-10 rankings in both passing and rushing production. They were also second in total defense and first against the pass while recording more sacks than any team in the NFL and intercepting the third most passes.

Offenses that have had success against the Eagles have done so by running the ball, but I can't see the Chiefs being able to do that. Mahomes and Kelce will make plays. However, Philadelphia has a talented secondary and will bring merciless pressure with Haason Reddick, Javon Hargrave, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and a deep defensive line.

If the Chiefs get a big lead and force Philadelphia to rely on the pass, they become dangerous with pass rushers Chris Jones, Frank Clark, and rookie George Karlaftis. Otherwise, Philadelphia's balanced attack gives defenses nightmares. Two-way threat Jalen Hurts has developed remarkably as a passer. He also has three game-breaking threats in wideouts A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and TE Dallas Goedert. 

Hurts and RB Miles Sanders lead a ferocious ground game with a physical offensive line and depth at running back. I can't see the Chiefs being able to stop the Eagles with any consistency in this game. Kansas City's offense is rarely shut down, but I believe that Philadelphia's talented defense will keep them from making enough plays to stay in the game.

Eagles 34  Chiefs 17

MVP = Jalen Hurts 

Read More Saints News

Published
Bob Rose
BOB ROSE

Covers the New Orleans Saints as a senior writer for the Saints News Network.  Co-Host of the Bayou Blitz Podcast.