Two years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs rallied to beat the Philadelphia Eagles to win their 2nd Super Bowl in the Patrick Mahomes era. After downing San Francisco last year, the Chiefs are poised for something that hasn't happened since the introduction of the Super Bowl after the 1966 season, a three-peat.
The Eagles stand in their way again, this time with a new weapon added since last season, that being running back Saquon Barkley.
While much of the attention has been on the Chiefs in the run-up to the game, especially with continuing conspiracy theories accusing the NFL of undue favoritism toward Kansas City for a variety of reasons, including the opportunity for the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. The Green Bay Packers had been the defending NFL champions prior to the 1st Super Bowl in 1967, and, thus, are the last team to 3-peat in the NFL. With the NFL's media partners (Fox is carrying the game this year) becoming more prominent, helping to fuel some of those conspiracies, in recent years, it's understandable to think that Fox or any other network would believe the quest for a 3-peat would lead to higher ratings.
But, this year's game is historic for another reason, as president Donald Trump, already scheduled for a pre-game interview on Fox, will be attending the game. His detractors will say that he's doing that to negate the presence of singer Taylor Swift, who likely will be in New Orleans for the game to support her honey, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, who has said it's an honor to have the president in attendance. Granted, Kelce is being diplomatic, not looking to get on the president's bad side. Air travel restrictions in place due to Trump's visit prompted LSU women's basketball coach Dawn Staley, a big time Eagles fan, to cancel plans to attend the game.
Speaking of the Eagles, would they have gotten this far without Saquon Barkley? That would be debatable. Everyone assumed Detroit would represent the NFC, but the Washington Commanders spoiled those plans three weeks ago, only to get spanked by the Eagles in the NFC title game. Barkley, in turn, has motivated Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia's quarterback, to elevate his game. This year's rematch puts two of the best defensive units in the league against each other, and the Eagles might not need the controversial "Brotherly Shove". Then again, Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo might have a cure for that, anyway.
Assuming the Chiefs' defense keys on Barkley early, that will free Hurts to go to the air, and handle the bulk of the running himself, and if the defense shifts its focus to Hurts, then Barkley can be turned loose. I don't think Kansas City can contain both Hurts & Barkley. If they do, Spagnuolo would be nominated for sainthood in Kansas City.
My advice: Skip the pre-game marathon, including the twinkie-munch with Trump. Yoga would be a better option.
The pick: Philadelphia ends the Chiefs' run.
Of course, I could be wrong.