NEW ORLEANS — Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy versus Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore versus Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Super Bowl LIX at the Superdome will be a matchup of some of the brightest minds in the NFL. And some of the oldest, too: Fangio and Reid are 66, while Spagnuolo is 65.
When the Chiefs (17-2) go for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat in a rematch from two years ago against the Eagles (17-3) on Sunday (6:30 p.m. Eastern on Fox), the game will come down to what Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive lineman Chris Jones and teammates do on the field against Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, Running back Saquon Barkley, defensive lineman Jalen Carter and the rest of a talented roster.
It starts, though, with the coaches, the coordinators and their schemes. They have to devise the correct game plan and make the best play calls.
The Chiefs were in the middle of the NFL pack in offense this season, ranking 16th in total yards, but Reid has been an offensive mastermind for three decades (including during his run as Eagles head coach from 1999 to 2012 before taking over in Kansas City the following season), and Mahomes is always capable of making some magic, especially on the biggest stage.
They’ll face off against Fangio, who inherited one of the league’s worst units and turned it into the No. 1 defense in the NFL in his first season in Philadelphia.
The Eagles had the second-best rushing offense thanks to Barkley’s historic season and Hurts has receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, so the passing attack is potentially dangerous despite finishing 29th during the regular season.
They have to find a way against Spagnuolo, who came up with the perfect plan to prevent the New England Patriots from a perfect season 17 years ago. Spagnuolo won his first championship ring as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants and has won three more with the Chiefs.
Here’s a closer look at the matchups.
AP photo by Peter Joneleit / Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni walks the sideline during a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 29.WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL
Barkley. Barkley. Barkley. This season’s NFL offensive player of the year has 2,447 rushing yards and 18 TDs (including seven scores of 60-plus yards) counting the regular season and the playoffs. Everything starts with him.
He has been spectacular this season and can take it the distance every time he touches the ball, but the Eagles have plenty more firepower. Hurts is a threat to run, which helps keep defenses guessing, and that helped Barkley become the best home run hitter in the NFL.
Despite pedestrian passing stats, Hurts has been productive. He takes care of the ball, tossing just five interceptions this season and only one in his past 15 games. He had a 103.7 passer rating and had big games through the air when the Eagles needed him against the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game two weeks ago and the Pittsburgh Steelers in mid-December.
Brown is an elite receiver, while Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are top targets for Hurts, too.
The key to Philadelphia’s success on offense is one of the top lines in the NFL, led by tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
Spagnuolo can make things difficult even for the best teams. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Randy Moss and the rest of a stellar team coached by Bill Belichick found out almost two decades ago in the Super Bowl.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen got another taste of it in the AFC championship game two weeks ago when Spagnuolo sent a corner blitz on fourth-and-5 with the game on the line.
Kansas City’s defense finished ninth overall during the regular season, allowing the fourth-fewest points.
Jones is an All-Pro interior lineman, edge rusher George Karlaftis led the team with eight sacks, and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton had 6.5. Cornerback Trent McDuffie was a second-team All-Pro, and his matchup with Brown could be a classic.
Protecting the quarterback will be crucial for Philadelphia, though Hurts has the ability to escape and scramble for long gains.
Sirianni turned the offense over to Moore, a first-year Eagles coordinator likely coaching his last game with Philadelphia. Moore is expected to become the head coach for the New Orleans Saints after the Super Bowl.
WHEN THE CHIEFS HAVE THE BALL
The Chiefs had the league’s 14th-ranked passing offense behind Mahomes and the 22nd-ranked rushing attack. The Eagles were No. 1 overall and against the pass, 10th against the run and second best in scoring.
Mahomes is 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses, but teams that were first in defense are 10-2 in the Super Bowl since 1970.
The Kansas City quarterback is a master at making plays and finding ways to win games, especially close ones. He had subpar numbers by his standards during the regular season — 3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 93.5 rating — but there’s a reason why he was the MVP of each of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victories over the past five years.
Kelce, despite his production dropping off in the regular season, is a prime-time player in the postseason, and the receiver corps is no slouch with three-time All-Pro first-teamer DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are effective runners.
All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and All-Pro center Creed Humphrey anchor the offensive line, along with right guard Trey Smith. Thuney is playing left tackle right now.
They’ll be tasked with keeping Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith away from Mahomes. Brandon Graham, whose strip-sack of Brady sealed Philadelphia’s only Super Bowl victory seven years ago, is coming back from a torn tricpes to bolster the rush.
All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun will play an important role against Mahomes, and rookie slot cornerback Cooper DeJean going against Kelce could determine the game. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay give Philadelphia a top tandem against the pass.
Reid is creative and not afraid to add different wrinkles. Fangio disguises coverages and aims to take away big plays.
Mahomes was under constant pressure in his only Super Bowl loss four years ago, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers overwhelmed the Chiefs as Brady won his seventh ring. The Eagles have to make Mahomes uncomfortable to have a chance.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has been shaky this season. He was 28-for-36 on field-goal attempts in the regular season, including just 1-of-7 from beyond 50 yards. He’s 6-for-7 on field-goal tries in the playoffs but has missed three extra-point attempts.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made the winning field goal against the Eagles two years ago in the Super Bowl and hit a tying field goal to force overtime last year against the San Francisco 49ers. He was 21-of-25 on field-goal attempts in the most recent regular season and missed two extra-point tries. He is 9-for-9 on kicks in the playoffs.
The Eagles averaged 9.2 yards on punt returns and 26.5 on kick returns.
The Chiefs averaged 9.9 yards on punt returns and 27.1 on kick returns.
COACHING
Sirianni was thought to be coaching for his job this season, and the fickle folks in Philly were calling for him to be fired after a 2-2 start, but he just keeps winning. He has the fifth-best winning percentage in NFL history and is the only coach in franchise history to reach the Super Bowl twice.
Reid is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires. He already has three Super Bowl rings and is the winningest coach in the history of the Chiefs and the Eagles.
INTANGIBLES
The Eagles came close two years ago and know anything less than winning a Lombardi trophy won’t be considered a success in Philadelphia. They’re not satisfied with just getting back to the big game.
The Chiefs are aiming to become the first team in the Super Bowl era to three-peat. Reid and Mahomes are chasing Belichick and Brady, who won six titles with the Patriots as the ultimate coach-and-quarterback tandem in Super Bowl history.