Tremendous Bowl week is right here.
Each the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles have arrived in New Orleans for Tremendous Bowl LIX, a rematch of Tremendous Bowl LVII from a couple of seasons in the past. Whereas most of the recreation’s important characters are the identical from that epic conflict, there are some additions to each rosters that may spice issues up on Tremendous Bowl Sunday.
To kick off the week, we’ve ranked the very best gamers in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
11. Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles
Jalen Carter is who we thought he’d be. When the Eagles drafted the standout Georgia defensive deal with in 2023 we knew he’d be an issue, and shortly. In what’s shortly grow to be one of many league’s most coveted positions, a pass-rushing defensive deal with has grow to be pivotal in what separates good groups, from nice ones.
Carter’s skill to be a multi-faceted difference-maker within the center is his biggest energy. Prime 10 in pressures, hits, batted passes, and hurries on the DT place, he’s a participant who can do all of it. Every little thing Carter does is about making a quarterback’s life hell, and he’s good at his job.
The Eagles will know that inside strain has given Mahomes issues previously, and that would make him Jalen Carter one of the crucial necessary gamers within the Tremendous Bowl.
10. Joe Thuney, OG, Chiefs
A perpetually underrated lineman, Joe Thuney has quietly amassed 4 Tremendous Bowl rings whereas being one of many league’s finest pass-blocking guards. Historically offensive guards have been extra valued for his or her run blocking, however extra just lately the unimaginable significance of inside safety has reared its head.
After we look again at Mahomes’ Tremendous Bowl loss to the Buccaneers, the largest distinction maker was inside strain from Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea. That’s why the Chiefs introduced in Joe Thuney to repair the issue, and since then Kansas Metropolis has been a pressure.
Nevertheless, with the Chiefs struggling to search out their finest 5 up entrance this season, Thuney has taken on a brand new position within the Kansas Metropolis offense, as he shifted to left deal with late within the season. Since that transfer, made in Week 15, Thuney has allowed only one sack in accordance with charting information from Professional Soccer Reference.
Whereas the Chiefs might miss his presence on the inside with the likes of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis lining up throughout from them on Tremendous Bowl Sunday, coping with Nolan Smith and the potential return of Brandon Graham might put one other highlight on Thuney at left deal with. How he holds up in simply his eighth NFL begin on the place is a large storyline heading into Tremendous Bowl LIX.
9. Creed Humphrey, C, Chiefs
One of many many query marks the Chiefs have confronted on their run to Tremendous Bowl LIX has been their offensive line. With accidents and subpar play forcing Andy Reid to juggle mixtures up entrance, discovering the very best 5 to place in entrance of Patrick Mahomes has been a problem.
However not at heart.
Creed Humphrey stays the most effective there may be within the league amongst males within the center, and this season has been one other stellar marketing campaign for him. Based on out there charting information from Professional Soccer Focus Humphrey has allowed simply seven pressures this season, and has but to surrender a recorded sack.
The duty will get more durable in Tremendous Bowl LIX, with the Eagles’ imposing inside duo of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. But when Humphrey’s upcoming efficiency in Tremendous Bowl LIX matches what now we have seen from him this season, it might go a great distance in direction of the Chiefs profitable that third straight title.
8. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
When these two groups met in Tremendous Bowl LVII, Patrick Mahomes walked away with MVP honors after Kansas Metropolis’s 38-35 victory.
However there’s a situation the place the Eagles stroll away winners, and it’s Jalen Hurts headed to Disney World with the MVP award in hand.
Tremendous Bowl LVII was one in every of his finest performances as knowledgeable, as Hurts linked on 27-of-38 passes for 304 yards and a landing, whereas including one other 70 yards on the bottom — and three touchdowns — on 15 dashing makes an attempt. Had James Bradberry not been flagged for defensive holding on Kansas Metropolis’s ultimate drive of the sport, Hurts would have had slightly below two minutes to get the Eagles into place to tie the sport or maybe win it, and with they method he was enjoying that evening, that was definitely a risk.
Whereas the Eagles passing recreation has not been as constant this season, Hurts’ efficiency within the NFC Championship Sport towards Washington was maybe his finest outing of the 12 months. He was assured, decisive, and constantly throwing on-time and in-rhythm. With the expectations heading into Tremendous Bowl LIX centered on the concept Steve Spagnuolo will give attention to slowing down Saquon Barkley and put the sport in Hurts’ palms, if he performs like he did on this recreation two seasons in the past, that is likely to be a recipe for an Eagles’ win.
7. Zack Baun, LB, Eagles
So far as revelations go this NFL season, there is likely to be none greater than Zack Baun and the position he has carved out in the course of the Eagles protection.
Used primarily as an edge defender with the New Orleans Saints, Baun signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Eagles, who moved him to an off-ball position in Vic Fangio’s protection. On this position Baun has thrived, beginning again in Week 1 towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers when he picked up a pair of sacks of Jordan Love, however persevering with all through the season as he showcased his athleticism towards the move, however his skill to play downhill towards the run.
Tremendous Bowl LIX can be his largest take a look at but, as he’ll be tasked with serving to decipher what Mahomes and firm are doing schematically, coming down hill to decelerate their dashing assault, and serving to in the course of the sector the place Travis Kelce tends to prowl. But when Tremendous Bowl LIX is the conclusion to what has been a dream season for Baun, it’d very effectively finish with him holding the Lombardi Trophy aloft.
6. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
This season has been a little bit of a combined bag for Travis Kelce. Clearly the long run Corridor of Fame tight finish generally is a distinction maker, nevertheless it’s additionally clear the Chiefs spent a whole lot of time making ready for all times after Kelce, pivoting away from leaning on him being the largest risk within the passing recreation, to easily another choice for Mahomes.
The result’s that Kelce is likely to be extra harmful than ever in Kansas Metropolis’s hyper-efficient offense. There are quite a few performs the place Kelce is used as a decoy, disguising his routes the place he appears just like the give attention to the play, when he’s actually a 3rd or fourth development in Mahomes’ reads.
It’s for that reason Kelce had 10 video games throughout the common season with fewer than 10 targets, solely to have some video games the place he would explode for 80+ yards, as he did towards the Texans within the playoffs.
Kelce might not be the point of interest of the offense anymore, however he nonetheless must be accounted for on each down — and that makes him an element.
5. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs
Within the wake of the AFC Championship Sport, and the gorgeous blitz bundle Steve Spagnuolo despatched after Josh Allen on the decisive fourth-down play, a lot has been stated and written about Allen’s choice on that play, beginning with sliding 4 offensive linemen away from the eventual blitz.
And in direction of Chris Jones.
Jones has that type of affect on an offense, and consequently, on a recreation. He’s a real recreation wrecker up entrance for Spagnuolo and the Chiefs, racking up 60 hurries and seven sacks this season for Kansas Metropolis in accordance with charting information from Professional Soccer Focus. He’s no slouch towards the run as effectively, one thing that can be important towards Saquon Barkley in Tremendous Bowl LIX. However each time Hurts drops to move — and even simply units the safety — Jones goes to be an enormous issue for the Chiefs.
4. Lane Johnson, OG, Eagles
If you wish to educate a younger participant find out how to play offensive line utilizing movie from the NFL then Lane Johnson is in your tape. For the higher a part of a decade he’s been the most effective linemen within the league, and there’s zero signal of him slowing down.
Johnson is ready to marry unimaginable lateral athleticism with an enormous body that turns him into one of many league’s finest move protectors and run blockers. This season was an absolute triumph in each sides of the sport, with Johnson permitting ZERO sacks this season, just one QB hit, and 10 pressures on the complete 12 months.
All this whereas being a pivotal a part of the road-grading blocking that allowed Saquon Barkley to come back a whisper from the single-season dashing report. Relating to Johnson the calculus is fairly easy: You’re not getting pressures on him. Clearly you continue to must rush the passer and attempt to push into the backfield, however the precise aspect of the sector may as effectively want an additional rusher each down due to his skill to stonewall a single man.
3. A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles
With simply over two minutes left within the first half of the NFC Championship Sport, the Eagles held a 14-12 lead and confronted a 4th-and-5 state of affairs on the Washington Commanders’ 45-yard line. Nick Sirianni left his offense on the sector, and if the Commanders compelled a cease they might dream of taking the lead into the locker room for the halftime break.
Washington introduced strain, and Jalen Hurts regarded in a single path.
A.J. Brown.
The pair linked on a go route for 31 yards, giving the Eagles a recent set of downs within the purple zone. A number of performs later Hurts plunged into the tip zone on a brief landing run, and the rout was on.
Whereas the Eagles passing recreation has not precisely been a well-oiled machine this 12 months, when it’s clicking it begins with the connection between Hurts and Brown. Once more, with each expectation holding that Spagnuolo goes to try to cease Saquon Barkley first, a giant recreation from this passing connection is one pathway to a Philadelphia win in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
2. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
The lacking piece the Eagles by no means knew they wanted. Saquon Barkley has been such a profound difference-maker to the Philadelphia offense that it’s a marvel they had been capable of win a Tremendous Bowl with out him.
The previous working recreation for Philadelphia hinged on a gimmick, albeit an efficient one — the notorious “Tush Push.” It compelled the crew to routinely grind out brief performs via Jalen Hurts as the first brief rusher, and all of the explosive performs to come back within the passing recreation.
Barkley has modified all that. Not solely has it ensured the Eagles are a extra balanced whole offense, however can generate explosive performs on the bottom with out risking damage to Hurts. It helps if you’re additionally the very best working again the NFL has seen in nearly 5 a long time, with Barkley coming inside a whisper of breaking the NFL’s all-time dashing report.
If the Chiefs can’t cease Barkley from consuming then it’s going to be an extended Tremendous Bowl for them.
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
It’s Patrick Mahomes, want we are saying extra? It’s honest to say that Mahomes was pushed to his restrict by an underwhelming supporting solid for a lot of the season and an offense that wasn’t almost as explosive as previous iterations, however the ludicrous factor about Mahomes is {that a} “down 12 months” nonetheless means nearly 4,000 passing yards, finishing 66.6%, and throwing 2.5 touchdowns to every interception.
The final word large recreation quarterback of the NFL, Mahomes is almost unflappable within the face of strain and regularly finds methods to supply when issues aren’t working for him. We noticed this within the AFC Championship Sport the place explosive passing performs had been few and much between, inflicting Pat to morph into a major landing working risk, displaying off his underrated athleticism.
Snug within the pocket, off-platform, and in all places in between, Mahomes has an uncanny expertise to govern defenses pre and post-snap, merely discovering methods to win. If the Eagles need any probability of profitable the Tremendous Bowl in hinges on their skill to close down Mahomes, as a result of if he’s left the smallest of margin he can kick the door down in contrast to anybody else within the NFL.