Super Bowl LIX (59) will be held on Sunday, February 9 in New Orleans, Louisiana between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, two-time Super Bowl defending champions. The teams met two years ago in Super Bowl LVII (57), a game that the Chiefs won 38-35, marking the start of their continued dominance in the league.
The Philadelphia Eagles come into the game as the National Football Conference’s (NFC) number two seed, finishing the regular season with a record of 14-3. This culminated with their resounding win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game, 55-23, sending them to the Superbowl. The Kansas City Chiefs enter the game as the American Football Conference (AFC) number one seed, with their 15-2 record earning them a first-round bye in the postseason. The Chiefs managed to sneak past the Buffalo Bills in a nail-biting AFC Championship game, with a final score of 32-29.
The Eagles’ offense is led by running back (RB) Saquon Barkley, an MVP candidate for this season. Barkley has transformed the Eagles’ offense and turned a competitive team into a juggernaut. Barkley is the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2000+ yards in a single season.
Assistant Athletic Director and Upper School Physical Education and Health teacher Bryan Wright said he feels strongly about Barkley’s impact on the Eagles.
Wright said, “Saquon Barkley is an athlete that I think has been so underutilized. He was in the worst program for his talent in New York, and coming to Philadelphia has revolutionized our game because now we have multiple threats.”
The Eagles’ defense has also been electric, with stars emerging all over the field. Players like Defensive Tackle (DT) Jalen Carter and Linebacker (LB) Zach Baun have emerged as superstars this season and were selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the first time in their careers. Other key players such as rookie cornerbacks (CB) Quinyan Mitchell and Cooper Dejean routinely shut down the opposing team’s wide receivers. The Eagles’ defense as a whole ranks number one in the NFL.
Upper School Physical Education teacher Mike Brunswick said he feels strongly about the Eagles’ defense throughout this season.
“Fundamental defense is the key; they are not letting people get wide open, they are getting their assignments, they are rolling right now,” said Brunswick.
The new defensive coordinator (DC), Vic Fangio, has been key to the defensive improvements since last year. Fangio is a well-respected coach around the NFL; he served as a coordinator for many years and was the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019-2021. Fangio’s defensive system fits the Eagles really well and has contributed greatly to their success.
Brunswick continued with his thoughts on Fangio, stating, “I also think that it took time for [the Eagles] to figure out [Vic Fangio] system. Now that he put his system [out] and they learned it, they cater to each other and I think the [team and Fangio] have figured each other out.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are led by quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes had another outstanding season, where he has continued to lead his team and win nearly every game. Mahomes is also known for his incredible playoff performances. Most notably, in his seven years as an NFL starting QB, he has been to five Super Bowls and the AFC Conference championship in every single season.
However, outside of Mahomes, this Chiefs’ team is led by their star-studded defense. Their success starts with their longtime DC Steve Spagnuolo, who has been key to many of their achievements. The defense is led by the defensive line, including defensive tackle (DT) Chris Jones and Left Defensive End (LDE) George Karlaftis. The back end of the defense has seen some changes over the years but has been cornered this year by CB Leo Chanel. All three players play critical roles on the Chiefs’s defense and have been key to their success this season.
The Chiefs are also on the verge of history, as they are trying to be the first NFL franchise in history to win three Super Bowls in a row.
Gabe Harvey ’25 is excited about the Chiefs and the potential of a three-peat.
He said, “I think they are a very well-balanced team. They are strong on both sides of the ball, they have playmakers on both sides of the ball, [and] they are disciplined. I think what they are doing is very impressive. They are close to a three-peat, which has never happened in NFL history.”
With all the success in Philadelphia this season, there is only one thing that stands in the way of optimistic Philly fans. Eagles veteran kicker Jake Elliot has had a rough year, putting up one of the worst seasons of his eight-year career. He has made 28 out of 36 field goal attempts, which is a mere 77%, of his field goals, and even worse, he went 1 out of 7 on field goals from 50+ yards, an extremely poor statistic. His longest-made kick of the year was just a 50-yarder.
Wright expressed his concerns about Jake Elliot and the Eagles’ special teams unit.
He stated, “If I had to talk about any concerns I had with the Philadelphia program this year, it would be [Elliot]. In the past, he has been rock solid, [but] something got into his head, and he hasn’t been able to shake it.”
Wright also explained how Elliot’s poor performance could affect the outcome of the big game.
“He is going to be put into a big-time position; this game could come down to 3 points, and it could come down to the last possession and the last kick of the game,” said Wright.
The Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 9, at 6:30 PM at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
