The stage is set for Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Philadelphia Eagles. A winding road to the Lombardi Trophy comes down to this and there are plenty of storylines that will be the focal points of conversation before kickoff.
This game is about even more than a Super Bowl ring, it’s a chance for bragging rights and revenge. Andy Reid could hoist the Lombardi Trophy over the franchise that fired him. Rivalries between siblings are also powerful, which makes Jason Kelce vs Travis Kelce one of the best Super Bowl LVII storylines.
Of course, there are plenty of historical implications at stake. Philadelphia’s defense ended the regular season making history and its dominant run through the playoffs led this team here. If the Eagles deliver another dominant performance, will this be one of the best defenses in NFL history?
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This is a consequential game for other reasons, too. Patrick Mahomes is one win away from potentially having two NFL MVPs, two Super Bowl rings and two Super Bowl MVPs before he turns 28 years old. It’s just one of the many reasons why this game will be remembered.
Let’s dive into the Super Bowl LVII storylines.
Do the Philadelphia Eagles have one of the best defenses in NFL history?
The Philadelphia Eagles defense became the fourth team in NFL history – 1987 Chicago Bears (70 in 15 games), ’89 Minnesota Vikings (71 sacks in 16 games) and ’84 Bears (72 sacks in 16 games) – to record 70 sacks in a season. On top of that, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s group became the first NFL team ever with four players recording double-digit sacks.
Philadelphia’s defensive dominance has continued in the playoffs. The Eagles became the fifth team in NFL history to win the Divisional Playoffs and Conference Championship by at least 21 points. It puts them in an exclusive company, joining. the 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers, ’85 Bears, 1988-’89 San Francisco 48ers. Not only did all four teams win the Super Bowl, but they are also viewed as some of the best NFL teams ever.
Including the playoffs, the Eagles’ defense now holds the NFL record for most sacks in one year (78 before Super Bowl LVII) and tackles for loss (106). With only 14 points allowed through two playoff games, another dominant performance against an all-time great quarterback could cement this group’s legacy as one of the best NFL defenses ever.
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Patrick Mahomes seeks to build GOAT resume
Even without a second Super Bowl ring, Mahomes could retire tomorrow and he would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was already the youngest quarterback in NFL history to start in two Super Bowls (25 years, 143 days). He also has three Super Bowl trips in his first five seasons as an NFL starter and holds numerous NFL passing records through the first 75 starts.
Patrick Mahomes stats – NFL records through first 75 starts
- Passing TDs – 181
- Passing Yards – 22,799
- QB rating – 105.6
- Wins – 59
He also holds the NFL record for the most playoff touchdown passes (32) before turning 28 years old, nearly doubling up Brett Favre (18) in second place. He is the youngest quarterback in NFL history to reach 10 career playoff wins (27 years, 134 days), accomplishing it a year earlier than Tom Brady (28 years, 157 days) did.
A second Super Bowl victory, defeating a historically-dominant defense, would tie Mahomes with Aaron Rodgers, Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach for eighth place among the all-time leaders in career playoff wins by a quarterback. All of that before turning 28 will heat up the debate about Mahomes being on a trajectory to become the best quarterback ever.
Andy Reid faces his old team
The Philadelphia Eagles fired Andy Reid in 2012 following a 4-12 season and two consecutive years without a playoff appearance. While he was still viewed as one of the best head coaches in the NFL at the time, Philadelphia wanted to move on after Reid hadn’t won a playoff game in four years with only one Super Bowl appearance from 1999-2012.
After being fired by the Eagles on Dec. 30, 2012, the Kansas City Chiefs introduced him as their new head coach on Jan. 4. It proved to be one of the best moves in franchise history, leading to a 117-45 record in the regular season, five consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances, one Lombardi Trophy and three Super Bowl appearances in 10 years.
While this won’t be the first time Reid faces his former team, it will undoubtedly be the most meaningful. He began his head-coaching career in Philadelphia, but things didn’t end on the best of terms. Time heals all wounds so things are better now, but you can bet Reid will find it especially sweet if he wins his second Super Bowl ring as a head coach by defeating his old club.
The Kelce Bowl
A decade after the NFL delivered the Harbaugh Bowl in 2013, the first brothers to face each other in the Super Bowl, we now have the Kelce bowl. Yes, Super Bowl LVII between Travis Kelce’s and Jason Kelce”s Eagles will be the first time two brothers played in the Super Bowl. Naturally, this game will also do wonders for the “New Heights” podcast hosted by the Kelce brothers every week.
Kelce’s parents can’t play favorites in this one. Both sons already have a Super Bowl ring and another will likely cement their status as future Hall of Famers. With the parents and relatives in attendance for Super Bowl LVII, it’s fair to project we’ll see a few split jerseys in order to support both brothers. If history repeats itself and this game plays out like the Kelce brothers’ basketball games growing up, Jason will be going home with the Lombardi Trophy.
Super Bowl LVII serves as a historic moment for NFL, Black quarterbacks
Just 35 years after Doug Williams became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, more history will be made on Feb. 9. Super Bowl LVII will be the first time in NFL history that two Black quarterbacks faced off in the Super Bowl.
Consider that before 2013, only three Black quarterbacks started a Super Bowl in NFL history. Russell Wilson became the first two start in two Super Bowls, later joined by Mahomes. Now, there will be even more history happening on Sunday.
If Mahomes wins, he will become the first Black quarterback to win two Super Bowls and he immediately enters the conversation as one of the all-time great quarterbacks. If Hurts comes out on top, he will join Joe Namath and Joe Montana as the only three quarterbacks to win a national championship and Super Bowl.
NFL History: All Super Bowl MVPs