Teams that go into the Super Bowl as one-dimensional teams do not tend to fare well. It’s hard enough to defend any team in the NFL but when you just hand over your playbook it usually means you are in for a long day.
Simple numbers. Philadelphia has a running game and the Chiefs do not, end of story.
Why does that matter? In the last 10 Super Bowls, the team that won the rushing game won the title seven times. I will take my chances 70% of the time with a team that can run and pass.
Kansas City can pass. That’s a given with Patrick Mahomes (5,250 yards, 41 TD, 12 INT). What they can’t do is run (Isiah Pacheco 830 yards, five TD). The Eagles defense, with an NFL-leading 69 sacks, will be all over that game plan.
Being a one-dimensional team and winning the Super Bowl is about as rare as midget giraffes. Yes, Kansas City has been to three Super Bowls in four years and the only time they won was when they led the game in rushing. The only thing that will be rushing this year is their chances rushing by to win this game.
Why? Because Philadelphia is a machine. While Kansas City squeaked by via scores of 27-20 and 23-20 in two playoff games, the Eagles were punching out their opponents early, 38-7 and 31-7, and that is no accident.
Jalen Hurts (3,701 yards passing, 22 TD; 760 yards rushing, 13 TD). The dude carries a big lunch pail to work everyday. With Miles Sanders (1,269 yards rushing, 11 TD); A.J. Brown (1,496 yards receiving, 11 TD); and DeVonta Smith (1,196 yards receiving), the Eagles have too much to defend and the Chiefs will be hard-pressed to match that intensity.
My prediction: Eagles 34, Chiefs 24.
