Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will face Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, setting up a rematch of their title game from two seasons ago. Troy Aikman, a Dallas Cowboys star, has weighed in with his prediction for the highly anticipated matchup.
Despite having Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs offense suffered when compared to previous seasons. During the regular season, they averaged only 327.6 yards per game, placing 17th in the league. In fact, Kansas City did not breach the 30-point barrier until the AFC Championship game. Nevertheless, they continue to find methods to win.
The Eagles,
They had one of the league’s most powerful offenses. Their running assault was second in the NFL, averaging 179.3 yards per game, thanks in large part to Barkley’s remarkable 2,005-yard regular season.
Even with tremendous offensive skill on both sides, Aikman believes the Super Bowl will be a defensive fight.
During a recent appearance on SI Media With Jimmy Traina, Aikman spoke about the Cowboys, Tom Brady, and the impending matchup. The three-time Super Bowl champion discussed what to anticipate in Chiefs vs. Eagles.
“For Philadelphia to get over the hump, they’ve got to play a really clean game,” Aikman told reporters. “Expect a defensive war. Philadelphia has a good defense, although Kansas City has also performed well. I don’t see this game being high-scoring.”
While both offenses are capable of scoring points, defenses may be the determining factor. The Eagles had one of the league’s finest defensive teams, allowing only 278.4 yards per game (1st in the NFL), 174.2 passing yards per game (1st), and 17.8 points per game (2nd).
Despite not being as strong statistically,
Kansas City’s defense has been strong, giving up just 19.2 points per game (4th). It will be very difficult to stop Barkley, though, since they give up 101.8 rushing yards per game (8th).
Aikman is aware of what it takes to triumph on the most important stage. Alongside Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, he led the Cowboys to three titles in four years in the 1990s.
Super Bowl LIX is set for Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans, Louisiana.