2023 great Bowl information: Chiefs-Eagles picks, stats, predictions

Feb 10, 2023

ESPN workers

great Bowl LVII kicks off on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the Kansas metropolis Chiefs dealing with the Philadelphia Eagles. These franchises are used to the large stage, as a outcome of the Chiefs gained great Bowl LIV after the 2019 season and are making their third look inside the large sport in 4 years. The Eagles are additionally current champions, worthwhile great Bowl LII following the 2017 season. These two teams have been atop the heap all 12 months, as they had been the very most interesting seeds of their respective conferences. great Bowl LVII represents the foremost meeting of extreme seeds inside the great Bowl as a outcome of the Eagles’ aforementioned great Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots.

Our NFL group has you coated with all the pieces you’d ever should know for Chiefs-Eagles, collectively with group previews, daring predictions and sport picks. We additionally current betting suggestion from our sports activities betting specialists, sport plan breakdowns from our analysts, and in-depth statistics from the ESPN Stats & information group. we now have a look on the two quarterbacks, the pinnacle coaches, key rookies and a few X elements as effectively. We even preview the officiating, halftime current, damage report and extreme great Bowl MVP candidates.

it is all right here in a helpful one-cease cheat sheet. Let’s dive in, starting with an overview of the thrilling matchup.

Previewing Chiefs vs. Eagles

When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET
the place: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
tv: Fox
Depth charts: Chiefs | Eagles

The Eagles had been in shambles barely over two years in the past. At 4-eleven-1, they had been being excoriated for having fun with third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld in a sport with playoff implications. Coach Doug Pederson, three years faraway from a great Bowl title, was about to be fired. Franchise quarterback Carson Wentz had been unsettled by different to draft Jalen Hurts and melted down behind a battered offensive line. Wentz, too, can be gone inside months.

Now, the Eagles are again. Howie Roseman, the ultimate supervisor many followers wished out the door alongside Pederson and Wentz, rebuilt the roster in report time. group proprietor Jeffrey Lurie nailed the pinnacle-coach hiring of Nick Sirianni. Hurts, who was inside the midst of a 7-for-20 day earlier than being benched for Sudfeld in that Week 18 sport, has grown proper into a star.

in any case, there’s life after getting fired by the Eagles. After the 2012 season, Andy Reid was run out of metropolis by Philadelphia fan base. Reid immediately went to Kansas metropolis and revitalized the Chiefs. Plus, when he linked up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he all of a sudden discovered how one can win inside the playoffs! Reid’s Chiefs have gained one great Bowl and are again of their third title sport in 4 years.

When Reid joined the Chiefs, many coaches on the earlier workers had been let go. one in every of them was Sirianni, a 31-12 months-outdated large receivers coach who had joined the workers beneath Todd Haley and caught round for the non everlasting tenure of Romeo Crennel. It has been too prolonged for this to be a revenge sport for both coach, however let’s not pretend that what occurred so far does not add at the very least barely little bit of gas to the hearth. — invoice Barnwell, senior NFL author

be taught extra: Barnwell’s ultimate preview … First have a look at great Bowl LVII … Which group has the roster edge? … FiveThirtyEight’s great Bowl safety … The highway to great Bowl as instructed by off-subject antics

ESPN’s FPI is virtually chop up down the center, as a outcome of it has the Chiefs worthwhile fifty one.eight% of the simulations to forty eight.2% for the Eagles. The Chiefs are favored to win by a imply of zero.5 factors.
This matchup is a showdown between the very most interesting two teams in FPI, with the Chiefs (thirteen.1) in first and the Eagles (thirteen.zero) in second. The Chiefs are not any. 1 in offense (Eagles are second), and Philadelphia is not any. 1 in protection (Kansas metropolis is ninth).
The Chiefs started the season at No. 7 inside the FPI, whereas the Eagles had been No. 9 inside the preseason. No. 7 was the Chiefs’ lowest FPI rating of the season, whereas the Eagles’ was No. 10 in Week 4.
inside the preseason, each the Eagles and Chiefs had a 7.5% probability of making the great Bowl, with Kansas metropolis given a three.9% probability to win it to Philadelphia’s three.4%.

Who wins the sport?

Why Kezirian is choosing the Eagles to win great Bowl LVII

Doug Kezirian breaks down why he thinks the Eagles will dominate the Chiefs to win great Bowl LVII.

We requested seventy one specialists to weigh in on who will win. The Eagles had been picked by forty five of them (sixty three.4%), whereas the Chiefs claimed 26 votes (forty three.4%).

be taught extra: ESPN workers predictions … Madden’s great Bowl simulation … Chris Berman’s Swami Sez

biggest questions

Can the Chiefs shield Patrick Mahomes and his injured ankle? The Eagles led the league in sacks by a large margin and usually do not should blitz to get to the opposing quarterback. They rank first in each go rush win cost (fifty two%) and sack cost (eleven%), collectively with fifth in strain proportion (33%). And Mahomes does not decide to be as cell as he was all by means of the common season given his current extreme ankle sprain. fixed strain on Mahomes ruined the Chiefs’ probabilities of worthwhile great Bowl LV in direction of the Buccaneers two years in the past, nonetheless the Chiefs have upgraded their offensive line since then. they might have their linemen — who lead the league in go block win cost this season (seventy six%) — to play effectively in the event that they are going to current Mahomes an alternative. — Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter

How very important is the Eagles’ go rush on this sport? Philadelphia racked up 70 sacks all by means of the common season — third most in NFL historic previous — whereas altering into the one group to have 4 gamers attain 10-plus sacks in a season since sacks grew to become an official stat in 1982. Edge rusher Haason Reddick has led the most interesting strategy with 19.5 takedowns, collectively with the playoffs. He took over the NFC Championship sport with two sacks, three pressures, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration inside the foremost half alone and knocked 49ers QB Brock Purdy out of the sport on a strip sack. The Eagles boast the No. 1 go protection inside the NFL thanks largely to the work up entrance, however Mahomes is one in every of the most interesting quarterback they’ve confronted inside the postseason by a large margin. in the event that they will win the matchup up entrance and get after a hobbled Mahomes, the Eagles have an unbelievable alternative of leaving Arizona as champions. — Tim McManus, Eagles reporter

Canty: Eagles’ D-line has to place strain on Mahomes

Chris Canty breaks down why the Eagles’ 4-man rush has to place strain on Patrick Mahomes in the event that they hope to win great Bowl LVII.

Key stats to know

group stats: Chiefs | Eagles

The Chiefs averaged most probably the most passing yards per sport all by means of the common season (298), whereas the Eagles allowed the fewest passing yards per sport on protection (a hundred and eighty). in accordance with the Elias sports activities Bureau, it is simply the third great Bowl matchup to attribute the No. 1 passing offense in direction of the No. 1 passing protection. inside the foremost two cases, the defensive group gained convincingly, with the Seahawks beating the Broncos in great Bowl XLVIII and the Buccaneers topping the Raiders in great Bowl XXXVII.
questioning how even this sport is? The Chiefs and Eagles have the identical report (sixteen-three). They’ve scored the identical quantity of factors (546). and in addition they’ve the identical quantity of All-professionals (six). each the Chiefs and Eagles did not path in a sport this postseason. in accordance with Elias, this might even be the foremost great Bowl the place each teams entered with out trailing at any level all by means of their postseason run since great Bowl XXXIX inside the 2004 season between the Eagles and the Patriots.
Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts have been the two most interesting quarterbacks passing from the pocket this season in a quantity of classes. collectively with the playoffs, Mahomes is first in complete QBR (seventy two.7) and second in TD-INT ratio (37-eight). Hurts is second in complete QBR (sixty nine.5) and first in TD-INT ratio (21-4). furthermore, Mahomes has most probably the most touchdown passes from contained in the pocket, whereas Hurts has the very most interesting completion proportion (sixty six.5%). Mahomes led the NFL with 5,250 passing yards all by means of the common season. No participant has ever led the league in passing yards and gained the great Bowl in that very identical season.
this might even be the foremost great Bowl matchup between Black starting quarterbacks. Mahomes will start his third great Bowl, and Hurts can be the eighth fully different Black quarterback to start out an great Bowl. And at a mixed fifty one years, 337 days of age on great Bowl Sunday, they might surpass Joe Montana and Dan Marino (great Bowl XIX) as a outcome of the youngest great Bowl quarterback matchup of all time.
large receiver A.J. Brown had an Eagles single-season report 1,496 receiving yards this season, the sixth most by a participant to understand the great Bowl in historic previous. This season, the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce led all tight ends in receptions per sport, receiving yards per sport and yards after the catch per sport, collectively with the playoffs. (Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert ranked extreme 5 in all of these areas as effectively, collectively with second in yards after the catch per sport.)
collectively with playoffs, Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones has 17.5 sacks this season, which is the third most by a foremost defensive sort out in a season as a outcome of the stat grew to become official in 1982. He has already recorded eight pressures as an inside defensive lineman this postseason.
Travis Kelce and Eagles center Jason Kelce each reaching the great Bowl marks the foremost time that brothers have opposed every fully different. In great Bowl XLVII, John and Jim Harbaugh grew to become the foremost brothers to prepare in direction of every fully different.

daring predictions

Haason Reddick will get a quantity of sacks to assist the Eagles shut down the Chiefs. Philadelphia led the league in go rush win cost this season, and Reddick was a key motive why, registering sixteen sacks all by means of the common season and three.5 extra inside the playoffs. What makes the Eagles’ go rush so imposing is its ample depth, with 4 gamers recording 10 or extra sacks, and it will make it exhausting for the Chiefs to give consideration to anyone participant. although Kansas metropolis’s offensive line was tops inside the NFL in go block win cost, its energy is on the inside. So Philadelphia would possibly goal offensive tackles Andrew Wylie and Orlando Brown Jr. on the sting. count on Reddick to be lined up in spots to disrupt Mahomes and the Chiefs’ passing sport very associated to what he did to the 49ers inside the NFC Championship sport. — Eric Moody, NFL analyst

Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon will mix for eighty-plus receiving yards. Eagles cornerbacks James Bradberry and Darius Slay will stifle Kansas metropolis’s exterior receivers, and that will let Philadelphia’s protection throw further consideration to the center of the sphere in making an try to decelerate Travis Kelce. That leaves the working backs as potential shops for Mahomes, who might should rely upon them larger than traditional. Plus, with Mahomes probably much less cell than regular as a outcomes of his ankle damage, the Chiefs will want to make the most of the working backs as escape valves to maintain away from taking sacks by the arms of the Eagles’ go rush. The outcome? an monumental day receiving-clever for the two Kansas metropolis backs. — Seth Walder, analytics author

How the Chiefs’ run sport can exploit the Eagles’ weaknesses

Mike Tannenbaum breaks down how Isiah Pacheco and the Chiefs’ run sport might very effectively be the X assume about great Bowl LVII.

Patrick Mahomes will larger than double his speeding output from the previous two video games mixed. it is no secret that Mahomes has been navigating a proper extreme ankle sprain as a outcome of the divisional spherical, and it confirmed inside the AFC Championship sport. In apparent ache at instances and collectively with his directional mobility clearly restricted, Mahomes netted solely eight yards speeding, 5 of which occurred on the fateful third-down play on the ultimate drive. however his potential to final the complete 4 quarters and be simply cell enough to make key performs simply one week submit-damage hints at Mahomes’ potential with one other two weeks of restoration beneath his belt. Coach Andy Reid will try to catch the vaunted Eagles protection off guard by factoring Mahomes into key run situations, which ought to current the sting the Chiefs should safe the win. — Stephania Bell, NFL analyst

The quarterback matchup

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Mahomes had one other MVP-extreme quality season. He had his second profession 5,000-yard season and led the NFL in touchdown passes with forty one. he is effectively seasoned on the NFL’s biggest phases, provided that this might probably be his 14th postseason sport in 5 seasons as a starter. he is 10-three so far in these contests. His ankle is a precedence, however Mahomes threw for 326 yards and two touchdown passes inside the AFC Championship sport with the damage. He additionally scrambled on the Chiefs’ ultimate offensive play, which led to a Bengals late-hit penalty that put Kansas metropolis in place to kick the worthwhile subject objective. Mahomes joins Tom Brady as a outcome of the one quarterbacks to start out in three great Bowls inside their first six seasons, and he now has most probably the most playoff touchdown passes (32) and passing yards (three,902) by any quarterback earlier than his thirtieth birthday in NFL historic previous. — Teicher

Jalen Hurts, Eagles

Hurts, a shock second-spherical decide by the Eagles in 2020, has taken a vital leap in his second 12 months as a outcome of the complete-time starter. He put collectively an MVP-caliber common season, throwing for three,701 yards with 22 touchdown passes to six interceptions whereas speeding for 760 yards and thirteen scores. the largest enchancment in his sport has been as a pocket passer. Over his first two seasons, Hurts ranked twenty eighth in completion proportion and twenty ninth in touchdown-to-interception ratio contained in the pocket. This season, he was first in each classes, per ESPN Stats & information evaluation. an monumental question surrounding Hurts is the well being of his throwing shoulder. earlier to spraining his SC joint, he was ending sixty seven% of his passes, as in contrast with sixty one% since his return. And his off-goal proportion on passes of 20-plus yards has jumped from 35% to 50% as a outcome of the damage. — McManus

Why Joe Fortenbaugh is taking the beneath for Jalen Hurts’ passing yards

Joe Fortenbaugh breaks down why he takes the beneath for Jalen Hurts’ passing yards inside the great Bowl.

be taught extra: How Hurts silenced his critics … Mahomes: Historic matchup with Hurts ‘particular’ … Jeffrey Lurie on Hurts’ looming extension: Nothing left to show … The QB battle that unlocked Mahomes … Sting of LV loss Mahomes’ motivation to get again to great Bowl … Stacking NFL QB bargains: great Bowl starters on the very most interesting

Jeremy Fowler, nationwide NFL author: Miles Sanders. The Eagles’ offense is predicated on its dominant run sport, and their starting working again can cap his breakout season with a late-sport rating. Sanders has had a quantity of touchdowns in 4 video games this season.

Dan Graziano, nationwide NFL author: Mahomes. i do know the common-season MVP hasn’t gained the great Bowl since Kurt Warner in great Bowl XXXIV, however Mahomes has defied all the pieces this season. From retooling the offense submit-Tyreek Hill with out lacking a beat to worthwhile two playoff video games on a nasty ankle, Mahomes on a daily basis finds a strategy.

Jason Reid, senior Andscape author: Mahomes. merely put, Mahomes is the league’s most interesting participant. he is a generational expertise on the sport’s most vital place, and he is second to none as a pacesetter. Any questions?

Seth Wickersham, NFL author: Haason Reddick. the most interesting method to cease the Chiefs’ offense is to strain Mahomes with out blitzing, and the Eagles’ dominant edge rusher will expose a Kansas metropolis offense line that is good however not good.

Of the seventy one specialists who weighed in, 33 (forty six.4%) picked Jalen Hurts to win great Bowl MVP. See all of our specialists’ picks.
Hurts (+a hundred twenty five) and Mahomes (+a hundred thirty) are the betting favorites at Caesars Sportsbook. Behind them, Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce is +a thousand and Eagles receiver A.J. Brown is +1500. Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith (+2500), Sanders (+2500) and Reddick (+3500) are subsequent in line.

be taught extra: Kelce ‘pretty constructive’ Mahomes will win MVP

contained in the sport plan

preserve your eyes on the sides on this sport, the place Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon can scheme for go-rushers Reddick and Josh Sweat out of 5-man fronts to get outlined one-on-ones. collectively with the playoffs, Reddick and Sweat have mixed for 32 sacks and 86 complete pressures. they’re affect gamers with disruptive traits who can create matchup factors in space in direction of Chiefs offensive tackles Andrew Wylie and Orlando Brown Jr. and in addition they should be ready to restrict Mahomes’ potential to enhance exterior of the pocket. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

Chiefs X challenge: Chris Jones, DT

One place Hurts struggles is throwing on the run and outdoor the pocket. the most interesting method to get him there? inside strain from Jones, who led all defensive tackles in go rush win cost regardless of being double-teamed larger than anyone else taking half in the place. it is not an simple matchup, as Eagles guards Landon Dickerson and Isaac Seumalo are strong in go safety. however Jones is by far the Chiefs’ most interesting go-rusher and presents an important alternative for the protection. even when he does not sack Hurts, he can significantly disrupt the Eagles’ passing sport. — Walder

Eagles X challenge: T.J. Edwards, LB

Edwards, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, linebacker Kyzir White, safety Marcus Epps and probably cornerback Avonte Maddox might all qualify. In fully different phrases, the defensive collective that will very effectively be chargeable for marking Travis Kelce inside the midst of the sphere. The Eagles have lockdown corners on the floor, nonetheless the Chiefs’ biggest menace is Kelce inside the center. Edwards, who was most probably the most frequent nearest defender on tight finish targets this season, has allowed simply zero.6 yards per safety snap (effectively under the zero.9 common for linebackers) and has generated minus-5.4 receptions over expectation in direction of, per NFL subsequent Gen Stats. — Walder

beneath-the-radar affect participant: Mike Danna, DE, Chiefs

Chris Jones deservedly attracts the overwhelming majority of defensive headlines for the Chiefs as one in every of many NFL’s most interesting gamers, whereas defensive finish Frank Clark has been one in every of many productive sack mills in league playoff historic previous. however Danna ought to not be missed as a part of Kansas metropolis’s wave of go-rushers. He performed about forty one% of the Chiefs’ common-season snaps and performs with an unmistakable vitality. This sport might effectively be decided inside the trenches, and Danna has the juice to make a sport-altering play collectively with his strain. He had 5 sacks and compelled two fumbles this season. — subject Yates, NFL analyst

be taught extra: How Reddick morphed into an NFL sport-wrecker … go-rushers Clark, Jones placing QBs on discover

Rookie report

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs

there is an monumental subject of Chiefs rookies to choose out from, as a outcome of of a unbelievable 2022 draft class. Pacheco, a seventh-rounder who has the prospect to actually get away on this sport, averaged virtually 5 yards per carry this season en path to 830 yards and 5 touchdowns. He has the vitality and pace wished to maintain the Eagles’ entrance seven off steadiness, and he runs with an aggression and burst hardly ever seen at 216 kilos. Pacheco might very effectively be leaned on to maintain the Philadelphia go rush from teeing off on Mahomes. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst

Reed Blankenship, S, Eagles

With a roster absolutely loaded with veterans, the Eagles have not seen a lot manufacturing from their rookie class. nonetheless the undrafted safety has been an unbelievable discover for Philadelphia. He stuffed in at a quantity of spots inside the secondary all by means of the common season, and his productive play has continued into the postseason; Blankenship has eleven tackles, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration over two video games. he’ll probably be referred to as upon repeatedly on the again finish to decelerate Mahomes and the array of potent decisions inside the Chiefs’ passing sport. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst

how one can guess great Bowl LVII

current line from Caesars Sportsbook: Eagles -1.5 (fifty one.zero)
PickCenter | What to know

complete passing yards for Mahomes: Over/beneath 294.5
complete passing yards for Hurts: Over/beneath 241.5
complete sacks by each teams: Over/beneath 5.5
complete touchdowns inside the sport: Over/beneath 5.5

teams which have coated the unfold inside the great Bowl have gained the sport outright in 12 of the previous thirteen great Bowls, with the Cincinnati Bengals ending the streak final 12 months by overlaying the 4.5-level unfold however shedding to the la Rams. In great Bowl historic previous, favorites are 27-27-2 straight up. The previous 4 great Bowls went beneath the ultimate, and unders are 28-26-1 all-time inside the great Bowl (excluding great Bowl I). At a different of 1.5, this might even be the ninth great Bowl to close with a line beneath a subject objective and the fifth to close beneath two factors. The closest great Bowl unfold is 1 (Patriots vs. Seahawks in great Bowl XLIX and Bengals vs. 49ers in great Bowl XVI).

Why bettors ought to take the over in great Bowl LVII

Tyler Fulghum breaks down why he is taking the over between the Chiefs and the Eagles in great Bowl LVII.

Patrick Mahomes enters the great Bowl having been favored in all thirteen profession playoff begins, the longest streak by any quarterback to start his profession with out being an underdog inside the great Bowl period. The Eagles had been 25-1 when the season started, which might make them the largest preseason prolonged photographs to win the great Bowl since 2017 — the one fully different time the Eagles gained the great Bowl (forty-1 preseason). — David Bearman, ESPN sports activities Betting

be taught extra: great Bowl XLII betting information … Liz Loza’s 5 props that pop … QB/RB props … WR/TE props … Fantasy props … Printable prop BINGO card … Printable sq. pool

who’s in, and who’s out?

damage studies: Chiefs | Eagles

The Chiefs are assured they might have all of the large receivers on the energetic roster accessible inside the great Bowl. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney each left the AFC Championship sport early as a outcomes of accidents, however each have participated in observe and seem ready to go barring a setback. The question relating to Mahomes was by no means whether or not he was going to play however comparatively how efficient he might very effectively be collectively with his extreme ankle sprain. Coach Andy Reid mentioned the quarterback had progressed to the objective the place he might bodily deal with all the pieces the Chiefs have of their sport plan. — Teicher

The Eagles are slated to have all 22 of their real starters on the sphere for great Bowl LVII. simply a few gamers will probably be taking half in by means of damage, although. an monumental one to look at is left guard Landon Dickerson, who will probably be carrying a defending brace round his hyperextended proper elbow. With Chiefs star defensive sort out Chris Jones constructive to line up over him, Dickerson should carry out at a extreme stage. Slot nook Avonte Maddox (toe) has been carrying a defending boot on and off in current weeks however is predicted to play. And Hurts has been dealing with a sprained throwing shoulder since Dec. 18 however is now two months faraway from the distinctive damage, so the Eagles aren’t inserting any restrictions on their quarterback. — McManus

be taught extra: Chiefs activate RB Edwards-Helaire, WR Hardman to IR … Eagles G Dickerson anticipated to play, supply says … Mahomes says ankle in ‘elevated spot’ heading into great Bowl

Meet the coaches

Andy Reid, Chiefs

Reid will change into the fifth coach to face a former group inside the great Bowl and first since Pete Carroll confronted the Patriots in great Bowl XLIX. he is eleven-7 inside the playoffs with the Chiefs (117-forty five inside the common season), and his 21 profession playoff wins are the NFL’s second-most all-time behind invoice Belichick (31). Reid might be the one head coach in NFL historic previous to win 10-plus playoff video games for two fully different franchises. One facet of his teaching that is distinctive is his potential to maintain his gamers accountable whereas additionally conserving it behind closed doorways. His gamers and teams enhance as a outcome of the season goes on with none negativity or drama surrounding his group. And Reid did an unbelievable job with the Kansas metropolis protection this 12 months, as rookies Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams and Bryan put together dinner all contributed. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst

Nick Sirianni, Eagles

Sirianni is in search of to change into the ninth particular person to win an great Bowl inside his first two seasons as a head coach, and at forty one years outdated, he might change into the fifth-youngest coach to ever win an great Bowl. Over two seasons, he is 23-eleven inside the common season and gained two of three playoff video games. he is a youthful, energetic and relatable coach, and the Eagles appear to have taken on his persona. What has been terribly spectacular is his potential to tailor the offense to Jalen Hurts’ strengths. That unit is environment nice, mistake-free and — with the evolution of Hurts’ downfield passing accuracy — virtually inconceivable to cease. Sirianni has additionally executed an unbelievable job of figuring out and hiring an beautiful workers, too, led by two youthful coordinators who should be head coaches themselves inside the shut to future (defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen). — Tannenbaum

be taught extra: contained in the 9-hour interview that led Reid to the Chiefs … Sirianni nonetheless motived by Reid snub … How Reid saved the Chiefs

How the Chiefs, Eagles acquired right here

The Chiefs went 14-three this season and gained the AFC West for the sixth straight season. It took Kansas metropolis a brief time to get going, as a outcome of it started 4-2 with a puzzling Week three loss to the struggling Colts, a Week 6 loss to the funds and are accessible-from-behind house wins in direction of the Chargers and Raiders in Weeks 2 and 5, respectively. A forty 4-23 victory on the 49ers (San Francisco’s final loss till the NFC Championship sport) in Week 7 appeared to kick the Chiefs into gear, as they gained 10 of their final eleven video games to grab the AFC’s No. 1 seed. the one loss in that stretch was a 27-24 loss in Cincinnati in Week thirteen, their third consecutive three-level loss to the Bengals. After dispatching the Jaguars 27-20 inside the divisional spherical, the Chiefs had one other probability at their Cincy nemesis. regardless of Mahomes being hobbled by a extreme ankle sprain suffered in direction of Jacksonville, his scramble (and an ensuing private foul) inside the ultimate seconds arrange Harrison Butker‘s sport-worthwhile subject objective, as a outcome of the Chiefs lastly bested the Bengals with a 23-20 win to advance to their third great Bowl in 4 seasons. — ESPN

Stephen A. disagrees with Irvin over his Jalen Hurts take

Stephen A. Smith and Michael Irvin debate whether or not Jalen Hurts or Patrick Mahomes can have the elevated sport in great Bowl LVII.

The Eagles additionally went 14-three, worthwhile the NFC East for the foremost time since 2019 to make their second straight playoff berth. They started out as a outcome of the league’s hottest group, staying undefeated larger than a month longer than all people else. Philadelphia gained its first eight video games earlier than falling to the Commanders at house in Week 10. That loss was shortly shrugged off, as a outcome of the Eagles rolled off 5 extra wins to place them on the cusp of clinching the very most interesting seed inside the NFC. however that wished to attend, as Hurts suffered a shoulder damage in a Week 15 win over the Bears which knocked him out for two weeks, ensuing in consecutive losses to the Cowboys and Saints to maintain the NFC East in play. Hurts returned for the season finale in direction of the Giants, which the Eagles gained to clinch the division, homefield benefit and an important bye. The rested Eagles romped of their two playoff video games, steamrolling the Giants 38-7 inside the divisional spherical earlier than the protection teed off on the 49ers in a 31-7 win inside the NFC Championship sport, advancing Philly to its fourth-ever great Bowl. — ESPN

What to know regarding the officiating

The appointment of Carl Cheffers as a outcome of the great Bowl referee has been met with pretty a quantity of takes. simply a few of them are improper, collectively with the suggestion that his 2022 common-season crew led the NFL in flags. whereas you embody penalties that had been declined or offset, his crew truly threw the NFL’s fourth-most flags inside the common season and was inside three flags of 5 fully different crews. In essence, Cheffers led a crew that ranked inside the very most interesting third of most probably the most flag-glad NFL crews.

this might probably be Cheffers’ second great Bowl so far three seasons and his third so far seven. The Chiefs absolutely preserve in thoughts that his crew threw thirteen flags in direction of them (eleven accepted) in great Bowl LV, and in addition they did not love his name for roughing the passer in direction of defensive lineman Chris Jones in Week 5 of this season. nonetheless the NFL clearly trusts him larger than one other referee to deal with its highest-precedence sport. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter

be taught extra: Goodell defends officiating: ‘by no means been elevated’ … Cheffers will probably be lead referee for great Bowl LVII

who’s taking half in the halftime current?

Rhianna is making her extremely-anticipated great Bowl debut and her first on-stage efficiency as a outcome of the 2018 Grammys. Her final album “Anti” dropped in 2016. She accomplished that 12 months with three.2 billion on-demand streams and further cemented her title in music historic previous as one in every of many highest-grossing feminine artists of all time.

🤫

#SBLVII #AppleMusicHalftime pic.twitter.com/rfZgTrX103

— Rihanna (@rihanna) January thirteen, 2023

She has since taken a break from the music enterprise and focused on ventures which have made her a billionaire businesswoman. She started her two biggest ventures — cosmetics mannequin Fenty magnificence and lingerie mannequin Savage X Fenty — in 2017 and 2018, respectively. For great Bowl LVII, Rihanna launched a restricted-version Savage X Fenty line, which has been purchased out since January.

Her extreme songs are elevate Me Up (Black Panther: Wakanda perpetually), Umbrella, We found Love and Love on the mind.

be taught extra: Rhianna logging prolonged hours for great Bowl halftime current