How will the Chiefs slow down the Eagles rushing attack?

The Eagles once again ran all over their opponent scoring 4 rushing touchdowns. They totaled 148 yards on the ground against the leagues best defense. Jalen Hurts really didn’t need to do much through the air as the Eagles dominated the line of scrimmage. Stopping the Eagles rushing attack will no doubt be the #1 game plan for the Chiefs going into the Super Bowl. The issue will be if they load up to stop the run Hurts has the ability to beat them on the deep ball.

How will injuries play a role?

A bum ankle didn’t stop Patrick Mahomes from delivering in the clutch. You could see it affect him on some throws but he is a baller and delivered on several key plays down the stretch. I am not worried about Mahomes for this game as he will have plenty of time to rest but the Chiefs have other injury concerns. L’Jarius Sneed went down early in the game with a hand injury but was ruled out later due to a concussion. If Sneed were to miss this game it would be a huge blow for the Chiefs. He is arguably there best defender and is critical in the passing game. The Chiefs are also dealing with injuries at the wide receiver position as we wait to see the status of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman.

Can the Eagles stop Travis Kelce?

Travis Kelce is the key to the Chiefs offense. Everybody knows this so why is he so hard to stop? Kelce has great instincts and is a master at finding open space. Also the chemistry between him and Mahomes is the reason they have so much success. Mahomes has the ultimate trust in him. The Eagles will no doubt try to disrupt him at the line of scrimmage with their talented defensive line. They can only hope to disrupt the rhythm and keep everything underneath.

Andy Reid vs. Nick Sirianni

Andy Reid will look to hoist the Lombardi trophy vs his former team. Reid coached the Eagles for 14 years before jumping ship to lead the Chiefs. He had success during his time in Philadelphia but they never won the big one. On paper Reid vs. Sirianni seems like a mismatch. Reid will be a Hall of Famer one day and Sirianni is coaching in just his second season but this isn’t a complete mismatch. Sirianni has found the right buttons to push for his team and they seem to really rally around him. Let’s see how this plays out on Super Bowl Sunday.

Patrick Mahomes vs Jalen Hurts

Two MVP candidates, two of the best quarterbacks in the game and it all comes down to this. Mahomes vs. Hurts will be a heavyweight battle and I for can’t wait to see who comes out on top. Mahomes has been here before so the stage won’t be too big for him. Hurts looks to continue his amazing season by leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. If Mahomes is fully healthy you have to give the Chiefs the upper hand but not by much. The Eagles and Jalen Hurts have mastered the RPO offense and will look to continue their winning ways as they aim for the ultimate prize.

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Mike McCarthy raised the Dallas Cowboys out of the ashes in 2021. He brought his team from a 6-10 record last season to an impressive 11-5 record and NFC East title this season. Nonetheless, McCarthy will have one more test in his early Cowboys tenure before his 2021 year is in the books. The Cowboys HC will face off against his classic rival in the Philadelphia Eagles. The ring leader on the other sidelines is none other than Nick Sirianni. 

There is no debate over which head coach has a more impressive and respectable legacy. It is none other than Mike McCarthy, who has brought home a Lombardi trophy to Green Bay. But, it is fascinating to witness how McCarthy has performed in Dallas. It’s also worth comparing how each HC has faired in their new NFC East seats. So, let’s rewind the tape and outline the notable highlights for these NFC East rivals. 

McCarthy

• 17-15 in the first two seasons (12-8 with Prescott)
• second in passing yards, 10th in rushing yards, 
• Defense leads league in turnovers
• NFC East title
• DROY favorite in Micah Parsons
• DPOY candidates in Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs
• CPOY favorite in Dak Prescott
• Enormous wins over Patriots, Saints, and Chargers

Sirianni

• 9-7 record in his first season
• 14th ranked offense in YPG 
• Jalen Hurts improved from 52% in 2020 completion percentage to 61.3% in 2021
• Hurts improved his passer rating from 77.6 last season to 87.2 this season
• Monster victories against the Saints, Broncos, and Washington Football Team

It should seem that McCarthy has a slight edge over Sirianni “at the moment”. Nonetheless, it is impressive how Sirianni has found success and a playoff berth with a much less talented roster than the Cowboys. The Cowboys carry a dream-like team, while the Eagles have a second-year QB and no Zach Ertz. The Eagles have been surprising and positive, but they don’t seem to carry a scary ceiling or the ability to throttle an opponent. McCarthy appears to have his team climbing the ladder of quality play, especially after their 56-14 thrashing of the Washington Football Team. 

The Cowboys will need the Rams and Cardinals to lose if they want to claim the #2 seed. A win won’t likely change anything in the playoff picture, but it would mark a very impressive 12th win on the season ”“ which would be three more than Nick Sirianni’s win tally. Yet, if Sirianni’s team comes out with the upset, they would just be a win behind the much more talented Cowboys. 

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