by The conclusion of the 2022 NFL regular season is hours away, with Super Bowl 57 crowning a champion between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. With the Chiefs’ Andy Reid taking on the team he used to coach, Travis and Jason Kelce competing against each other, and quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts also making history, there’s no shortage of stories to monitor. (And don’t forget Rihanna’s halftime show performance…and all those commercials.)
USA TODAY sports writers and columnists predict the winner of Super Bowl 57 between the Chiefs and Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Sunday:
Jarrett Bell: Chiefs, 27-23
There’s no way Andy Reid could lose to his former team. OK, sure, there’s a way, which would be reminiscent of Super Bowl 55 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers punished Patrick Mahomes with relentless defense. The Eagles defense has the pieces — starting up front and including Haason Reddick — to dominate against a quarterback nursing a sore ankle.
However, Mahomes is back in the Super Bowl with a better O-line than last time, as he unleashes the NFL’s No. 1 offense. And he still has that magic… and a certain tight end target (Travis Kelce) who probably owes his older brother (Chiefs center Jason Kelce). No, we can’t sleep with the Eagles’ breakout star Jalen Hurts. But Super Bowl 57 will bring a different kind of challenge when trying to top Mahomes.
Super Bowl Center: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more
Chris Bumbaca: Chiefs, 27-24
Mahomes’ health will be a determining factor. Even on one leg, he is the best player in football. Tackling the Eagles’ pass rush will be a different kind of challenge for the Kansas City forward, which had the best passing win rate during the regular season. The Eagles have been the best team in the NFL from start to finish, but the Chiefs are battle tested. The Eagles played in two straight postseason playoffs. By the time the big game rolls around, it’s been over five weeks since they’ve played a close game. With two weeks to plan against his old team, Reid will have plenty of time to figure out how to neutralize Philadelphia’s fast pass with Mahomes’ ankle still hurting.
Rookie running back Isiah Pacheco is at his peak at the right time and could find some space to run against the Eagles defense. Travis Kelce will be the target, but the best tight end in the game usually finds a way to produce. Hurts is dealing with a shoulder injury. The Chiefs will have to face the race and have Hurts beat them with the arm.
Nate Davis: Chiefs, 27-23
Admittedly, I’m feeling a bit like the proverbial hater. In fact, I admire how consistently good Philadelphia has been for most of the season. However, the Eagles went untested in the playoffs. Give them credit for their dominance, as they rolled past one team outmatched and another that was handcuffed at quarterback for virtually the entire NFC championship game. What happens when Philly gets into a dogfight with a team that can go toe-to-toe, that has an elite quarterback in Patrick Mahomes – the kind, barring Aaron Rodgers in a sub-par year, the Eagles really haven’t faced this season?
Mahomes may have a rusty wheel, but even injured, he’s better known than Philly teammate Jalen Hurts, whose health remains a mystery considering how circumstances largely protected him in the postseason. Give me the known merchandise.
Safid Deen: Chiefs, 30-24
The Eagles were the most consistent team all season, making the most of their relatively easy road to the Super Bowl, but they haven’t faced a team like the Chiefs all season. Mahomes, Reid and the Chiefs will have two weeks to bounce back and win their second Super Bowl title to solidify their place in NFL history as the Chiefs’ mighty dynasty.
Tyler Dragon: Chiefs, 28-26
The eagles were the most complete and consistent team throughout the year. Philadelphia controls the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Eagles’ running game and quick passing are going to give the Chiefs trouble. But the Chiefs had the best offensive line in the AFC all season, and Chris Jones and the defensive line are just as disruptive. The biggest difference between the two teams is Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have the best player on the field in the most impactful position.
If Mahomes’ ankle continues to improve and the Chiefs’ wide receivers get healthier, I think Kansas City will walk away with its second Super Bowl title in four seasons. It’s a big if though, Mahomes’ performance with a sprained ankle in the AFC championship game was reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s flu game in the NBA Finals. It’s hard to count Mahomes and the Chiefs with a Lombardi Trophy on the line.
Lorenzo Reyes: Eagles, 23-21
Philadelphia was built to win games in the playoffs and can beat opponents in a variety of ways. It all starts up front with the offensive line. The Eagles have the most complete unit in the NFL and – with the emergence of Kenneth Gainwell – feature four players who can go out in the open in the ground game. And while standout receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith have been relatively quiet in the playoffs, both are capable of explosive plays down the field against the Kansas City secondary that sometimes yield big plays in the passing game.
On defense, the Eagles are weakest in the midfield at linebacker, where Travis Kelce can exploit gaps in coverage. But overall, the Philadelphia secondary should be well equipped to cover Kansas City receivers long enough for the Eagles’ Reddick-led rush pass to make Mahomes uncomfortable. The health of Kansas City’s wide receivers will be a concern, though the time off should help mitigate the lack of depth the Chiefs had late in the AFC Championship Game due to injuries.
