Here’s an early look at what sets up to be a phenomenal football finale on Feb. 12, 2023.Forget about the ankle. If Patrick Mahomes’ arm outduels the Eagles’ secondary, the Chiefs will lift their second Lombardi Trophy in three years. The star quarterback led the NFL in passing with 5,250 yards. Surely he didn’t scramble out of the pocket for all those throws.
Of course, it’s not just about Mahomes or wasn’t until his heroic last-minute sprint on Sunday. Travis Kelce will have to get open for quick outlets against a strong Eagles linebacker corps and secondary, especially given the depleted receiving arsenal with injuries to co-stars Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney. With backup receivers, ground game contributions from running backs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon will be critical.
The Chiefs’ defensive ineptitude inside their defensive red zone, allowing touchdowns 67.3 per cent of the time, portends doom if Philly, who scores at least six points 67.8 per cent of the time, gets past the 20-yard line. Led by outside linebacker Haason Reddick, the Eagles’ defence, which soared to a third-best ever 70 sacks, should get a less mobile Mahomes to the ground once or twice. Their cornerbacks, Darius Slay and James Bradberry, also smother receivers.
It is like wrestling now. Officiating turned football into garbage