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The Tremendous Bowl is the grandest stage of all of them. Tailored for gamers on the high of their sport to compete for the honour of being referred to as the perfect, it so usually options the largest stars of all of them. However they’re not all the time the gamers that make the largest affect. Family names might be made by a robust efficiency within the Tremendous Bowl, and the Eagles and Chiefs each have some unsung heroes who could make the entire distinction on Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles Offense
Mekhi Becton
The story of Mekhi Becton’s NFL profession up till 2024 had been affected by damage, misfortune and the occasional misstep. Becton began simply 30 video games in 4 seasons with the New York Jets earlier than becoming a member of the Eagles on a one-year, $2.75 million contract and transferring inside from left sort out to proper guard. Becton had the entire potential on the planet, however he wasn’t usurping Jordan Mailata, arguably the perfect left sort out in soccer, out of his hermetic place defending Jalen Hurts’ blindside. As a substitute, he began 15 video games at proper guard for the Eagles and began to spice up his inventory, reminding everybody why he was a former first-round choose because of his huge body, power and talent to casually displace defenders within the run sport.
Becton earned a 75.2 grade in 2024, the best grade of his profession and the Seventeenth-highest amongst guards whereas taking part in the place for the primary time. Numerous that may be accredited to Jeff Stoutland College. The Eagles’ offensive line coach is among the most revered coaches within the sport, and his fingerprints are throughout a number of completely different reclamation initiatives within the NFL, however Becton’s enhancements are, at the beginning, all the way down to his personal exhausting work.
He’ll be beginning in opposition to the Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl and will have one of the necessary assignments of the day: stopping Chris Jones. The Chiefs’ All-World defensive sort out has 11 pressures and a sack in two playoff video games this postseason and can look to claim his dominance on the grandest stage as soon as extra, however he’ll come up in opposition to a much-improved participant in Becton. Only one yr after a tricky season with the Jets the place he allowed 12 sacks at left sort out, Becton has turn into an necessary fixture on probably the greatest offensive traces within the NFL, albeit at a brand new place.
Will Shipley
Will Shipley’s motion within the 2024 common season was restricted. The Eagles’ fourth-round choose in 2024 was a significant contributor on particular groups, however he recorded simply 30 carries for 82 yards in 16 common season video games, averaging simply 2.7 yards per try. A 3rd of these carries got here within the season finale too, qw Shipley rushed for 32 yards on 10 carries in a 20-13 win in opposition to the New York Giants. It’s been exhausting for Shipley to make a dent within the Eagles’ offense because of its overwhelming expertise. Saquon Barkley has carried the speeding load and reached 2,000 speeding yards in 16 common season video games, and now, he has his eyes on historical past heading into the Tremendous Bowl.
Even past Barkley, Jalen Hurts rushed for 630 yards and 13 touchdowns within the common season. The vast majority of these scores got here by way of The Brotherly Shove, however Hurts remains to be probably the greatest speeding quarterbacks within the NFL. Kenneth Gainwell performs properly as a change-of-pace again and had the second-most carries of his profession within the common season. The purpose is that there are a variety of mouths to feed in Philadelphia, and although Shipley is proficient, he naturally isn’t on the high of the listing.
Nonetheless, he made his presence felt within the greatest manner within the NFC Championship Sport. Shipley returned the Commanders’ kickoff for 35 yards on the opening drive of the sport, setting the Eagles up on the 40-yard line and laying the trail for Barkley to attain a 60-yard landing run. Shipley confirmed up on particular groups on the finish of the primary half, this time by punching the ball out of Jeremy McNichols‘ palms for Gainwell to recuperate. That pressured fumble arrange one other landing drive for the Eagles. With the sport mentioned and finished, Shipley broke off a 57-yard rush earlier than including the primary landing of his profession moments later.
With Gainwell questionable forward of the sport, Shipley may step up and earn a number of carries whereas Barkley catches his breath, however even when he doesn’t, his grit and struggle on particular groups means he may step up and make a giant play as soon as once more.
Philadelphia Eagles Protection
Milton Williams
Milton Williams is the right instance of simply how deep the Eagles’ expertise pool actually is. The Eagles’ 2021 third-round choose has been a rotational defensive sort out in his first 4 NFL seasons however has all the time been an efficient pass-rusher within the coronary heart of the defensive position. Over the previous couple of seasons, Williams has patiently performed behind the likes of Fletcher Cox, Jalen Carter and Javon Hargrave. Nonetheless, he began 17 video games within the final two seasons and has actually turn into an necessary member of the defensive position.
Williams had a career-high 40 pressures and 6 sacks within the common season, and his 30 pressures from Week 10-onwards had been fifth amongst all defensive tackles. His season-long 90.4 pass-rushing grade was additionally second-highest on the place, trailing solely Chris Jones – inarguably probably the greatest pass-rushers of his era. And the manufacturing hasn’t appeared out of the blue both. Williams’ 9.6% stress charge is thirty ninth amongst all defensive tackles since 2021, and he posted 70.0-plus run-defense grades in 2022 and 2023. His grade slipped to 43.1 this season, however he supplemented that with the perfect pass-rushing efficiency of his younger profession.
His performances aided the Eagles’ protection to be the perfect within the NFL in 2024. They led the NFL in EPA per play allowed (-0.121), allowed the fewest whole yards per sport (278.4), and the second-fewest factors per sport (17.8) within the common season, as Vic Fangio’s unit metastasized its dominance throughout the league. Its spectacular performances have carried over to the playoffs, too, permitting simply 18.3 factors per sport – the second-lowest within the postseason. Williams’ 10 QB pressures within the postseason rank third on the defensive sort out place, and the Eagles know how you can use him appropriately. He could possibly be an issue for the Chiefs’ offensive line.
Oren Burks
The Eagles signed Oren Burks to a one-year contract within the offseason. His position was largely restricted to particular groups snaps, and he solely recorded 43 snaps on protection till Week 16. Burks recorded 19 tackles within the last two video games of the common season, incomes 81.8 and 77.9 grades in Weeks 17 and 18.
Nakobe Dean, sadly, suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee within the wild-card spherical win in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, because the Eagles’ protection misplaced a significant presence within the backbone of the unit. That meant that Burks shifted right into a beginning position with Dean sidelined, and the previous Packer has carried out properly, registering 16 tackles, two pressures and a sack in three playoff video games whereas additionally forcing two fumbles. Burks actually made his mark in opposition to the Commanders within the NFC title sport, incomes an 81.6 grade and registering seven stops on protection. His 73.7 grade ranks sixth amongst all linebackers within the postseason.
The Eagles protection is stuffed with expertise, and that expertise is a giant a part of the rationale it has been the perfect protection within the NFL. And the truth that even when the Eagles lose one in all their finest gamers in Dean, they’ve one other high quality linebacker who can step up and fill in is a testomony to the juggernaut they’ve created.
Burks, who spent final season with the San Francisco 49ers, will possible begin his second straight Tremendous Bowl in opposition to the Chiefs and might be aiming for a unique outcome. The Chiefs will possible assault the brief and intermediate areas of the sector between the numbers within the passing sport, and which means Burks may see a variety of snaps in protection. He allowed 4-of-5 catches in protection for 37 yards in opposition to the Commanders, and his 74.1 protection grade within the playoffs is second amongst all linebackers.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Offense
Mike Caliendo
The Chiefs offensive line is a well-drilled and cohesive unit, as all good offensive traces needs to be. It’s aided by the anchor of the road, Creed Humphrey, who’s arguably the perfect heart within the NFL. Humphrey was the highest-graded heart within the NFL in three of his first 4 seasons, together with in 2024 when he had a 92.3 grade within the common season. It additionally helps to have Patrick Mahomes, the perfect quarterback within the NFL, underneath heart. That could be a recipe for achievement.
Nonetheless, they Chiefs have struggled extra on the sort out spots because the season has progressed, and even signing D.J. Humphries in November to compete for a beginning spot hasn’t helped. Joe Thuney, probably the greatest guards within the NFL, has spent 5 of the final six video games at left sort out and allowed zero pressures in opposition to the Buffalo Payments. Altering positions to sort out has left a beginning guard spot open, and that’s up to now been crammed by Mike Caliendo. The previous undrafted free agent was used sparingly as an additional offensive lineman within the common season however has spent the final six weeks at left guard, together with each of the Chiefs’ playoff wins.
Caliendo has allowed six pressures and a sack in two playoff video games however has the prospect to be actual a game-changer within the Tremendous Bowl. The Eagles have probably the greatest defensive traces within the NFL, and a variety of its star energy is on the defensive inside. Caliendo will possible sq. up in opposition to Jalen Carter for a lot of the sport, and Carter is among the finest defenders within the sport, incomes 73 pressures within the common season and playoffs – third-most amongst all inside defenders.
Noah Grey
Noah Grey has been patiently biding his time, watching Travis Kelce flip into one of many best tight ends of all time, and one of the clutch playoff performers, too, all whereas ready for his alternative to shine. And after 4 seasons within the NFL, Grey has had these moments sporadically. He made some huge catches for the Chiefs within the playoffs in 2023, catching two passes for 22 yards within the Tremendous Bowl, however as Kelce’s efficiency dipped within the 2024 common season, Grey confirmed extra of his skillset, catching a career-high 40 passes for 437 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Now, Grey heads into the Tremendous Bowl following a profession yr and within the first yr of his new three-year contract. Too many gamers up to now have seen their performances dip within the first yr of a brand new deal, whereas Grey has flourished as his position on the Chiefs offense has solely snowballed into one thing larger. He’s solely caught three passes for 13 yards within the postseason, with all three catches coming in opposition to the Houston Texans within the divisional spherical, however there’s an opportunity Grey may step up within the Tremendous Bowl.
The Eagles protection is powerful up the center, and linebackers Zack Baun and Oren Burks might be actual components in protection. That is the perfect protection within the NFL in any case – there’s expertise all throughout the board. Nonetheless, Andy Reid is among the finest play-callers within the enterprise and is aware of whose quantity to name and when to name it, and Grey has proven that when his quantity known as, he’ll reply.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Protection
Jaylen Watson
Jaylen Watson has been a strong contributor for the Chiefs since he was drafted within the seventh spherical in 2022 however missed the second half of the 2024 season after breaking his fibula and tibia in opposition to the 49ers in Week 7. The third-year nook had allowed simply 192 yards in protection within the first seven weeks of the season, and his 74.2 protection ranked twenty first amongst on the place. His lengthy 6-foot-2 body allowed him to smother vast receivers, and Watson had 14 go breakups in his first three seasons within the league. He was a giant loss on the protection.
The Chiefs activated him simply in time for the playoffs, and Watson instantly resumed his position as a key cog on Steve Spagnuolo’s protection, taking part in 40 snaps in opposition to the Texans and 52 in opposition to the Payments. The Chiefs wanted him instantly, and he delivered, permitting simply three catches for 17 yards in two playoff video games whereas opposing quarterbacks earned a 66.3 passer score when concentrating on him.
As one of many Chiefs’ main boundary corners, Watson could have his work lower out in opposition to the Eagles within the Tremendous Bowl. The Eagles vast receiver duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is among the finest within the NFL, and if Watson is lined up in opposition to Brown, it’ll be a bodily battle from the primary bell. No matter who he’s lined up in opposition to, Watson goes to be a key issue in opposition to the Eagles within the passing sport, however he’s a robust tackler too, and needs to be anticipated to fill in in opposition to the run.
Mike Pennel
Mike Pennel has been across the block a number of occasions, however at age 33, he’s discovered an actual dwelling on the coronary heart of the Chiefs protection. The veteran defensive sort out helped the Chiefs win their first-ever Tremendous Bowl again in 2019 and returned in 2023 to assist them do it once more – and adopted that up by beginning seven video games in 2024 and serving to the Chiefs to their third-straight Tremendous Bowl.
Pennel’s power for a lot of his profession has been as a run-stuffing pressure in the midst of a protection, and he earned a 70.2 run-defense grade within the 2024 common season, his highest grade since 2019. He’s not a flashy participant, however Pennel can use his 6-foot-4, 332-pound body to close down speeding lanes, tackle double groups inside and grapple speeding assignments. That’ll be the aim in opposition to the Eagles, whose central sport plan might be to regulate the trenches and flex the power of their speeding sport.
Spagnuolo will use Pennel on these early-down fronts, asking him to win in opposition to a superb inside offensive line and to close down the speeding lanes which have created large holes for Saquon Barkley to assault. The Chiefs have allowed 148 yards per sport on the bottom within the playoffs, they usually’ll should be at their finest to cease, or at the least restrict, the Eagles. Pennel’s soiled work will play a task.
