Less than 12 hours remain as I write before kickoff. This year's Super Bowl matches up two recent champions in Philadelphia and Kansas City. A lot of interest in the fact that the Kelce brothers, KC tight end Travis & Philadelphia lineman Jason, will be on the same field on football's biggest stage. It would be even bigger if Jason was actually a defensive lineman, instead of an offensive lineman. Both have rings from previous Super Bowls. I would submit Fox, which is airing the game, could've brought in Steve Harvey to break things down.
Digression over. The two teams are a mirror of each other, starting at quarterback. Both Patrick Mahomes & Jalen Hurts are recovering from injuries. There are questions that Mahomes might not be 100%, even after the week off following the AFC Championship game.
What sets the teams apart is the defense. The Eagles' D woke up in the playoffs, shutting down the Giants & San Francisco, holding each team to a mere seven points. If they can get Mahomes trapped in the pocket, he's easy prey.
However, the same holds true with Kansas City's defense. Contain Hurts, and you shut down the Eagles' offense. The Chiefs would like to erase the stigma of losing, badly, to Tampa Bay just a couple of years ago. However, this is going to be a track meet. The defenses will be frustrated, probably by halftime, if Hurts & Mahomes are allowed to run free.
These two teams are so alike, you'd wonder if anyone's been cloned. Just kidding.
The pick: Philadelphia, 48-45.
Of course, I could be wrong.
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