Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is making Super Bowl MVP odds history, and if Philly wins the big game, he will have his say.
This is far from a one-dimensional team, though. In addition to Barkley and the rushing attack, star receiver A.J. Brown headlines three reasons why the Eagles will defy the Super Bowl odds and defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
Three reasons why the Eagles will win the national championship
Defensive momentum
There’s no need to cherry pick statistics, because any meaningful defensive metric positions the Philadelphia Eagles among the NFL elite. What impresses me is the mounting momentum and collective confidence building as the season has progressed..
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has led the way in this stop unit turning a 180 from the group that allowed 32 points and bowed out during Wild Card Weekend last season. Additions through free agency and the draft helped, but it's Fangio’s fingerprints that have turned this defense from a messy finger painting into a true masterpiece.
The Eagles finished sixth in takeaways during the regular season and have added another 10 through three playoff games. This is the best defense the Kansas City Chiefs will face this season, and if the Philly defense plays to its potential on the biggest stage, the Eagles will win Super Bowl LIX under the brightest lights.
Winning at the line
If the Eagles protect quarterback Jalen Hurts and clear running lanes for Saquon Barkley while the defense creates consistent pressure on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
It could be just that simple, and the blueprint was on full display in Super Bowl LV when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers topped Kansas City 31-9.
The Eagles have the pieces to top the Chiefs in the trenches, too.
| Eagles | Chiefs | |
|---|---|---|
| PFF run block grade | 78.2 (4th) | 72.2 (8th) |
| ESPN run-block win rate | 72% (9th) | 73% (7th) |
| PFF pass block grade | 73.6 (6th) | 69.9 (13th) |
| ESPN pass-block win rate | 67% (6th) | 67% (8th) |
| PFF run defense grade | 76.9 (2nd) | 71.5 (10th) |
| ESPN run-stop win rate | 33% (3rd) | 30% (21st) |
| PFF pass rush grade | 89.2 (2nd) | 76.7 (5th) |
| ESPN pass-rush win rate | 43% (8th) | 37% (19th) |
A.J. Brown
A master at hauling in contested catches, churning out yards after the catch, and a touchdown threat whenever the ball’s in his hands or thrown his way, A.J. Brown coming down with the game-winning score or making a pivotal fourth-quarter reception shouldn’t surprise anyone.
The Chiefs are going to have to their hands full with the Philly rushing game, and it could easily be Brown who benefits from KC failing to fully account for him in the aerial attack.
After all, Brown paced all pass-catchers in ESPN's receiver scores while ranking third in PFF receiving grade among wideouts.
Be sure to check out our Super Bowl predictions for more expert betting advice ahead of the Big Game.
