Three weeks into the 2023 NFL playoffs, we come to the final two teams: the Chiefs and the Eagles. The Super Bowl 52 matchup has been set, featuring two of the NFL’s most prolific offenses this year as Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts battle it out for the MVP candidate. Not only that, but in the title game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid will face off against Philadelphia, the city where he built his NFL career; and Pro Bowl brothers Travis and Jason Kelce will face off against each other for their second Lombardi trophy.
Here’s everything you need to know right now:
how to watch
date: Sunday, February 12
time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Place: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ)
television: fox | stream: fuboTV (free trial)
Odds: Eagles -2, O/U 49.5
how competitors got here
The road to the Super Bowl is paved long before the season begins. Here’s an in-depth analysis of the final two teams, including their key acquisitions, season-defining wins and full 2022 schedule results:
Early Odds and Predictions
featured games | Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The earliest odds had the Eagles as the 2-point favorite, and SportsLine’s initial simulations saw it as a coin flip: the Chiefs won more than 50% of the simulations, but the Eagles actually scored more points per simulation on average (23.7 to 23.6). SportsLine’s Stephen Oh thinks Sunday’s results could tip the simulation in Philadelphia’s favor after the Eagles dominated the 49ers and the Chiefs had a modest offensive win in a close win over the Bengals. .
key matchup
- Chiefs TE Travis Kelce vs. Eagles S CJ Gardner-Johnson: No one is more open than Kelce, who has been Mahomes’ top target when it matters most, and Philly may need multiple bodies to keep the No. 87 a secret. The high-energy Gardner-Johnson is the most logical candidate to follow the big man, who has hit both five corners and safety.
- Chiefs OT Orlando Brown Jr. vs. Eagles LB Haason Reddick: Protecting Mahomes will be crucial for Kansas City as the star QB returns from a high ankle sprain that at least keeps him limping against the Bengals. Brown has been steadfast in defending his blind spot, but Redick has been a one-man wrecking team as the Eagles’ upright rusher, knocking Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson out of the NFC Championship Game.
- Eagles WR DeVonta Smith vs. Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson: The latter had a busy playoffs, taking both Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow. But he or Trent McDuffie will likely go all-out against Smith, who has proven to be one of the game’s most underrated baserunners and jump-ball artists, paired with AJ Brown for the Eagles.
entertainment
This year’s Super Bowl halftime show will feature Grammy-winning pop star Rihanna, while the pregame national anthem will be sung by Grammy-winning country music star Chris Stapleton. Grammy-winning R&B artist Babyface will also open with “America the Beautiful,” and Emmy-winning actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph will perform “Raise Every Voice and Sing.”
prophecy
It’s the best Super Bowl matchup of the four possibilities going into Sunday’s title game, partly because of the connection between the two sides — Reed vs. Philly and Kelces vs. Kelces angles — but mostly because of it. There is one very solid offense against another. Mahomes and Hurts are the most consistent playmakers at their positions for most of 2022, and both QBs think they have a decent chance at this point. Mahomes will have a week to heal his injured ankle before playing again, while the Hurts will face a more vulnerable pass “D” than San Francisco. The Mahomes-Reid contingent has clearly been there and done it, so it’s hard to bet against them. But the Eagles are so well-rounded and win in different ways, so we’ll give an early nod.call it 28-27 Eagles win.
