The Caesars Superdome of New Orleans is hosting Super Bowl LIX this Sunday, an anticipated rematch of Super Bowl LVII between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City is no stranger to the big game, as it’s the team’s fifth Super Bowl appearance in the last six years; according to a Tuesday CBS Sports article.
The Chiefs advanced to seven straight American Football Conference championships, coming within one game of matching the all-time record set by the New England Patriots from 2011 to 2018, according to the same CBS Sports article.
The team defeated the Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII after a controversial defensive holding call against the Eagles’ cornerback, James Bradberry IV, to set up a game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker.
The loss has fueled the Eagles' desire for revenge, even for a particular member of the team who wasn’t a part of the Super Bowl LVII loss, superstar running back Saquon Barkley, playing in his first Super Bowl of his career this Sunday.
Now that he's in the Super Bowl with his new teammates, Barkley says he wants nothing more than to help them earn revenge, according to a Jan. 31 article on NFL.com.
This year, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have the chance to make history and do something unprecedented in the Super Bowl era of the NFL.
Coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories, Kansas City has the opportunity to win a third straight Super Bowl, also known as a three-peat, according to a Jan. 27, FOX Sports.
No NFL team has three-peated in the Super Bowl era (1966-present). Even though the Chiefs have the opportunity to accomplish a milestone never seen before, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the chance for a three-peat is not at the forefront of their minds.
Reid said that, though he'd been asked about it in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, he hasn't heard anyone on the Chiefs talking about the potential milestone, according to a Jan. 31 article on Yahoo Sports,
To accomplish this historic feat, the Chiefs must stop the Eagles’ run-heavy offense. Philly’s offense is led by starting quarterback Jalen Hurts and star Barkley.
With only needing 29 more yards, Barkley could become the single-season rushing leader between the regular season and playoffs, according to a Jan. 31, Sporting News article.
After his 118-yard, three-touchdown game against the Washington Commanders in the National Football Conference championship, Barkley sits second-place all-time behind Denver Broncos Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis, according to the same article.
Barkley has a chance to break Davis' record this Sunday. After signing with the Eagles, he envisioned making the Super Bowl with them.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is coming off a 14-3 regular season record and is also looking for revenge after the heartbreaking ending of the last Super Bowl matchup, according to a Jan. 27 ESPN article.
The team has the best defense and running game in the NFL, along with a potent offense.
Running behind a strong offensive line, Barkley has completely revamped this offense under Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Barkley’s versatile play style has paid off as he led the league in rushing with 2,005 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, according to NFL.com stats page.
Philadelphia's defensive game plan will be crucial in limiting the offense of Reid, Mahomes, and tight end Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs entered the playoffs as the number one seed in the American Football Conference, finishing with an NFL best 15-2 record and enjoying a first-round bye.
Although he didn’t put up MVP numbers this season, Mahomes still passed for 26 touchdowns, which ranked him ninth in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
If this past year indicates what the Chiefs can do, they tend to find ways to win close games. The Chiefs have won an NFL record with 17 consecutive games decided by one score, according to a Saturday ESPN article.
In close games, it usually comes down to the big men in the trenches with the offensive and defensive linemen.
The Eagles offensive line must protect Jalen Hurts from Kansas City’s aggressive pass rush, which includes all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.
The game is not the only form of entertainment the Super Bowl offers, as the presence of well-known celebrities attracts viewers from all demographics.
Celebrities such as world-famous artist Taylor Swift are expected to attend. Swift, who is in a relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, has added another layer of excitement and entertainment for fans who may be new to the sport.
This year’s 2025 Apple Music Halftime Show will feature Grammy-award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, with a guest appearance by SZA, according to an article on Fox Sports.
Fans can expect an eventful week, with multiple events leading up to the big game and star-studded performances such as The One Party by Uber, led by Travis Scott on Feb. 7, according to a Billboard article.
Mahomes and the Chiefs want to prove that the impossible can be achieved by winning three straight Super Bowls, while Hurts and the Eagles want to prove they can take out the Chiefs dynasty.
The stage in New Orleans is set, and the world is ready for an all-time clash between two heavyweight football teams.
