The Philadelphia Eagles have become the new “America’s Team” for the Super Bowl, with many fans rooting for them to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
While the Eagles have a reputation for having a rowdy fan base and a coach who irritates some people, they are now seen as the team to beat the Chiefs, especially by those who dislike Kansas City for various reasons.
At a theme park in Orlando, a young man wearing a midnight green Saquon Barkley jersey received cheers of “Go Birds!” just two days after the Eagles’ big win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
Despite having a mix of fans from teams like the Giants, Dolphins, and Patriots, they were all supporting the Eagles against the Chiefs—even though none of them could sing the Eagles’ anthem, “Fly! Eagles! Fly!”
“I hate the Eagles but they’re the lesser of two evils,” said one fan from New York. “Plus, they have Saquon Barkley. We couldn’t even win with him, so I’m happy he’s doing well in Philly. It’s still painful to watch sometimes, but I can’t stand the Chiefs.”
Kansas City is aiming for its fourth Super Bowl victory in five years and trying to be the first team to win three in a row. Many fans are tired of seeing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce lift the Lombardi Trophy so often, and some feel that the Chiefs get unfairly favorable calls from officials.
A pair of roughing the passer penalties in Kansas City’s game against the Texans and a controversial call in the AFC Championship against Buffalo have fueled this belief.
Kansas City Chiefs players celebrates after a touchdown
SiriusXM radio host Adam Schein called the officiating in the Bills-Chiefs game a “disgrace,” and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky criticized the review of the call as “awful.”
Patriots fans are also frustrated, not wanting Mahomes and coach Andy Reid to get closer to the six championships won by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in New England. Fans of Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl winner, are annoyed by comparisons between Mahomes and the GOAT since Mahomes has three rings and still needs four more to tie Brady.
Some fans, particularly those who haven’t seen their team win in years, are simply envious of Kansas City’s success. Many of them probably felt the same way about the Patriots when they were dominating.
Additionally, all the commercials with Reid and Mahomes can get on people’s nerves, making them dislike the Chiefs even more. It doesn’t help that former Eagles center Jason Kelce is featured in numerous ads.
Then there’s Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift, which has dominated the headlines and distracted from football. Fans complain about seeing the cameras focus on Swift in the stands during games, and although Kelce has gained popularity among Swift’s fans, every celebrity couple has its critics.
All these factors have made the Eagles the fan favorite going into the Super Bowl rematch in New Orleans on Feb. 9. In the last Super Bowl between the two teams, the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35 in Arizona.
As for the Cowboys, who earned the “America’s Team” label in the 1970s, they haven’t made it to a Super Bowl in 29 years.
Brandon Graham, with a hint of gray in his beard and a bulky brace on his left arm, is working hard to recover in time for the Super Bowl. While he’s not ready to confirm if his career is over, the 36-year-old defensive end is determined to rehab his torn triceps and make it back for the February 9 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Whatever I’ve got to do for this one game, I feel like I can do it,” Graham said Thursday.
Thursday marked Graham’s first practice in over two months, bringing the possibility of a Super Bowl return after an injury that was initially expected to end his season. He tore his triceps in a November 24 game against the Los Angeles Rams and was placed on injured reserve shortly after.
Many assumed that would be the end of his career, but as the Eagles kept winning, including their NFC playoff games, Graham started considering a return for the Super Bowl.
“We’ve got two weeks. Today was a great start,” Graham said. “As long as I don’t have no setbacks, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
Graham, who was part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship team in the 2017 season, is one of only two position players and four total players left from that winning team. Although he said during training camp that 2024 would be his final season, the injury has made him rethink that decision. His retirement is still undecided.
“I ain’t there yet, man,” Graham said. “We’re going to get this one. Let’s go get this one and then we’ll talk about it.”
Graham is remembered for his crucial strip-sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, which helped the Eagles secure their first championship.
Tom Brady and Brandon Graham before a game
He missed most of the 2021 season due to a torn Achilles tendon but bounced back in 2022 with a career-high 11 sacks. This season, before his injury, he had 3 1/2 sacks in 11 games and holds the franchise record with 5 1/2 career postseason sacks.
Though Graham remains on injured reserve and doesn’t count against the Eagles’ 53-man roster, his teammates were thrilled to have him back at practice.
“You heard him before you saw him, that’s for damn sure,” said offensive lineman Jordan Mailata. “It was amazing having him out there again. Just the energy, it’s infectious, man. It’s the right timing, man.”
Several other key Eagles players, including guard Landon Dickerson, center Cam Jurgens, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, were held out of practice on Thursday, but none are expected to miss the Super Bowl.
Without Graham, the Eagles have been successful with a three-player rush combination of Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat, and Jalyx Hunt. Graham played 18 snaps without a tackle or sack when the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 in the previous Super Bowl two years ago.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had sounded downbeat after Graham’s injury in November, calling his leadership and energy contagious.
“His energy is contagious. If you’re having a bad day and you get around him, he can turn your day positive,” Sirianni said. “Obviously, the type of player he is speaks for itself and the play on the field. He was having a great year. I just can’t say enough about him as a leader, as a captain, as a teammate.”
Now, Graham has a chance for one last game in his career, and it seems impossible that the franchise leader in career games played at 206 would work so hard to recover just to sit out the Super Bowl.
“I’m just hype to be back on that field, man,” Graham said. “Can’t wait to get after it tomorrow.”
Jalen Hurts holds the championship trophy after the game
Jalen Hurts smiled when Nick Sirianni shouted on stage after the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC Championship: “All he does is win.”
Hurts has faced criticism throughout his career, but the numbers speak for themselves, and Sirianni is right. Hurts has a record of 89-27 as a starting quarterback in both college and the NFL.
The only thing he’s missing is a Super Bowl ring. Hurts will have another chance to get one when the Eagles (17-3) play Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) on February 9 in New Orleans.
Two years ago, Hurts had an incredible game against the Chiefs, throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 70 yards and three touchdowns. However, he lost a fumble, which the Chiefs returned for a touchdown during their 38-35 comeback win.
Coming close isn’t enough, especially in Philadelphia, a city that measures success by championship celebrations.
Hurts’ background photo on his phone shows him walking off the field in Arizona, with red and yellow confetti falling around him.
“The mission is to go take advantage of the opportunities we present ourselves with,” Hurts said. “But also I have my history and the things that I’ve experienced that I can use as tools to help those around me and help myself.”
Hurts has plenty of big-game experience. As a freshman at Alabama, he helped his team reach the national championship, though they lost to Clemson. The next year, he led them back to the title game, but he was benched at halftime, and Tua Tagovailoa led Alabama to a comeback victory over Clemson.
Hurts spent his junior year backing up Tagovailoa before coming in during the fourth quarter of another loss to Clemson in the national championship.
He transferred to Oklahoma for his senior season, leading the Sooners to a 12-2 record and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race behind Joe Burrow.
Despite his success in college, Hurts was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Eagles at No. 53. Joe Burrow (1st), Tua Tagovailoa (5th), Justin Herbert (6th), and Jordan Love (26th) were all drafted ahead of him.
Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts celebrate after the win
Burrow made it to the Super Bowl
Burrow is the only one of those quarterbacks to make it to a Super Bowl, and he lost. Hurts is the first quarterback to return to the big game after losing his first time, following in the footsteps of Jim Kelly, who lost four Super Bowls in a row with the Bills from 1990 to 1993.
Despite his success, Hurts remains underrated.
He started his NFL career as a backup to Carson Wentz and had a utility role, even playing wide receiver at times. He became the Eagles’ starting quarterback later in the 2020 season and has since led them to four straight playoff appearances.
After the 2021 season ended with a playoff loss to Tampa Bay, questions arose about Hurts’ future with the Eagles. They considered bringing in another quarterback, but they decided to stick with him. Hurts finished second to Mahomes for NFL MVP in 2022 and nearly beat him in the Super Bowl.
After a 10-1 start, the Eagles faced a major collapse, and Hurts received more criticism during the offseason. There was talk about his leadership and his relationship with Sirianni. His friendship with A.J. Brown was also questioned this season.
Through it all, Hurts and the Eagles kept winning.
Hurts’ numbers went down because Saquon Barkley had one of the best seasons in NFL history, and the Eagles shifted to a run-first offense.
Critics wondered if Hurts could still win when the team couldn’t rely on Barkley. But every time the Eagles needed Hurts to step up in the passing game, he did, like in a late-season win over the Steelers and a dominant 55-23 victory over the Commanders.
Joe Burrow Leads Bengals’ Late Playoff Push Amid Challenging Season and Slim Postseason Odds
“It’s amazing how much doubt there is sometimes,” Sirianni said about Hurts’ critics. “I can’t quite comprehend it because it doesn’t look like what people think it should look like. But the guy has been clutch. He’s won a ton of football games. ‘But you ran for this many yards.’
We don’t care how we win. We don’t care. If we rush for 300 and pass for one and we win, great. If we rush for one and pass for 300, great. Who cares? We’ve just continued to win. He’s just continued to win. I think the criticism is. … yeah, whatever. He just wins. I said what I said after the game and that’s kind of how I feel.”
Since his freshman year at Alabama in 2016, Hurts has had nine different play-callers in nine seasons. If offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is hired by the New Orleans Saints as their head coach, that number will be 10 next year.
But that won’t change Hurts’ mindset.
“The standard is to win. That’s my standard,” Hurts said. He’s been a consistent winner, but the biggest victory is still ahead.
Brandon Graham’s possible return to the Eagles is getting closer.
On Thursday, the Eagles opened Graham’s practice window, meaning there’s still a chance he could play in Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs next Sunday in New Orleans.
Graham has been on Injured Reserve since November 26, following a triceps tear during the Eagles’ win over the Rams in Inglewood, California.
The Eagles were scheduled to practice Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week before heading to New Orleans on Sunday. Graham won’t be counted on the 53-man roster unless the team activates him from Injured Reserve.
After the Eagles won the NFC Championship Game, Graham told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro that he had an exam scheduled to see if he could return after just 11 weeks.
“I’ve been working, man, but we’re going to see,” Graham said. “At the end of the day, I’m just happy we got there. Them boys scored 55 today. That’s what’s up. That might be telling me something.”
This was a reference to B.G.’s jersey number since 2013.
Graham was a key player in the Eagles’ win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. His strip sack of Tom Brady with 2:16 left in the game helped the Eagles win 41-33, and it remains one of the most memorable moments in franchise history.
Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat in the 1st half
Graham and Lane Johnson are the only position players left from the Eagles’ only Super Bowl championship.
At 36, Graham was playing at a high level in his 15th season before getting injured. He had 3 ½ sacks, one forced fumble, six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and two pass knockdowns in 11 games, averaging 28 snaps per game.
In his last game, Graham increased his career sack total to 76 ½, moving past Clyde Simmons (76) and into third place in Eagles history behind Reggie White (124) and former teammate Trent Cole (85 ½).
Graham holds the franchise record with 5 ½ career postseason sacks, though Nolan Smith is only one behind him.
With Graham out, Vic Fangio has used a three-man edge rush rotation with Smith, Josh Sweat, and rookie Jalyx Hunt. Smith has 10 ½ sacks, including four in the postseason; Sweat has 8.0 but none in his last five games; and Hunt has 2 ½, including one in the playoff win over the Rams. Bryce Huff, a big-money free agent, has played just 13 snaps in the postseason, mostly in garbage time.
Graham said Sunday that whether he plays or not, he’ll be an important part of the team’s Super Bowl push.
“I’m with it regardless,” he said. “Yes or no, it don’t matter. I’m just happy these guys is just working their butt off and now we got to the Super Bowl. Now we gotta go finish.”
Jason Kelce has strong feelings for both teams in Super Bowl LIX. On one side is his younger brother Travis, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, who has been part of his life for over 35 years. On the other side is the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he played with for 13 years after being drafted in the sixth round in 2011.
The last time the Chiefs and Eagles met in the Super Bowl — Super Bowl LVII in 2022 — Jason Kelce played against his brother. Kansas City won for the second time in four seasons, but the Kelce family had divided support.
Now, with Jason Kelce retired from the NFL and Travis Kelce and the Chiefs back in the Super Bowl for a third consecutive title, it might seem clear who Jason is supporting. But Jason shared on the “New Heights” podcast that it’s not that simple.
“I’ll always root for my brother,” Kelce said while wearing an Eagles hat and shirt. “I’m always going to root for Travis. But there are a lot of people in the Philadelphia organization, whether it’s players, coaches, or staff, who feel like family to me, especially my former linemen. Like, Lane Johnson feels like a brother.”
“I’m rooting for those guys, too. I’m rooting for Philadelphia and I’m rooting for Travis Kelce, and that’s the reality of it. No matter what, on game day, I’ll be happy for one team and sad for the other.”
Travis Kelce celebrates after the game
“It’s similar to the last time we played [in the Super Bowl], maybe a little less intense because I’m not playing now. I think it’s going to be very similar. I live in Philadelphia, I still visit the facilities regularly. I still feel like I’m a Philadelphia Eagle and part of the people who root for our team.”
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t want the Eagles to win. I want them to. But I also want Travis Kelce to win. That’s a long-winded way of saying I just want to see a good football game, and whoever wins, I’ll be happy for that side.”
As for Jason’s wife, Kylie, she said on her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast that they plan to go to the game and cheer. Kylie Kelce mentioned that she’ll cheer for Travis, but added, “That being said, I was raised to bleed green.”
Jason Kelce, now also a panelist on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown,” said he won’t wear red during the Super Bowl. Travis Kelce suggested he wear a half-and-half jersey, like their mother Donna did when the Chiefs and Eagles met in the Super Bowl before. Jason turned down the idea and said he might choose something that represents their podcast, but not in red or green.
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles faced off in the Super Bowl, Greg Olsen, a former NFL tight end, was part of Fox’s top announcing team alongside Kevin Burkhardt.
Now, two years later, Olsen won’t be calling the game as Fox’s top analyst. Instead, Tom Brady has taken over that role, despite Olsen receiving high praise for his work as a lead analyst.
Olsen, however, sees this as a temporary shift. “In my mind, I’m going to call big-time games again,” Olsen told the Charlotte Observer‘s Scott Fowler this week. “I’m going to call Super Bowl games again. I just don’t know the timeline or the venue.”
Brady, who is in the first year of his 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox, has replaced Olsen, who still has two years left on his deal.
Despite the conflict of interest with Brady being a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Brady isn’t expected to leave the booth anytime soon.
Kansas City Chiefs holds the recovery ball in the 2nd half
Olsen, who has expressed his dissatisfaction with being moved to Fox’s No. 2 analyst role, spoke with management about his frustration.
“It’s pretty clear that the path, the upward trajectory as far as Fox goes, probably is a non-factor,” Olsen said. “I don’t know what the future holds. I enjoy working at Fox. Fox has been very good to me. They know. I’ve been very honest with them that I’m not content just calling one o’clock regional games for the rest of my career.”
Though Olsen is no longer at the stadium for NFL playoffs, he still thinks about the games he would have called. He admitted it’s hard to just watch now.
Brady has praised Olsen since it was announced that he’d take over as Fox’s top analyst. Olsen emphasized that there are no hard feelings toward Brady. “We’ve talked. He’s been super-great, gracious and grateful in return,” Olsen said. “So there’s no personal animosity in any of this, right? This is strictly business.”
Jalen Hurts celebrates a touchdown in the 2nd half
Jalen Hurts made history by returning to the Super Bowl after losing his first appearance as a starting quarterback.
Now, he will try to become the fourth quarterback to win the Super Bowl after losing his first start in the big game.
Hurts came close two years ago when Philadelphia lost 38-35 to Kansas City in Glendale, Arizona. With a win next week in New Orleans, Hurts would be the first quarterback since John Elway 27 years ago to win a Super Bowl as a starter after losing in his first appearance.
Out of the 36 quarterbacks who lost their first Super Bowl, only two have come back to win it as starters: Kansas City’s Len Dawson, who lost Super Bowl 1 and then won three years later, and Miami’s Bob Griese, who lost in Super Bowl 6 and won the next year.
It is rare for a quarterback like Hurts to return to the Super Bowl after losing their first time. He broke a streak of 19 straight quarterbacks who didn’t make it back after their first loss in the big game. The last one to return was Buffalo’s Jim Kelly, who lost four Super Bowls from 1990-1993.
Hurts will once again face Patrick Mahomes, who will tie John Elway with the second-most Super Bowl starts by a quarterback when he plays his fifth next week, just behind Tom Brady’s 10. With a win, Mahomes would join Brady (six), Terry Bradshaw (four), and Joe Montana (four) as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl rings.
Mahomes will be making his fifth Super Bowl appearance, a rare feat for quarterbacks in the AFC. In the last 22 years, only six quarterbacks from the AFC have started a Super Bowl, with Brady leading the pack with eight, Peyton Manning with four, and Ben Roethlisberger with three. Joe Flacco and Joe Burrow each have one appearance since 2003.
The NFC has seen a much different pattern, with 19 quarterbacks starting 22 Super Bowls, including Brady with Tampa Bay. Hurts joins Russell Wilson and Eli Manning as the only quarterbacks to start two Super Bowls for an NFC team since 2003.
Patrick Mahomes celebrates after the win
Run to daylight
The Philadelphia Eagles made their way to the Super Bowl by dominating the ground game.
In the NFC title game against Washington, the Eagles tied an NFL playoff record with seven touchdown runs, matching the mark set by Chicago in the 1940 NFL title game.
Hurts scored three of those touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley added three more, including a record-setting seventh touchdown run of at least 60 yards this season. The only other teammates to score three touchdowns each in a regular-season or playoff game since 1940 were Priest Holmes (four) and Derrick Blaylock (three) for Kansas City in a 56-10 win over Atlanta on October 24, 2004.
The Eagles also set a new record for the most rushing yards in a season, with 3,731 yards in the regular season and playoffs. The previous record was 3,535 yards, set by Miami in its perfect 17-0 season in 1972. Baltimore also surpassed that mark with 3,664 rushing yards.
The Eagles now have a chance to break their own record for the most touchdown runs in a season. They have 39 heading into the Super Bowl, just three shy of the record they set in 2022.
Tough-luck Allen
Josh Allen once again lost in a playoff matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Allen is the first quarterback to ever lose four playoff games to another QB, although most of the blame shouldn’t fall on him.
In those four playoff games against the Chiefs, Allen has a 100.2 passer rating with 11 combined touchdown passes and runs, along with just one turnover.
His career playoff passer rating of 101.5 ranks fourth among the 74 quarterbacks with at least six playoff starts in the Super Bowl era. The top three are Super Bowl winners: Mahomes (105.6), Kurt Warner (102.8), and Matthew Stafford (102.3). Allen’s seven career playoff wins are the most by any quarterback who hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl.
The Bills have become the first team to win at least 11 games for five straight seasons without reaching a Super Bowl, surpassing the previous record of four seasons by San Francisco (1995-98) and Philadelphia (2000-03).
Coaching carousel
The coaching changes are nearly complete, with the New Orleans Saints being the only team that fired its head coach but hasn’t yet hired a replacement.
This year’s coaching hires include four coordinators promoted to head coach for the first time and two returning coaches. Former Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel is now in New England, while Pete Carroll was hired in Las Vegas after coaching the Jets, Patriots, and Seahawks.
Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown in the 1st half
Carroll joins Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer as the only coaches since 1940 to have had non-interim head coaching stints with four different franchises.
With Carroll’s addition, the division now has an impressive lineup of coaches, including Kansas City’s Andy Reid, who has 301 career wins and is aiming for his fourth Super Bowl title.
Denver’s Sean Payton (179 wins) and Carroll (181) have a combined total of 360 wins, with both having won Super Bowls. Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers has a .685 winning percentage over five seasons as a head coach, one Super Bowl appearance, and a college national championship.
Harbaugh will try to join Carroll, Jimmy Johnson, and Barry Switzer as the only coaches to win championships in both college and the NFL.
The AFC West will be the first division to start a season with every head coach having previously appeared in a Super Bowl. The 1999 NFC West came close, with Atlanta’s Dan Reeves, Carolina’s George Seifert, New Orleans’ Mike Ditka, and St. Louis’ Dick Vermeil all having Super Bowl experience, with San Francisco’s Steve Mariucci as the exception.
Two divisions didn’t have any coaching changes: the NFC West and AFC North. This is nothing new for the AFC North, which last saw a coaching change after the 2019 season when Cleveland hired Kevin Stefanski to replace Freddie Kitchens.
Next season will mark the sixth consecutive year with the same four head coaches in the AFC North, setting a record for the longest stretch without a coaching change. This surpasses the previous record of four straight seasons for the NFC Central (1978-81) and the NFC West (2019-22).
Jalen Hurts holds the championship trophy after the game
The Eagles were soaring high last season, with a 10-1 record, the top seed, home-field advantage for the playoffs, and a Super Bowl ring within reach.
However, this season turned out differently. Instead of heading straight to the Super Bowl on February 9 in a rematch against Kansas City, they faced a tough 2023. Coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts’ journey to the Super Bowl ended in one of the most dramatic collapses in Philadelphia sports history — and there have been many.
The Eagles were 10-1 before they suffered a heavy 23-point loss at home to San Francisco in a rematch of the NFC championship game. The following week, Dallas defeated them by 20 points. The losses kept piling up, and the Eagles finished the regular season 1-5 before being eliminated in a wild-card loss to Tampa Bay.
Despite reaching the playoffs three times and going to a Super Bowl in his first three seasons, Sirianni was on the hot seat. Changes were necessary — from adjustments to the coaching staff and game plan, to the draft and improving the team’s locker room chemistry.
The tough lessons from the previous year motivated the Eagles, leading them to a 14-win regular season and three more playoff victories.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman chose to stick with Sirianni, and the Eagles made the necessary moves to get back to the top. Now, they are just one win away from reaching the Super Bowl once again.
“It’s been the story of the 2023 to the 2024 Eagles. As bad of a feeling we had about how last year ended, I think it makes you who you are,” said Sirianni.
Now, they aim to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history. “That’s pretty dope,” Sirianni said. “That’s all my focus is on.”
Hurts and Sirianni
In their relationship this season, Sirianni and Hurts appear to be more in sync than last year. After the NFC Championship win, Hurts joked that he had been “freed from the offense’s ‘straitjacket.’” Hurts had six wins this season in games where he passed for under 200 yards, and in the NFC Championship, he threw for 246 yards and had four touchdowns.
“We’ve been winning a couple different ways this year. I think he was just having fun after the game,” Sirianni said. “I know this, and he’s said this plenty of times: He doesn’t care how we win. I don’t care how we win, as long as we win. We do everything we can do to be able to win.”
Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts celebrates after the win
The biggest question heading into this season was whether Hurts and Sirianni’s relationship, which seemed strained last year, would carry over into 2023. After the playoff loss to Tampa Bay, Hurts had a lukewarm response when asked about Sirianni’s future. He later explained that his answer was because he was caught off guard by the question.
“We’ve been through a lot together, right? A lot of wins, some down times,” Sirianni said this week. “That’s what kind of forges relationships.”
Despite some rocky moments, Hurts publicly supported Sirianni this season. They are now the first coach-QB duo in Eagles history to reach two Super Bowls.
“He’s done a great job,” Hurts said.
The coordinators
One of the clearest signs the Eagles were struggling last season came when Sirianni made former Lions coach Matt Patricia the defensive play-caller, which took real responsibility away from defensive coordinator Sean Desai. Desai and Patricia were let go in the offseason, along with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. Johnson only lasted one season in Philadelphia, and Hurts had a tough year, throwing a career-high 15 interceptions and seeing his passer rating drop from 101.5 to 89.1.
The new hires were a huge improvement.
Kellen Moore took over as offensive coordinator and became one of the most sought-after head coaching candidates in the NFL. The Eagles hired 66-year-old Vic Fangio to run the defense, and under his guidance, it became the top-rated defense in the league.
The defense has allowed just 10, 22, and 23 points in the postseason, with 10 takeaways, including 21 points off three fumble recoveries against the Commanders.
“The players have to play well to play great defense, so it’s a combination of what Vic does and how he motivates the guys to get them to play to the highest level that they can,” Sirianni said. “Just got a ton of respect for him and sure glad he’s here.”
Moore, a former backup quarterback who played behind Dak Prescott with Dallas in 2017 before becoming his position coach the following year, directed a Philadelphia offense that featured Barkley as the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season.
“There are different things that we’ve been doing that have really helped us. There are some things that are similar to what we’ve done in the past because we’ve been good at those things,” Sirianni said.
“And then there are things that are new to both what we’ve done and Kellen’s system as well. Kellen’s done a phenomenal job of handling all those things, putting our offense in positions that we’ve been successful in.”
A.J. Brown holds the championship trophy after the win
Barkley arrives
Former Eagles running back Miles Sanders ran for a solid 1,269 yards during the 2022 Super Bowl season, and Kenneth Gainwell was a reliable backup.
Hurts was the team’s leading rusher in the Super Bowl with 70 yards, and the Eagles only had 115 yards rushing in total.
With Saquon Barkley, the Eagles feel like a completely new team at times.
Barkley has quickly become one of the greatest free-agent signings in Philadelphia sports history. He ran for 2,005 yards, can break off 60-yard touchdowns as easily as Joel Embiid scores layups, and has turned the offense into one of the most dangerous dual threats since the days of Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens.
The Eagles will need Barkley to be at his best to have a chance against the Chiefs. That’s no small task for a player whose season has led to comparisons with legends like Terrell Davis and Eric Dickerson, ranking him among the best running backs in NFL history.
Dolphins’ Trade-Heavy Strategy Falls Short as Chiefs and Eagles Thrive Through Drafting (NFL)
The Miami Dolphins’ recent strategy of trading draft picks for established players hasn’t yielded the desired results. This approach contrasts sharply with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, who have built their success through strong drafting. Both teams, now meeting in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, rely heavily on homegrown talent rather than expensive free-agent signings.
While the Eagles have key acquisitions like Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown, their core remains drafted players. Fourteen of their starters in their dominant win against Washington came through the draft, including recent selections Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Similarly, the Chiefs featured 15 homegrown starters in their playoff win, reinforcing the importance of hitting on draft picks for sustained competitiveness.
Kansas City’s Blueprint: Draft and Develop
Kansas City’s dominance is not just about Patrick Mahomes but also their ability to develop talent. The Chiefs lost stars like Tyreek Hill and L’Jarius Sneed but remained competitive due to strong drafting. Their 2022 draft class alone produced five key starters, showcasing how teams can replace departing veterans with young, cost-controlled talent instead of relying on high-priced signings.
Dolphins’ Trade-Heavy Strategy Falls Short as Chiefs and Eagles Thrive Through Drafting (NFL)
Miami has taken the opposite approach, often sacrificing picks for established players. The 2022 draft saw them trade away key selections for Tyreek Hill, leading to a weak class that produced no significant contributors. A similar pattern followed in 2023, where only De’Von Achane has made an impact. The lack of young talent forces Miami to continually rely on short-term veteran fixes, preventing long-term stability.
Missed Opportunities in Recent Drafts
The Dolphins’ 2020 draft, which could have provided a solid foundation, has largely been a disappointment. While Tua Tagovailoa and Austin Jackson remain, injuries cloud their futures. Other picks like Noah Igbinoghene and Raekwon Davis never lived up to expectations. Even their strong 2021 class, featuring Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips, wasn’t enough to offset the missteps. Miami’s lack of homegrown depth has been costly.
The Dolphins might be correcting course, as their 2024 draft class shows promise with Chop Robinson and Jaylen Wright. With a crucial 2025 draft ahead, Miami must resist the urge to trade picks for short-term gains. GM Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel face a pivotal decision: continue chasing immediate success or build sustainably like Kansas City and Philadelphia. The long-term solution lies in the draft, not high-profile trades.
Washington Commanders players in the 2nd half of the game
The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Washington Commanders next week in the NFC championship game at Lincoln Financial Field after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.
Here’s what you need to know before the big game between the Eagles and their NFC East rival:
When is the Eagles-Commanders game?
The NFC championship game will take place next Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Linc. The game will be broadcast on Fox.
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets for Sunday’s NFC championship game are available now. You can buy them through Ticketmaster.com, with a limit of four tickets per household. As of Tuesday evening, ticket prices ranged from about $600 to more than $4,000.
Resale tickets can also be found on Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, and StubHub.
According to StubHub, tickets for the Eagles-Commanders game were outselling those for the AFC championship between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills by 145% on Tuesday.
How did the Eagles and Commanders perform in the regular season?
The NFC championship will be the third meeting this season between the Eagles and Commanders. They split their regular season series.
In Week 11, the Eagles won 26-18, with Saquon Barkley scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 146 yards.
In Week 16, the Commanders won 36-33, after Jalen Hurts left the game with a concussion. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett stepped in and threw for 143 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Philadelphia Eagles players celebrates after a touchdown
How did the Eagles and Commanders reach the NFC championship?
Both teams won two playoff games to reach the NFC title game. The Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round and the Rams in the divisional round.
The Commanders knocked out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions to make it to the championship game.
To reach the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, the Eagles will have to beat one of their all-time great players, Zach Ertz.
Ertz, who caught the winning touchdown in the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, now plays for the Commanders as a tight end.
Ertz spent nine seasons with the Eagles after being drafted in 2013. He ranks fifth all-time in franchise history in receiving yards, second in catches, and seventh in receiving touchdowns.
He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 and later signed with the Commanders.
Ertz had his best season since 2019 in 2024, with 66 catches, 654 yards, and seven receiving touchdowns. He had five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown in the Commanders’ divisional round win over the Lions.
The 76ers’ connection to the Commanders
Josh Harris, owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, has been in the news lately. He is also a co-owner of the Washington Commanders, so expect to hear more about him ahead of Sunday’s NFC title game.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts shared that his injured left knee is “progressing,” but he expects to wear a brace during Sunday’s NFC title game against the Washington Commanders.
Hurts’ knee became a focus after he was awkwardly taken down during the third quarter of the divisional round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, causing his left leg to get pinned underneath him.
Though Hurts finished the game, he wasn’t as mobile as usual. Before the injury, he had six carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, but after that, his only rushing play was a kneel-down to end the game.
His teammates have been providing positive updates about his condition this week. Right tackle Lane Johnson said after Thursday’s practice that Hurts “was mobile, he was moving.” Left tackle Jordan Mailata mentioned that Hurts has had “good energy.”
Running back Saquon Barkley expressed confidence in Hurts, saying, “I’m expecting Jalen to be Jalen. He’s going to show up for us, he’s going to make plays. He’s a winner. He’s got the ‘it’ factor.”
Jalen Hurts throws in the 2nd half
Regarding other injuries, tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) and starting center Cam Jurgens (back) practiced for the first time this week on Friday. Goedert fully participated in practice, according to the injury report, while Jurgens was limited and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Jurgens declined to speak with the media afterward. If Jurgens can’t play, left guard Landon Dickerson, who has been filling in for him, is likely to step in at center.
Goedert, however, made it clear he’s ready for the game, saying, “I feel great today. It was a great practice out there, I was moving around really well, so I’m really happy with where I’m at.”
Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who left the Rams game with a shoulder injury, has practiced this week and confirmed he will play on Sunday.
Eagles Overtake Chiefs as Super Bowl Favorites After Playoff Odds Update (NFL)
Following their divisional round win, the Kansas City Chiefs were briefly favored to win the Super Bowl, but recent odds from DraftKings Sportsbook now have the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of them. The Eagles are at +180 odds, while the Chiefs are at +220. The updated odds reflect the current positioning in the playoffs, where the Eagles hold a six-point advantage over the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are only favored by 1.5 points against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC.
Chiefs’ Strong Playoff Track Record Against the Bills
Despite being second in the odds, the Chiefs remain a formidable contender. In his playoff career, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is undefeated against the Bills, with a perfect 3-0 record against Josh Allen. This history strengthens Kansas City’s position as they face Buffalo in a home game that could send them to their third consecutive Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ dominance in these matchups contributes to their chances, even though the Eagles have become the betting favorites.
Eagles Overtake Chiefs as Super Bowl Favorites After Playoff Odds Update (NFL)
The Philadelphia Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts, have proven themselves strong at home during the playoffs. The Eagles are undefeated in home playoff games with Hurts at quarterback, boasting a 3-1 record against the spread in those contests. As six-point favorites against the Commanders, the Eagles are in a prime position to advance and potentially claim the top spot in Super Bowl odds, provided they perform as expected in their upcoming NFC title game.
Chiefs and Eagles Battle for Super Bowl Favorites Spot
Kansas City’s shift to Super Bowl favorites after Saturday’s divisional-round win was short-lived. After the results, the Chiefs briefly topped the odds board but were overtaken by the Eagles. Philadelphia, despite not yet playing their divisional round game, saw its chances improve significantly. If the Eagles can avoid an upset in their game against the Commanders, they are poised to leap ahead of the Chiefs in the race for the Super Bowl title.
The Eagles’ path to the Super Bowl appears smoother, as they face the underdog Commanders in the NFC title game. In contrast, the Chiefs face a much tougher test against the Bills or Ravens in the AFC championship. If the Bills or Ravens win, they will likely join the Chiefs as the top Super Bowl contenders, making the AFC championship a critical factor in determining the eventual favorite for the big game.
