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Todd Archer
FRISCO, Texas — As Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer closes in on finalizing his staff, he is expected to add Ken Dorsey, the former offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, as a pass-game specialist, a source told ESPN on Monday.
Dorsey was fired by the Browns last month after Cleveland ranked 28th in total offense and 32nd in scoring. In 2023, he was the Bills’ offensive coordinator but was let go during the season.
Dorsey will have an on-field role with the Cowboys, working with Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. Chase Haslett was the Cowboys’ pass-game specialist in 2024 under coach Mike McCarthy after working with the tight ends from 2020 to 2023.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski turned over playcalling duties to Dorsey days after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending right Achilles tendon tear Oct. 20. With Jameis Winston inserted as the starter and Dorsey calling plays, the offense showed some improvement as the Browns upset the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
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But Winston was benched after throwing eight interceptions in three games. Cleveland started 2023 fifth-round pick
It’s never too early to kick off our 2025 NFL Power Rankings. After the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, we are already looking ahead to next season.
Forget that free agency doesn’t start for another month or that the NFL draft is more than two months away. Let’s take a look at every team and preview what the offseason has in store.
In addition to our way-too-early rankings, our NFL Nation reporters offer up three words to describe this offseason for every team. Six teams have new head coaches (and New Orleans will soon be the seventh), other teams need to find a quarterback, and a few have several key free agents they must make a decision on.
Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
2024 record: 15-2
Describe this offseason in three words: Draft must count
Yes, the Chiefs lost in Super Bowl LIX, but they still have a loaded roster. General manager Brett Veach said “our free agency will be our draft” in the offseason with regard to key player acquisition because of a tight salary cap situation and a long list of the Chiefs’ own potential free agents that they would like to re-sign. Kansas City will have four picks in the first three rounds, having acquired an additional pick early in Round 3 by trading cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans last offseason. — Adam Teicher
2024 record: 13-4
Describe this offseason in three words: Add a difference-maker
Coach Sean McDermott said in his season-ending news conference that teams need two or three players on either side of the ball who are “difference-makers.” He wasn’t saying the Bills don’t have those players, but there’s no doubt that an infusion of top talent would help the Bills’ goal of reaching the Super Bowl. The primary need for that appears to be on the defense, such as a pass rusher, but there are also needs at wide receiver and outside cornerback. — Alaina Getzenberg
2024 record: 15-2
Describe this offseason in three words: Adjust and improve
In the aftermath of the loss to the Commanders, coach Dan Campbell’s star-studded staff took a major hit and will have to adjust in a short window to compete for a Super Bowl. For offensive coordinator, the Lions brought back John Morton, who was the Broncos’ passing game coordinator the previous two seasons. They also promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator.
Detroit still lost other key assistants, as former DC Aaron Glenn hired away passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand to the Jets. And former OC Ben Johnson took receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett to the Bears. — Eric Woodyard
2:14
Orlovsky trusts Dan Campbell’s offense after new OC hire
Dan Orlovsky joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to react to news of John Morton joining the Lions as their new offensive coordinator.
2024 record: 14-3
Describe this offseason in three words: Continue hitting bull’s-eye
General manager Howie Roseman has had a very good batting average in recent offseasons, as evidenced by the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning roster. The additions of running back Saquon Barkley and linebacker Zack Baun in free agency, as well as the drafting of cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024, speak to his hot hand. Roseman has a few key decisions in front of him, including whether to re-sign Baun to a lucrative contract. But the main goal is to continue the sound roster decisions, supporting the current nucleus and extending the team’s title-contending window. — Tim McManus
2024 record: 12-5
Describe this offseason in three words: Offensive line again
This offseason, two of Baltimore’s top free agents represent the left side of its offensive line: tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Patrick Mekari. But the Ravens are confident they can retool their blockers in front of quarterback Lamar Jackson and will do so by going younger. This past season, Baltimore replaced three starters on its line and finished No. 1 in offense. “We’ll look at potentially bringing back our guys. We’ll look at the draft. We’ll look at free agency. We’ll overturn every rock to find as many good offensive linemen as we can,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. — Jamison Hensley
2024 record: 12-5
Describe this offseason in three words: Keep on building
Washington nailed the 2024 offseason by hiring general manager Adam Peters, coach Dan Quinn and drafting quarterback Jayden Daniels. The foundation has been set for many years thanks to this trio. But the Commanders also can’t ignore the work that needs to be done. Their 2024 success was unexpected and the roster still needs work for the team to become a consistent contender. They Commanders have around $80 million in cap space available and seven draft picks. They need to fortify both lines (the run game remains an issue on both sides of the ball), find another playmaker on offense and add another corner on defense. — John Keim
2024 record: 11-6
Describe this offseason in three words: Improve from within
The Packers aren’t likely to go out and get a No. 1 receiver or acquire a star pass rusher, but they’re not likely to lose much either. Their only free agents among 2024 starters are center Josh Myers and kicker Brandon McManus. So it will be up to coach Matt LaFleur and his staff to get players to make significant jumps during the offseason and into training camp. — Rob Demovsky
2024 record: 11-6
Describe this offseason in three words: Help Justin Herbert
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Herbert had the worst game of his career in the Chargers’
2024 record: 9-8
Describe this offseason in three words: Big contract extensions?
It’s cut-and-dried for Cincinnati. The Bengals need to determine whether it’s worth doling out major deals for two of their stars, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. On top of that, Cincinnati must find out if it can stomach a new contract for receiver Tee Higgins, who played 2024 on the franchise tag. The Bengals are projected to have $46.6 million in cap space, but they still need to figure out which veterans need to be replaced, a process that could also open up some cap room. — Ben Baby
2024 record: 14-3
Describe this offseason in three words: Sign free agents
The Vikings’ poor draft performance over the past few seasons has left them with few internal options as they evaluate a roster with nearly two dozen pending free agents. And with a projected four picks in the 2025 draft, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will dip heavily into the market to fill his roster. Some of the approach will depend on whether the Vikings spend the money to re-sign quarterback Sam Darnold or if they move forward with J.J. McCarthy. Regardless of their cap situation, the Vikings will need an influx of free agents. — Kevin Seifert
2024 record: 10-7
Describe this offseason in three words: Elevating C.J. Stroud
After throwing for 4,108 yards (eighth in the NFL) and 23 touchdowns (13th) in 2023, Stroud finished this season with 3,727 passing yards (15th) and 20 passing touchdowns (tied for 15th). This offseason is about putting him in a position to surpass his rookie totals. The Texans fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and hired former Rams passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Nick Caley to get a system better suited for Stroud and others. The next step is fixing an offensive line that gave up 52 sacks on Stroud. — DJ Bien-Aime
2024 record: 10-7
Describe this offseason in three words: Quick clarity needed
The Rams are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, but their offense could look very different next season. After their playoff loss to the Eagles, quarterback Matthew Stafford said he would take time to figure out his NFL future. Stafford, 37, is one of two players whom general manager Les Snead called “weight-bearing walls” for this Rams team. The other is receiver Cooper Kupp, who said he planned to play next season but was informed “the team will be seeking a trade immediately.” And while Sean McVay didn’t offer a specific timeline for Stafford’s decision, the head coach said he hopes to have clarity “sooner than later.” — Sarah Barshop
1:48
Orlovsky lists potential destinations for Cooper Kupp
Dan Orlovsky, Dan Graziano and Louis Riddick discuss possible landing spots for Cooper Kupp after he confirmed on social media that the Rams are looking to trade him.
2024 record: 6-11
Describe this offseason in three words: Brock Purdy’s payday
The 49ers have plenty of important business to handle, and they already started by bringing back defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The rest of their decisions hinge on when and how much they pay Purdy, who is eligible for a contract extension for the first time. There’s little doubt Purdy will cash in, but if that deal doesn’t come together quickly, it complicates matters. The Niners have roughly two dozen players scheduled for free agency, and they need to spend resources to bolster both lines. Getting Purdy signed quickly would go a long way in setting the stage for an important offseason. — Nick Wagoner
2024 record: 10-7
Describe this offseason in three words: Learn your lesson
Coach Sean Payton routinely fielded one of the oldest teams in the league with New Orleans, which led to a constant wrestle with dead money against the salary cap. In his two years with the Broncos, they have shown the same kick-the-can-down-the-road mentality with the cap. But on the field, their young, homegrown players have performed (four of the team’s five All-Pros were their own draft picks). And with quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie deal, the Broncos have a window to keep building through drafts. Their dilemma is that short-term fixes are more likely to stress their cap flexibility and lead to long-term frustrations. — Jeff Legwold
2024 record: 10-7
Describe this offseason in three words: Whom to pay?
Now that they’ve hired Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator, the focus of the Seahawks’ offseason will turn to their long list of contract questions. Fifteen of their starters are either pending free agents (Ernest Jones IV, Jarran Reed, Laken Tomlinson), veterans who will want new deals (Geno Smith, DK Metcalf), 2022 draft picks who are eligible for extensions (Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Abraham Lucas, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen) or highly paid players who could conceivably be cut (Dre’Mont Jones, Tyler Lockett, Uchenna Nwosu, Noah Fant).
Seattle is already roughly $13 million over the cap, so this offseason will bring more tough decisions than usual. — Brady Henderson
2024 record: 10-7
Describe this offseason in three words: Improve the defense
With the offensive coordinator situation solidified (Josh Grizzard), the Bucs really need to shore up their defense. They’ve had only three double-digit sack edge rushers since 2005 and none since 2021. They also had only seven interceptions in 2024 after almost double that in 2024 (13). They gave up an average of 22.6 points in 2024, which is middle of the pack and not necessarily bad, but they’re trying to go from playoff contender to Super Bowl winner. — Jenna Laine
2024 record: 10-7
Describe this offseason in three words: Pick a quarterback
What to know for the 2025 NFL draft
Yet again, the Steelers enter an offseason with uncertainty at the most important position. Team owner/president Art Rooney II said he prefers to sign either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson to a multiyear deal, but the team would also evaluate quarterbacks in the 2025 or 2026 draft. The QB decision will affect the rest of the roster construction. Can the team afford to pay a top-tier wide receiver? Will it use the first-round pick to bolster the defensive line? It all starts with the decision at quarterback. — Brooke Pryor
2024 record: 7-10
Describe this offseason in three words: All about Jerry
Brian Schottenheimer is the seventh different coach hired by owner and general manager Jerry Jones since the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl in 1996. It’s time for Jerry and Stephen Jones to do more to support Schottenheimer with a roster that can contend for a Super Bowl, which means using free agency more than they have even if it’s not via top-of-the-market signings. The disillusionment of Cowboys fans has never been higher, and Jerry has to do something to show he is committed to ending the 29-year drought as soon as possible. — Todd Archer
2024 record: 8-9
Describe this offseason in three words: Fix the defense
That was the Falcons’ mantra after signing quarterback Kirk Cousins last offseason. But they ended up drafting another quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., with the No. 8 pick, and he was the only rookie who had a major impact. Atlanta acquired edge rusher Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons, who are now free agents, but its defense was lackluster enough that it fired first-year coordinator Jimmy Lake. Defense must be the priority though free agency and the draft — Atlanta has the 15th overall pick — after it ranked 31st with 31 sacks in 2024. — Marc Raimondi
2024 record: 8-9
Describe this offseason in three words: Change the culture
After a disappointing 2024 season, multiple players and coach Mike McDaniel spoke to a teamwide need for accountability. McDaniel said several players were fined numerous times for being late to meetings, and he would have to find more effective punitive measures in the future. This is behavior unbecoming of a team with championship aspirations. As general manager Chris Grier constructs the 2025 roster, he must ensure the correct leaders are in place to foster a culture of accountability on a team that could make dramatic changes if it misses the playoffs for a second consecutive season. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
2024 record: 8-9
Describe this offseason in three words: Plug the holes
The Cardinals saw last season that they’re capable of putting together winning football and sustaining it, albeit for a short amount of time. The playoffs were within reach in November, but a late-season drop-off depleted those hopes. If they can plug the holes on offense and defense, starting with help on the edge rush, the postseason can be a legitimate possibility in 2025. In addition to another pass rusher, Arizona could use another receiving target, top-tier cornerback and more help on the defensive line. — Josh Weinfuss
2024 record: 5-12
Describe this offseason in three words: Build the O-line
To create similar success to what he designed in Detroit, new Bears coach Ben Johnson said he’ll “calibrate” an offense around quarterback Caleb Williams. That starts with adding offensive linemen to better protect Williams, who was sacked a league-high 68 times. Three of Chicago’s primary starters — Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor — are free agents. With the No. 10 pick and a projected $74.8 million in cap space, adding up front is general manager Ryan Poles’ top priority. — Courtney Cronin
1:20
Ben Johnson tells Stephen A. his plans for Bears, Caleb Williams
New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson joins Stephen A. Smith on “First Take” to discuss how he plans to take the franchise forward.
2024 record: 8-9
Describe this offseason in three words: Change in philosophy?
The Colts, under general manager Chris Ballard, have adhered stringently to a philosophy of using free agency sparingly and relying almost exclusively on draft picks. But a possible overreliance on that approach has resulted in the Colts missing the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. Ballard has suggested he’ll deviate from that approach this offseason, but it remains to be seen how aggressive Indianapolis will be in reshaping its roster. The hiring of veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, specifically, might require a few changes on defense. — Stephen Holder
2024 record: 4-13
Describe this offseason in three words: Vrabel’s verified vision
First-year coach Mike Vrabel will be the primary decision-maker in building the team in his vision, as the Patriots targeted him to help spark a turnaround. The Patriots are coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons under former head coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. Vrabel said the presence of rookie Drake Maye, a “young dynamic quarterback,” was one of the top reasons he was interested in the job, and now the goal is to put pieces around him. — Mike Reiss
2024 record: 5-12
Describe this offseason in three words: Stable but needy
For the first time in three years, the Panthers didn’t make a change at head coach or general manager, which is key for a team that has been in constant turmoil. But there still are plenty of needs, from finding quarterback Bryce Young a dynamic receiver to upgrading a defense that finished last in total defense and run defense. The latter probably will be the highest priority. — David Newton
2024 record: 4-13
Describe this offseason in three words: All about Trevor
Breaking News from Adam Schefter
2024 record: 5-12
Describe this offseason in three words: A big turnover
The Saints are poised to hire Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, prompting the biggest turnover of their coaching staff since the Sean Payton era. They were the last team left standing in the coaching search with Moore and the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Many of the assistants, including offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, linebackers coach Michael Hodges and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, have left for other jobs. The Saints coaching staff will look vastly different than it did a year ago. — Katherine Terrell
2024 record: 4-13
Describe this offseason in three words: Hitting reset … again
The Raiders have a new coach in Pete Carroll and a new general manager in John Spytek, which means they have had a combined 12 coaches and GMs (counting interims) since announcing their move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2017. Owner Mark Davis said his efforts to “build” hit a roadblock following the resignation of Jon Gruden in 2021. “I think we’ve got the infrastructure now in this organization to move into the future,” Davis said. — Paul Gutierrez
2024 record: 5-12
Describe this offseason in three words: Who replaces Rodgers?
The Jets’ QB search will dominate the offseason storylines. The team is on the verge of parting ways with Aaron Rodgers, who reportedly was informed last week the Jets don’t want him back in 2025. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as new coach Aaron Glenn was likely to start fresh at quarterback. The question is, who replaces Rodgers? Holdover Tyrod Taylor is the early favorite, but there’s a good chance they bring in a starting-caliber veteran. — Rich Cimini
2024 record: 3-14
Describe this offseason in three words: Quarterback or bust
The Browns have plenty of needs to address, but none more paramount than quarterback. With the all-in move for Deshaun Watson, who could sit out part of the 2025 season after reinjuring his Achilles, and only one other quarterback under contract (Dorian Thompson-Robinson), it’s imperative they stabilize the position in the coming months. Cleveland holds the No. 2 pick in the draft, which could be used on one of the top prospects. It could also look toward a lackluster free agent class for a solution. — Daniel Oyefusi
2:38
Schefter: Cleveland Browns ‘dug in,’ no plans to trade Garrett
Adam Schefter joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to talk about Myles Garrett’s stunning trade request from the Cleveland Browns.
2024 record: 3-14
Describe this offseason in three words: Get a quarterback
It’s the Giants’ No. 1 priority this offseason by a wide margin. They need to find a solution for both next season and the future. The draft, free agency, trade, everything is on the table, according to owner John Mara. Considering the plan all along was to get a quarterback in the draft if Daniel Jones didn’t pan out, it’s a good bet the Giants will land one of the draft’s top options with the third overall pick. — Jordan Raanan
2024 record: 3-14
Describe this offseason in three words: Find a QB
The Titans took a swing on Will Levis as their franchise quarterback. It didn’t work. Now they must turn to a free agent or use the No. 1 pick in the draft on one of the top QBs. They could pursue a hybrid approach by signing a bridge quarterback and drafting someone who could learn behind the veteran. But that situation requires a special player who will allow their eventual replacement to take over. New general manager Mike Borgonzi saw it play out successfully through the Chiefs’ Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes. Pulling off another successful quarterback selection process could restore the Titans to respectability. — Turron Davenport
Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the Philadelphia Eagles facing the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. This is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, after the 2022 season, in which the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35.
Kansas City is looking to make history by becoming the first NFL team to win three straight Super Bowls. The last time the Eagles won the Super Bowl was after the 2017 season in Super Bowl LII. The Chiefs entered the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, while the Eagles were the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
We have you covered with everything you will want to know for Chiefs-Eagles, including team previews, box score predictions, a breakdown of Super Bowl MVP candidates and game picks. We also provide advice from our sports betting experts and in-depth statistics from ESPN Research. We look at the two quarterbacks, coaches, officiating, positional advantages and X factors. And scroll all the way down to check out our preview of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show.
Let’s dive into this one-stop shop cheat sheet, starting with a preview of the matchup.
Jump to a section:
What to know | Meet the teams | QBs
Projecting the box score | Biggest questions
Keys to Chiefs win | Keys to Eagles win
Picks | MVP watch | Stats to know
Bold predictions | Injuries | Officiating
Betting the game | Halftime | FAQs
Previewing Chiefs vs. Eagles
When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Television: Fox
Depth charts: Chiefs | Eagles
If the Chiefs want their three-peat, they’re going to have to beat the best team they’ve played in a Super Bowl in the Patrick Mahomes era. The Eagles have lost three games all season, two of them after their receivers dropped passes that would have clinched victories. Since their Week 5 bye, they have gone 15-1, posted a plus-27 turnover margin and won their games by an average of 13.8 points.
This Eagles team is better than the one the Chiefs beat two years ago in Super Bowl LVII and better than either of the 49ers teams Kansas City topped in Super Bowls LIV and LVIII. Philadelphia is even scarier than the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers, who managed to give Mahomes his only championship game defeat in Super Bowl LV.
Super Bowl LIX: Chiefs-Eagles
I wouldn’t say this is the best Chiefs team we’ve seen, but it might be the wiliest. Rarely dominant but never out of it, the Chiefs put together a series of spectacularly close victories in 2024. Holding on to a victory against the Ravens in Week 1 by the length of Isaiah Likely’s toenail portended what was to come all season. The Chiefs won games with fourth-down stops, field goals bouncing off uprights, kicks getting blocked and snaps being dropped. They found a way to sprinkle just enough magic dust into each victory. Their win over the Bills in the AFC Championship Game, a measure of revenge for Buffalo costing the Chiefs a chance at an undefeated regular season in November, was their 15th consecutive victory in games decided by seven points or fewer.
Can the Eagles deny the Chiefs from making history? A 2024 offseason for the ages has replenished Philadelphia’s roster, and it is the better team — on paper. That starts with the player who might be the story of the season, a running back Kansas City has to stop if it has any hope of winning another title: Saquon Barkley — Bill Barnwell, senior NFL writer
Read more: Barnwell previews the Super Bowl (ESPN+)
Meet the teams
Coach: Andy Reid
Reid brings loads of playoff and Super Bowl experience. In 26 seasons — 12 with the Chiefs — Reid is 28-16 in the postseason and 3-2 in the Super Bowl. He was a finalist for the 2024 AP Coach of the Year award, an honor not usually given to the leader of a two-time defending Super Bowl championship team. The 2024 Chiefs were hit hard by injuries, had trouble at times protecting Mahomes and were inconsistent for much of the season on defense. But thanks in part to Reid, they are still one win away from winning a third consecutive championship.
How did they get here?
Getting to 17-2 (including two playoff victories) took a lot of work. Kansas City won 11 regular-season games plus the AFC Championship Game against the Bills by one score and at times was aided by an element of luck. But the Chiefs also showed a knack for making the right play at the right time. A blocked field goal on the final play to preserve a two-point win against the Broncos in Week 10 was anything but luck. — Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter
Coach: Nick Sirianni
Sirianni is the first coach in the Super Bowl era to make the playoffs in each of his first four seasons while reaching the Super Bowl multiple times. He guided the Eagles to the title game against the Chiefs in the 2023 season, a 38-35 Eagles loss. With a regular-season record of 48-20, Sirianni has the third-highest winning percentage (.706) by a head coach in the modern era (minimum 50 games), trailing only John Madden and George Allen.
How did they get here?
The Eagles got off to a shaky 2-2 start, testing the nerves of the fan base following a 1-6 collapse down the stretch last season. They became more of a Saquon Barkley-focused offense during the Week 5 bye, and that propelled them to a 10-game winning streak and a 14-3 regular-season record. Led by the NFL’s top rushing game and defense, Philadelphia earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC and won three straight postseason home games to punch its ticket to the Super Bowl, including a 55-23 thumping of the Commanders in the NFC title game. — Tim McManus, Eagles reporter
Read more: Reid says he’ll return as Chiefs coach in 2025 … Sirianni is a players’ coach, no matter what you think of him
QB breakdown
Editor’s Picks
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Weakness: Accuracy. It’s funny that the consensus best quarterback of this generation is mediocre when it comes to accuracy, but it has been true for years. Mahomes recorded a minus-2 completion percentage over expectation this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. His 14% off-target rate was 12th best, but that came while averaging just 6.2 air yards per target (third lowest) — shorter passes are much less likely to be off-target. Mahomes has had a negative completion percentage over expectation in every season since 2019. — Seth Walder, analytics writer
Ben Solak’s QB projections for Super Bowl LIX
| Player | CMP/ATT | Yards | TDs | INTs | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Mahomes, KC | 22-32 | 210 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Jalen Hurts, PHI | 20-34 | 204 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Biggest questions
Can the Chiefs defend the Eagles’ tush push?
Judging solely by how they defended the Bills’ version of the play in the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs have reason to believe they can hold up well. Josh Allen and Buffalo tried it six times against Kansas City but converted just twice. One stop came on fourth down at the Kansas City 41-yard line in the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs trailed by a point. They used the favorable field position to score the go-ahead touchdown.
“The [defensive] line has to be dominant,” defensive tackle Chris Jones said on how the Chiefs defended the play. “Your two [nose guards] and your two ends have to be physical on the inside.”
Kansas City hasn’t fared as well in defending Hurts on the tush push. He used it to score two touchdowns against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Hurts also used it to score the winning touchdown against Kansas City in the fourth quarter of a Week 11 regular-season contest in 2023. — Teicher
Read more: Chiefs’ biggest matchup questions
What do the Eagles need from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to complement the run game?
They’ll need the kind of passing efficiency they received in the NFC Championship Game when Hurts went 20-of-28 for 246 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. It marked just the second time since mid-November that Hurts threw for 200-plus yards.
Questions persisted about the aerial attack for much of the season. The production did not match the kind of expectations that come with players like Brown, Smith, Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert on the offense. But much of it was by design, as the coaching staff — armed with a dominant defense and ground game — leaned conservative with the pass to keep turnovers at a minimum. That approach has worked quite well: The Eagles have 10 takeaways to zero giveaways in the playoffs.
Hurts quipped after the NFC title game that Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit,” allowing him to air it out to Brown and Smith more than usual. Sirianni should go into this matchup confident about Hurts, who had one of the best performances of his career in Super Bowl LVII (374 total yards, 4 touchdowns). Smith (7 catches, 100 yards) and Brown (6 catches, 96 yards, TD) were a big part of that. They’ll likely be called on again given that the Chiefs are sure to be focused on slowing down Barkley. — McManus
Read more: Eagles’ biggest matchup questions
Keys to a Chiefs win
Positional advantage: Quarterback
Mahomes’ success in critical moments of a game, plus his ability to create on scrambles, gives the Chiefs a definitive advantage at quarterback. His league-best QBR on third down in the regular season (90) jumped to 98 in the playoffs. Mahomes also converted 22 first downs as a runner on scramble attempts in the regular season, with five more in the playoffs. With his elite instincts to win on money downs, he can extend drives with his legs. The Eagles’ pass rush will certainly heat up the pocket and force him to move. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst
Keys to an Eagles win
Positional advantage: Secondary
Since Week 6, when rookie slot corner Cooper DeJean was inserted into the starting lineup, the Eagles have allowed a league-low 5.2 yards per attempt and 171.9 passing yards per game. On the perimeter, corners Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay Jr. are sticky in coverage, with high-end closing speed. And safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship can play top-down on the ball, which is a seamless fit for coordinator Vic Fangio’s split-field schemes. This defensive unit has the personnel and the playcaller to create matchup advantages against the Chiefs’ wide receivers and tight ends. — Bowen
Breaking News from Adam Schefter
ESPN’s FPI has the Eagles winning 56.1% of the simulations — and they are favored to win by an average of 2.2 points.
This matchup is a showdown between two top-10 teams in FPI: the No. 5 Eagles (6.0) and the No. 6 Chiefs (3.9). The Eagles are fifth on offense and the Chiefs rank seventh. On defense, Philadelphia ranks first and Kansas City is 13th. The Chiefs were No. 2 in FPI in the preseason, while the Eagles were No. 5.
In the preseason, the Chiefs had the second-best chance to make the Super Bowl (18.9%) and the Eagles had the third-best odds (16.4%). Kansas City was given a 9.4% chance to win it, while Philadelphia was at 9.6%.
Who wins the game?
We asked 67 experts to weigh in on who will win. The Chiefs were picked by 41 of them (61.2%), while the Eagles claimed 26 votes (38.8%). The most common score predictions were 27-24 (picked by 10 of our experts), 27-23 (five) and 31-28 (five).
Read more: ESPN staff predictions
Of the 67 experts who weighed in, 37 (55.2%) picked Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes (+105), Barkley (+275) and Hurts (+360) are the ESPN BET betting favorites. We asked a few experts to explain their MVP prediction.
Elizabeth Merrill, senior writer: Barkley. On Sunday, he turns 28, the year NFL running backs typically begin their declines, but Barkley has never looked better. He has been unstoppable in the postseason.
Jason Reid, Andscape senior writer: Mahomes. The NFL’s best player wants to become the greatest of all time by winning his fourth award.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Barkley. He is a near-unstoppable-force, averaging more than 150 rushing yards per game over his past five games. If the Eagles win, he’ll be the catalyst.
Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter: Mahomes has led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles and was named the MVP in each. He’s a proven champion who time and again has lifted his team to many improbable victories. It is unfathomable to predict anyone else but the star quarterback as the Most Valuable Player.
Seth Walder, analytics writer: Hurts. Quarterbacks — yes, I believe even those on the same team as Barkley — have such an edge in this market. If the Eagles do indeed win, it’s virtually certain Hurts will have made some big plays. And as long as the receiving production is spread out across a couple of players, the award will default back to him.
Read More: Experts predict Chiefs-Eagles score, MVP … Betting buzz: An O-lineman for MVP?
Stats to know
Team stats: Chiefs | Eagles
Chiefs
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Mahomes has four straight playoff victories when trailing at the start of the fourth quarter, which is the longest streak by a quarterback all time. It started against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
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Including the playoffs, Chris Jones ranks third in pass rush win rate (15.3%) among interior defenders despite ranking fifth in double-team rate (70%).
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This will be Reid’s 45th playoff game as a head coach (with the Chiefs and Eagles), passing Bill Belichick for the most all time. He is the first head coach to face his former team twice in the Super Bowl.
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The Chiefs have won nine straight postseason games dating to the 2022 postseason, which is tied for the second-longest streak in NFL postseason history. The Patriots won 10 straight from 2001 to 2005.
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Kansas City is wearing white jerseys for the second time in its three straight Super Bowl appearances. Dating to Super Bowl XXXIX in the 2004 season, the team wearing white jerseys has won 16 of the past 20 Super Bowls. The Chiefs wore red jerseys in their Super Bowl LIV and LVIII wins.
Eagles
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Hurts already has the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in the postseason (nine). Another score will make him the ninth player all time to reach 10. Only two others have done that in the 21st century — Marshawn Lynch (12) and LeGarrette Blount (11).
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The Eagles need 27 points for the most in a single postseason in NFL history. The record was set by the 1994 49ers (131), who achieved the mark in one less game.
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There have been 36 players to see at least 75 targets in coverage this season, including the playoffs. DeJean and Mitchell rank second and third, respectively, in yards per target allowed as the nearest defender in coverage, trailing the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., per NFL Next Gen Stats.
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Barkley needs 30 yards to surpass Terrell Davis’ 1998 record for the most rushing yards in a single season (2,476), including the playoffs. Since Steve Spagnuolo became the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2019, Kansas City has not allowed any player to rush for 100 yards against them in the playoffs.
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The Eagles finished the regular season with more rush attempts (621) than pass attempts (448). Out of the first 40 Super Bowl champions, 33 had more rushes than pass attempts in their Super Bowl winning seasons (83%). Since 2006, the 2013 Seahawks are the only team to do that.
Read more: Super Bowl LIX by the numbers: Key stats for Chiefs-Eagles … Super Bowl history: Facts, stats, and records to know
Bold predictions
Worthy will finish as the top wide receiver in receiving yards. The rookie’s speed and versatility are exactly what Reid will want to leverage against the Eagles, especially when he’s up against Mitchell. The Eagles could struggle to focus on shutting down one receiving playmaker for the Chiefs. Bracketing Travis Kelce or JuJu Smith-Schuster opens the door for Worthy to capitalize on one-on-one matchups. — Eric Moody, NFL analyst
Hollywood Brown will score the game-winning TD. Brown will have a big day, gathering at least 125 receiving yards. He will clinch Kansas City’s three-peat by finding the end zone with seconds to go. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst
Super Bowl LIX betting: Chiefs-Eagles
The Eagles will win convincingly. Even when we exclude Week 18 (both teams rested players), the Eagles hold a solid-to-sizable edge in offensive, defensive and overall EPA. The 2024 Chiefs are infamous for their knack of finding ways to sneak by with wins, but the Eagles have had about the same success in the win column after a slow start (both are 15-1 in their past 16 games, excluding Week 18) and have done so in a more convincing fashion. — Mike Clay, NFL analyst
Barkley will rush for 125-plus yards and earn MVP honors in the process. Of the 19 games Barkley has played this season, he has rushed for over 100 yards in 14 of them, topping 200 yards twice. Expect the Eagles to wear down a solid Chiefs defense and — as was the case most often this season — the bulk of Barkley’s production will come in the second half. — Stephania Bell, NFL analyst
The deciding play will come from the foot of one team’s kicker. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has had a difficult regular season, missing eight total field goals — that is as many as he missed over the prior three seasons combined. But he, like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, has made no shortage of big-time kicks for Philadelphia in his career. Somehow, some way, this game feels like it will be a tight one and a field goal could be the difference. — Field Yates, NFL analyst
Who is in, and who is out?
Injury reports: Chiefs | Eagles
Wide receiver Skyy Moore is listed as doubtful with an abdomen injury, but Kansas City should have its pick of the rest of its players for the Super Bowl. The Chiefs took advantage of the three weeks between clinching the AFC’s top playoff seed in Week 17 and playing their initial postseason game in the divisional round to give injured players like Mahomes (ankle), Jones (calf) and Isiah Pacheco (fibula) an extended break. Then the team was fortunate not to suffer a significant injury in either of its playoff games. Moore hasn’t played a single snap since October. — Teicher
Center Cam Jurgens (back) and left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) missed parts of the NFC title game because of injuries. But Jurgens and Dickerson have been full participants at practice this week and both have spoken optimistically about playing. DeVonta Smith has been limited this week with a hamstring injury but intends to play. Veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who came up with the game-defining strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, has been working back from a torn left triceps and is hopeful to suit up. There is a chance the Eagles will have all of their original starters available except linebacker Nakobe Dean, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee during the wild-card game against the Packers. — McManus
What to know about the officiating
Ron Torbert is one of three referees the NFL has trusted to work the Super Bowl in this decade. He joins Bill Vinovich and Carl Cheffers to each receive two Super Bowl assignments since 2020. In his first appearance (Super Bowl LVI), Torbert’s crew took a back seat for much of the game, declining to throw a flag for a possible offensive pass interference or face mask call on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, and totaling only four flags through the first 58 minutes of the game. The Rams’ winning possession, however, featured four more flags, including two against Bengals pass defenders in the red zone.
In 2024, Torbert’s regular-season crew threw the third-most flags in the NFL (17.1). His divisional round crew threw 12 flags, six apiece against the Commanders and Lions, but none for either roughing the passer or offensive holding. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter
Read more: NFL names Torbert referee for Super Bowl LIX … NFLRA says theories that officials favor Chiefs ‘insulting’ … Goodell shuts down notion NFL officials partial to Chiefs … Inexperience of Super Bowl officials is ‘huge departure’
How to bet Super Bowl LIX
Current line from ESPN BET Sportsbook: Chiefs -1, O/U 48.5
Since 2021, underdogs are 4-0 against the spread and 3-1 outright in the Super Bowl. Underdogs are 22-36 outright and 29-27-2 ATS in the Super Bowl all time. The Chiefs are 4-2 outright and ATS in the Super Bowl, winning and covering in each of the past two seasons.
Mahomes is 3-1 outright and ATS in the Super Bowl. All of Mahomes’ Super Bowls have featured lines of three points or less. The points total hit the over in both of the Chiefs’ past two Super Bowl appearances. The total for the pending Chiefs-Eagles matchup opened at 49.5 at ESPN BET.
Read more: Updated odds and trends for Chiefs-Eagles … Americans expected to bet $1.39B legally on Super Bowl … Betting for beginners … Your guide to making the best picks on Sunday (ESPN+) … A Swiftie’s guide to Taylor-themed Super Bowl prop bets … Mike Clay’s playbook (ESPN+)
Who is playing the halftime show?
Kendrick Lamar will perform at the halftime show. He is a 22-time Grammy winner, and in 2018, he became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.”
Lamar’s last album, “GNX,” was released in November. He garnered much attention in 2024 with his diss track “Not Like Us,” which was aimed at fellow hip-hop star Drake. At the 67th Grammy Awards, “Not Like Us” won five awards: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video and Best Rap Performance. Five-time Grammy winner SZA will be a special guest in Lamar’s performance.
Read more: Lamar previews his upcoming halftime show … Most searched Super Bowl halftime shows … Who has performed at Super Bowl halftime show? … SZA to join during Super Bowl halftime performance
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Brady Henderson
SEATTLE — Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald has given veteran quarterback Geno Smith another strong endorsement.
And this time, he didn’t just say that he wants Smith to remain the team’s starter in 2025. In an interview with FOX 13 TV in Seattle, Macdonald answered in the affirmative when asked whether he expects that to be the case.
“Yeah. Heck yeah, man,” Macdonald said. “Geno’s our quarterback. I don’t understand the conversation. It’s pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback. He’s our quarterback. We love him. Can’t wait to go to work with him.”
Macdonald himself has fueled some of the speculation about Smith’s future, even if unintentionally. At season’s end, he was asked how involved he’ll be this offseason in Smith’s contract situation, with the two sides expected to try to work out an extension as the quarterback enters the final year of his deal. Macdonald lauded Smith but spoke in nondefinitive terms that seemed to convey uncertainty about whether Smith would remain a Seahawk.
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“I want Geno to be here,” Macdonald said on Jan. 7. “I think he’s a heck of a player … I feel like Geno’s the best for the team right now. I’ll be involved with it. Ultimately, it’s not my decision. It’s a Seahawks decision, but Geno knows how we feel about him, and we love him as our starting quarterback, for sure.”
Smith, 34, is coming off another mixed-bag season in which he ranked 21st in Total QBR while carrying an offense with an overmatched line and no consistent run game. He broke his own franchise records for passing yards with 4,320 (fourth in NFL) and completion rate at 70.4% (fifth), and also led four game-winning drives. But Smith threw 15 interceptions (third most) in 17 games compared with 21 touchdown passes, and he took 50 sacks (third most).
Smith is set to make $31 million next season, which includes a $16 million roster bonus due on March 16. His cap number is $44.5 million.
Smith led the Seahawks to a 10-7 record in Macdonald’s first season as head coach, which left them one spot out of the NFC playoffs. Macdonald fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and replaced him with Klint Kubiak.
“We’ve had a lot of non-football conversations — to keep it legal — over the last month or so,” Macdonald told the TV station, referring to Smith. “And I know he’s really excited about Klint taking over. This guy, he’s a great player, man. And we can win a championship with Geno Smith. We really believe that and can’t wait to get back to work with him.”
