The Kansas City Chiefs sit ninth right now, and have been as high as second in the NFL during the season, and haven't been lower than 13th. The team they beat to get into the Big Game - the Cincinnati Bengals - is ranked No. 1 with its strength of schedule.
See where I'm going here?
When the Chiefs beat the 49ers a few years back in this game, San Fran was bolstered by a stingy defense and rolled roughshod through the competition thanks to a rather weak schedule. Sounds like an Eagles team that will take the field today.
Many want to bring up Kansas City's "injuries," including Patrick Mahomes' ankle. Hmmm, imagine that, a banged up offensive line and a quarterback who had a flat tire in the AFC Championship, and yet the team is still here.
Kansas City has won seven straight, its last loss against the Bengals team it beat to get here, back in December. And the area of improvement down the stretch has been defense.
Through their first seven games, the Chiefs allowed an average of 24.5 points on 369 yards per game. Over their last 10 of the regular season, they've yielded a mere 19.7 points and 299.6 yards per game.
The upstart Jaguars and high-flying Bengals couldn't muster more than 20 points in their playoff games.
I think we're going to see the Eagles' best effort, there's no denying what they're capable of, and Jalen Hurts is an impressive specimen. But Andy Reid and Mahomes (whose ankle treatment has been extensive if you've done your research, and read the actual therapy he's endured) are in their third championship in four years. That's experience the Eagles won't be able to match.
The second half will be all Kansas City, as the adjustments will be made, thanks to their familiarity of being here - like against the 49ers when the Chiefs won it all in 2020 - and in a thriller, Reid and Mahomes win another.