Super Bowl 57 Logo. Photo Courtesy of National Football League

By Brian Hinchion Staff Reporter

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will meet each other for the first time in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb.12 in Glendale, Arizona. 

This year’s edition of the NFL’s championship game features both No. 1 seeds from each conference. Both the Chiefs and Eagles finished with the best records in the league during the regular season at 14-3. 

The Chiefs have had plenty of postseason success in recent years. They have reached the AFC championship game five years in a row, making it to the Super Bowl three times on this run, and winning once in 2020. It took a come-from-behind effort in the second half, but the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV, their first championship since the 1969 season. Super Bowl LVII will be the Chief’s third appearance in pro football’s final game in 5 years. 

The Eagles have also done their fair share of winning lately, making the playoffs five out of the last six years including a victory in Super Bowl LII. In 2018, they beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in a thrilling, high-scoring final game that saw the Eagles capture their first championship of the Super Bowl era. 

James Lyles, a senior majoring in Advertising and PR at California State University Dominguez Hills has a few things he is looking out for in this year’s championship. “The Mahomes factor back in the Super Bowl. I’m actually digging the storyline not being brought up much about Andy Reid going up against his former team. Philly’s top-ranked defense going up against the Chiefs high powered offense,” said Lyles. 

Besides Kansas City’s star quarterback, Reid coaching against the Eagles in the championship, and the great matchup this game will bring, Lyles is also looking forward to the commercials and prop bets on Super Bowl Sunday. 

A few things to look out for in this year’s championship game are obviously both teams’ starting quarterbacks. 

Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Chiefs, is wrapping up his sixth season in the NFL having sustained success throughout his pro career. Jalen Hurts, quarterback of the Eagles, showcased his talents this year in only his third season in the NFL, resulting in both quarterbacks being finalists for the MVP award this season. Both quarterbacks had late-season injuries that threatened their respective Super Bowl runs this year. 

Hurts missed games in weeks 16 and 17 this season due to a sprained shoulder in his throwing arm. Mahomes sustained a high ankle sprain in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Jaguars, but despite a visible limp at times, has not missed either playoff game for the chiefs this year. Both quarterbacks will be happy to use the two weeks off in between the conference championship round and the Super Bowl to rest up. 

Kansas City also has injuries to three of their top wide receivers. JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Kadarious Toney (ankle) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) all sustained injuries in last week’s AFC Championship game and are listed as questionable for Super Bowl LVII. 

Philadelphia is hopeful that starting left guard Landon Dickerson, who is also listed as questionable with an elbow injury, will be healthy enough to bolster the Eagles left side of their offensive line along with beleaguered left tackle Jordan Mailata. The Chiefs will counter with formidable pass rushers Frank Clark and Chris Jones on defense. 

Isiah Pacheco will be a player to watch for his explosiveness as a running back and pass catcher out of the backfield for the Chiefs. Pacheco ran for 95 yards against the Jaguars in the AFC Divisional playoff game and caught five passes for 59 yards against the Bengals in the AFC Championship game.

This year’s Super Bowl also features the first matchup of two Black quarterbacks should Jalen Hurts and Patrick Maholmes start for their respective teams. 

Andy Reid, head coach for the Chiefs, will be going up against his former team of 14 years in the Eagles.

Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce will be the first brothers to play against each other in the Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh coached against each other in Super Bowl XLVII. 

Besides the great matchup on the field, the sure-to-be entertaining halftime show featuring nine-time Grammy award winner Rihanna, and commercials in between, the Super Bowl always brings people together to share good food, cold drinks, great laughs and tons of fun. Super Bowl LVII should be no different.