/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73888777/2191980447.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,800&ssl=1 "The Linc – The key to Jalen Hurts success in Super Bowl 59")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73888777/2191980447.0.jpg "The Linc – The key to Jalen Hurts success in Super Bowl 59")
Kara Durrette/Getty Images
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
What Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts each need to focus on in Super Bowl 59 – PFF
Getting the ball out on time goes hand-in-hand with avoiding sacks and pressure. Jalen Hurts has the highest average time to throw in the NFL, at 3.21 seconds, which leads to inviting pressure and, eventually, throwing the ball away — something Hurts has done the second most among quarterbacks. Hurts will have to play with better anticipation to get his receivers the ball. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are in the top 25 in PFF’s separation rate. The receivers are getting open; the ball just isn’t getting there as often as it should. Sometimes, a quarterback has to trust their receivers and anticipate them getting open rather than waiting to see it. Philadelphia, luckily, has one of the best receivers in the NFL, so it can be as simple as just targeting him often. When targeting Brown this season, Hurts has a 121.3 passer rating. While it hasn’t been his best season, Hurts is coming off his best performance of the season, posting a 91.4 overall grade in the NFC Championship game, and we’ve already seen him perform at a high level in the Super Bowl. His 92.2 PFF overall grade in Super Bowl 57 — against the Chiefs — is the highest mark for a quarterback since Nick Foles’ 92.3 PFF overall grade in Super Bowl 52, a game Philadelphia fans remember well.
Super Bowl 59: Chiefs writer gives 3 reasons why the Eagles will win – BGN
3) Saquon plays like he is HIM. The Chiefs haven’t allowed a 100-yard rushing to a single running back this season, but they also haven’t played Saquon Barkley. Let’s get this straight— Barkley is better than Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, or any other running back Kansas City has faced this year. There were a few drives against the Buffalo Bills where the Chiefs struggled to stop the Bills’ rushing attack at midfield. If the Eagles have a lead heading into halftime, and come out and run the ball down Kansas City’s throat, and are able to put together a couple of long drives and limit Mahomes chances to play hero ball, they will win this game
Eagles writer gives 3 reasons why the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl – Arrowhead Pride
Jalen Hurts is coming off a great performance in the NFC Championship Game. He also played pretty well in the Eagles’ last Super Bowl meeting against the Chiefs. But it’s hardly a lock that Hurts will thrive against KC’s defense this time around. The Eagles’ passing attack — which ranks 14th in DVOA and 14th in dropback success rate — has been pretty uneven for most of the 2024 season. The Birds have almost always been able to win in spite of it due to the combination of riding Saquon Barkley and playing suffocating defense. The margin for error against the Chiefs, however, is razor thin. Steve Spagnuolo’s blitzes could cause problems for Hurts, who has taken a sack against them 13.2 percent of the time — the highest mark of any starter in the NFL (via Sheil Kapadia). If the Chiefs are able to limit Barkley (much easier said than done) and force the Eagles to rely on their passing attack, Philly’s offensive production might not be good enough to outpace the Chiefs’ scoring ability.
Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl preview: Five things to watch when the Eagles have the ball – PhillyVoice
They played nine games against teams who could not crack the top 20 in run DVOA. Against teams with quarterbacks who rushed for at least 500 yards — Josh Allen x2, and Lamar Jackson — the Chiefs allowed 145.3 rushing yards per game, and 6 rushing TDs. In the AFC Championship Game, James Cook for some reason only got 13 carries. He had 85 yards (6.5 YPC) and 2 TDs, and the Chiefs were having trouble stopping him. Spoiler: The Eagles will not make the same mistake. They will feed Barkley. This is a good-not-great run defense, and Barkley had success against better run defenses this season, notably the Packers, Ravens, and Buccaneers.
Building the Perfect Beast – Iggles Blitz
Mike Sando wrote a piece explaining just how great the offseason was and putting it into historical context. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. This isn’t a team of destiny. This is a team of talent. Howie assembled a roster full of incredible players and they have done great things since the bye week. All that talent only gets you so far. You need the right coaching staff to get the most out of them. Vic Fangio was given talented players and he delivered the best defense in the league. You can’t ask for more than that. Jeff Stoutland has delivered the best OL in the league and that has turned Saquon Barkley from star RB to a 2,000-yard rusher and household name. Kellen Moore has embraced the run heavy style and tried to keep the passing game where it needs to be. It looked great in the win over Washington so hopefully that bodes well for Sunday. And of course we have to give Nick Sirianni credit for creating the right culture for these players to perform at their best. That is easier said than done. His message has set the tone for the season and the players have really bought in.
Teams have undergone massive roster reconstructions before with mixed results. The 1994 San Francisco 49ers did it — they drafted Bryant Young and signed Deion Sanders and Ken Norton Jr., among others — and won the Super Bowl. The Eagles’ own “Dream Team” — Philly faithful still cringe at that moniker bestowed by Vince Young on the 2011 squad — did not, failing to even make the playoffs after three straight postseason appearances. On the 2024 Eagles, eight of 11 defensive starters are different from the 2022 team, and seven of them are Philadelphia draft picks (not including Reed Blankenship, who signed with Philly as an undrafted free agent). These Eagles have already made it much further than most rebuilds. And while Baun is due to hit free agency, several of the most important moves should set the franchise up for prosperity in future seasons, too. “Self-awareness and fearlessness and a drive to win versus self-preservation,” Banner cited as keys to Philadelphia’s success. “A lot of teams are slowed down, they are paralyzed by the fear of, What if we get it wrong? [These Eagles] don’t hesitate to do it. If they’re wrong, they trust in their batting averages.”
Matchups to watch in Super Bowl LIX: Eagles defense vs. Chiefs offense – NBCSP
Cooper DeJean vs. Xavier Worthy. While Kelce is the Chiefs’ leading receiver in the playoffs with 136 yards, Xavier Worthy is right behind him with 11 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. The next closest player on the list is JuJu Smith-Schuster with 60 yards. Worthy, the rookie from Texas, had his best game of the season in the AFC Championship Game with 6 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. In the playoffs, Worthy has lined up in the slot on 49% of his offensive snaps. That means plenty of opportunities against Cooper DeJean, who has been one of the best defensive rookies in the NFL this season. In the playoffs, Andy Reid is getting Worthy on the move. Worthy has gone in motion on 33.7% of his snap sin the playoffs after a motion rate of 18.2% in the regular season. One thing that has really stood out about DeJean this season IS his eyes. He has been very good at not getting lost in the sauce and he’ll have an opportunity to show that again in the biggest game of his life.
Betting Super Bowl LIX: Your guide to making the best picks on Sunday – ESPN+
Who takes home the Lombardi Trophy? I have to lean toward the Birds. Philadelphia has the ability to control tempo with Barkley and the run game, plus the Eagles’ defense under coordinator Vic Fangio has the pass-rush talent and a top-tier secondary that can create matchups advantages against the Chiefs. And if I am picking a favorite player prop? It’s Eagles outside linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. to record a sack. Smith, who has four sacks in the playoffs, can rush from his wide alignments, using his lower-body flexibility and short-area speed to win off the edge against Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor. Game picks: Eagles ML (+105), total UNDER 48.5 (-105). Favorite prop: Nolan Smith OVER 0.5 sacks (+120).
Unlike Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts, and many of the essential Eagles figures who faced the Kansas City Chiefs two years ago on the NFL’s biggest stage, Zack Baun hasn’t been here before. Though in a way, he has. “Feels good, very familiar being back here in the city,” Baun said Tuesday at the Eagles’ hotel, as the Eagles and their All-Pro linebacker continued preparations for Super Bowl LIX. “I love the city, my wife loves the city, my son was born here. A lot of good memories associated with this city. … Very interesting. A lot of feelings – like, the smells bring me back to certain periods of time.” Baun was drafted by the Saints and played his first four NFL seasons in the Superdome, before signing a dirt-cheap, one-year, $3.5-million Eagles deal in free agency. His time in New Orleans is one of two subjects that seem to make Baun a bit wary this week – Monday night and again Tuesday, I heard him indicate to New Orleans reporters that he thought they were trying to get him to criticize the Saints, which is something he takes great care not to do. “I won’t blame the New Orleans Saints organization at all; I think that’s what you’re hinting at,” Baun said Monday when asked about going from a special teams ace and occasional pass rusher to All-Pro inside linebacker, after changing teams and schemes. “I honestly think it was more mental development for me – I knew I could do it physically.”
Zack Baun’s Sudden Stardom Is Actually a Lesson in Patience – The Ringer
“When we signed Zack, I was extremely excited,” said Bobby King, the Eagles’ inside linebackers coach, who scouted Baun in 2020 when the coach was with the Texans. King had studied Baun’s clips when he was with the Saints, and even though he had played only a handful of snaps at inside linebacker in the previous four years, it was clear to King and Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio where Baun would play in Philadelphia. The vision was for Baun to immediately take over as a starting inside linebacker. “Loved the toolbox, loved the size, movement,” King said. “Then when I started talking football with him, I was like, ‘I think this kid could do this.’” He was right. “It was pretty obvious after a few weeks, like, this guy is a freaking player,” King said. “It’s going to work out.” It turned out to be one of the most brilliant free agent signings this season. “Credit the kid. He obviously has God-given instincts that you can’t teach, and he’s got the body size and the movement already, and then with [Fangio’s] defense, it was just a nice fit,” King said.
Inside Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl matchup: What to watch when KC has the ball – The Athletic
There are some areas to exploit in the Eagles secondary, but the problem will be protecting Mahomes long enough to exploit these matchups. It appears the Chiefs will keep Joe Thuney, who moved from left guard, at left tackle, meaning Mike Caliendo will again get the start. Caliendo has given up 13 pressures in his last four games. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter will likely be matched up on him. The Chiefs will slide the protection to his side on most plays to help, but Carter has shown the ability to beat double-teams. The Eagles use a system of defensive line games, knowing how the centers will constantly slide to Carter’s side. The Chiefs must be prepared and communicate well to pick up those stunts. Interior pressure could swing this game. Along with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Fangio has been one of the best defensive game planners in the league. If the Eagles defense doesn’t come in with curve balls, there are enough areas of weakness for the Chiefs to exploit. They’re accustomed to seeing and beating this scheme. Fangio knows that, and it’ll be interesting to see what he comes up with Sunday.
NFL Referees Association calls “conspiracy theories” both “insulting” and “preposterous” – PFT
“Commissioner Goodell’s comments that it is ‘ridiculous’ to presume that NFL Officials are not doing everything possible to make the right call on every play is spot on,” NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green said. “Officiating crews do not work the same team more than twice each regular season. It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.” That’s a bit strong. And it teeters on the possibility of protesting too much. The fans who believe that the Chiefs are receiving assistance from the officials believe that the league has made it clear to the officials that they should assist the Chiefs. A conspiracy among the 138 officials isn’t needed, if they’re taking their directions from 345 Park Avenue.
Vic Fangio answers fans’ questions – PE.com
Having Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio answer your questions went exactly as expected, which makes this feature hilarious.
“They did an A+ job on my son. Praise God, they did a great job,” Andre said. Andre told ABC News that his son’s first real words were about the Super Bowl. “He asked me, ‘Daddy, what’s today?’ I was like, ‘Monday.’ ‘OK, wait. We didn’t play yesterday did we?’ ‘No, you didn’t miss the Super Bowl,’” Andre said, describing his son as a die-hard Eagles fan. He was also concerned for his little sister. “It had me crying,” Andre said, recalling when Trey asked, “Daddy, did I save my sister?”
Havertown Acme rescinds Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce cake for a Jason Kelce-Eagles cake – Inquirer
Case closed? Not quite.By noon the next day, Acme’s official social media account stepped in to set the record straight, replying to McDevitt’s post with a photo of a brand new cake. “Fixed it,” they wrote, unveiling a proper Eagles-themed version featuring Midnight Green frosting, Birds helmets, and zero traces of Chiefs red. Turns out, the rogue cake decorator behind the Swift-Kelce confection went a little off script.
On his interview with the Saints… “Its’ obviously been a good process. Having an opportunity to meet with Mickey and their leadership group has been great, and it’s set up in a way that allows us to focus on this game and we’ll see what happens after that…I think the big thing is really getting to know people. Certainly, there’s philosophies and things that there’s going to be questions about, but I think it’s an excellent opportunity just to get face-to-face and get to know the people. And get to know the interactions and see the fit that it may be.”
Should we be worried about Ben Sinnott? – Hogs Haven
But many fans were left wanting more from Sinnott, fixated primarily on his draft pedigree, and the notion that “second round picks should produce right away.” So why didn’t Sinnott get more offensive snaps?
The Cowboys re-commitment to the run game is getting easier to believe in – Blogging The Boys
Don’t look now, but the Cowboys may actually be backing up their talk with real actions. This team has been yelling from the mountaintop towards anyone and everyone that would listen about how much they want to run the ball better. Their former head coach Mike McCarthy did the same thing, despite going into his final season with Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott supposedly ready to carry the full load. This turned into just Dowdle being the best lead back option Dallas had after Elliott was released toward the end of the season.
Ex-Giant Nick Gates enjoying ‘pretty cool’ Super Bowl experience – Big Blue View
“It was tough to get back from. I was there for a little bit,” Gates said Monday night during the Super Bowl opening night media scrum in the Caesar’s Superdome. “I had doctors tell me I wasn’t going to be able to play football again. It was tough to hear and tough to maybe actually happen. But I persevered through that and worked my butt off to get back to where I was.” Gates has been trying to soak in the Super Bowl experience. “I can’t even put it into words. It’s been pretty cool,” Gates said. “I’ve been trying to take each and every day in and out of time and try not to get too high or too low. “We’re here to win a football game at the end of the day. That’s where I’m trying to focus on.” Gates has enjoyed his season Philadelphia, which has included a chance to work with highly-regarded offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
What does this mean for Myles Garrett’s trade value? Myles Garrett is the best pass rusher on this list with apologies to Bradley Chubb. That would be the starting point for the Cleveland Browns in compensation; a first-round pick, fourth-round pick, and a player. Garrett will command more than that, however, but it’s unlikely to reach the level of two first-round picks since no player has been traded for that unless they were a quarterback.
…
Social Media Information:
BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page
BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen
BGN Bluesky: Follow @bleedgreennation.bsky.social
BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta
BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton
BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio
