Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans on Sunday:
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 6:20 p.m.)
Brian Wacker (8-4 postseason; 189-81 overall): The Eagles will be Kansas City’s stiffest test yet, especially when it comes to their defensive and offensive lines. If Philadelphia is going to prevent a historic three-peat, it will have to pressure quarterback Patrick Mahomes up the middle with Jalen Carter but also force him to hold onto the ball by playing sticky coverage on the outside and over the middle. The Eagles will also need to lean on Saquon Barkley to play keep away and control the clock and limit the Chiefs’ possessions. Yet, the Chiefs always do just enough to win and are elite at exploiting an opponent’s weakness. In this case, expect tight end Travis Kelce and the speed of Xavier Worthy in space to be a problem for Philadelphia’s defense and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to dial up exotic zone pressures. No one is better than Mahomes, Spagnuolo and coach Andy Reid in these spots. Chiefs 23, Eagles 17
Childs Walker (7-5 postseason: 188-82 overall): The Eagles are simply better. They’re stronger on both lines. They have more skill talent. They were more dominant in the regular season and the playoffs. Neither offense was one of the league’s most dynamic, so you have to ask which team is more equipped to grind out a win, and that’s Philadelphia with its killer running game and mauling defense. A bet on the Chiefs is a bet on the better quarterback and better coach. Fair enough. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have made fools of pretty much everyone who ever wrote them off. But this is a grim matchup for anyone who hoped for a fresh Super Bowl, so let’s go with grim logic. That’s the Eagles. Eagles 24, Chiefs 20
Mike Preston (7-5 postseason; 187-83 overall): The Eagles have everything needed to beat Kansas City. They have a strong running game led by Saquon Barkley, the best running back in the NFL, as well as the league’s best offensive line. Philadelphia has a strong secondary with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Darius Slay. The Eagles are one of the few teams that can get pressure on Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes with their front four and disrupt the Chiefs’ quick passing game. But until another team beats Kansas City, I’m going with the Chiefs. Coach Andy Reid is the best in the game and has had two weeks to prepare for the Eagles’ defense. Regardless of what anyone else says or thinks, Mahomes is the best player in the NFL. And if this game is close with Kansas City having the ball on the last drive, Mahomes will deliver. You’re are still the champs until someone takes it away from you. The Chiefs will three-peat. Chiefs 27, Eagles 24
C.J. Doon (8-4 postseason; 176-108 overall): How can anyone beat Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid in the postseason? How about a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley and a dominant defense. The Chiefs were gashed at times by James Cook in their AFC title game win over the Bills, and Joe Mixon had a pretty good day against them in the divisional round, too. Barkley is a tier above those backs and will make Kansas City pay if he finds daylight behind a sturdy Philadelphia offensive line. Assuming good health for interior blockers Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson, the Eagles should be able to generate a push up front, allowing Barkley to wreak havoc in the second level. Mahomes has a significant edge at quarterback over Jalen Hurts, but Philly’s defense can disrupt his timing in the pocket, contain his scrambles and lock down his receivers. Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown are going to have a tough time getting open against Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Darius Slay, while Jalen Carter and a deep rotation of linemen will punish Kansas City’s offensive line. Give me the slight upset to end this historic run. Eagles 26, Chiefs 23
Tim Schwartz (7-5 postseason; 201-85 overall): If you break it down by position, Philadelphia has the edge. It has the better offensive and defensive lines, running back and wide receivers. But there is only Patrick Mahomes, who has shown time and time again that he is built to perform in the biggest moments. It’s simply too hard to bet against him at this point. Kansas City just finds ways to win, especially in close games. And with history on the line, Mahomes will be at his best in this one. Saquon Barkley will get his yards, but Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, which specializes in unique blitzes, will give Jalen Hurts fits. Mahomes will put together a game-winning drive in crunch time to further add to his legacy, and the Chiefs will complete the three-peat. Chiefs 24, Eagles 23
Bennett Conlin (7-5 postseason; 187-97 overall): I’m not going against Mahomes in the Super Bowl, where he holds a 3-1 record. The Eagles’ defense is by far the highest-rated group on Pro Football Focus (91 grade for the season), but the Chiefs went 15-2 despite ranking 15th in the NFL in scoring during the regular season. They don’t need 35 to win Sunday. Philadelphia scored a whopping 55 points in the NFC championship game against Washington, but Kansas City’s elite defense doesn’t compare to the Commanders’ middling unit. It’ll be a close game, but I’ve been burned picking against Mahomes before. If the Kansas City defense finds a way to keep Barkley from generating more than one or two explosive plays, does an injured Hurts have enough to match or surpass Mahomes? I’ll believe it when I see it. Chiefs 23, Eagles 20
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