We are nearing the end of the 2024-25 NFL season, with only one game left. Two teams will compete for the championship title in New Orleans during Super Bowl LIX (59). On February 9, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 Super Bowl LVII (57).
The Chiefs got here with a thrilling 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, also known as the Arrowhead Invitational, being that this game has been decided at Arrowhead, the Chiefs home stadium, six of the last seven seasons. Patrick Mahomes had another outstanding game, finishing with 245 yards, one touchdown pass, and two rushing touchdowns. He also made clutch throws down the stretch to secure the victory for his team. On the other side, the Bills fought valiantly, with Josh Allen making impressive plays and rallying his team. He finished with 237 passing yards and two touchdowns. He even had a chance to tie the game or take the lead at the end. On 4th-and-5 from their 47-yard line, the Chiefs blitzed Allen and pressured him to throw an erratic pass downfield to Dalton Kincaid. Although the pass was slightly underthrown, it was still catchable. The ball hit Kincaid’s hands, but he dropped it, and it was over for the Bills. The ghosts of Kansas City continue to haunt Allen as he just can’t beat the Chiefs in the playoffs. In the regular season, he is 4-1 against the Chiefs, but in the playoffs, he’s 0-4 and is the only player to lose four straight times to another opponent in the playoffs. His failed Super Bowl appearance also gives the most playoff wins (seven) by any quarterback without a Super Bowl start.
After the game, Allen reflected on ending their Super Bowl dreams once again.
“To be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs, and we didn’t do that tonight,” Allen told reporters postgame. “You can either get it done or you can’t. And we didn’t get it done.”
And although Mahomes is grateful to be headed to New Orleans, after the game, he did show sympathy to the Bills’ quarterback.
“I always feel for him—he’s a great player, an amazing competitor, and an awesome dude who I respect so much,” Mahomes said to The Athletic’s Michael Silver. “I’m sorry it had to be us. But, you know, we compete, and someone has to win.”
The Eagles won a trip to the Super Bowl in dominating fashion. They obliterated the Washington Commanders 55-33 in the NFC Championship game. The Commanders scored a field goal on their first drive and held a 3-0 lead, but as soon as the Eagles got the ball, they took control, quickly. On their first play from scrimmage, they demonstrated why they acquired Saquon Barkley. The NFL’s leading rusher ran 60 yards to score the game’s first touchdown. For plays later, the Eagles defense forced a fumble and got the ball back, then Barkely scored his second touchdown. Washington responded with another field goal. Their defense then stopped the Eagles after they missed a field goal, and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin. However, they missed the extra point so the score was 14-12, and the Eagles ran away with the game after that. The Eagles scored a touchdown, then forced a fumble on the kickoff, then scored another touchdown. Washington did end the half with a field goal to make the score 27-15, but in the second half, the Eagles outscored the Commanders 28-8. The 55 points are the most any team has scored in a conference championship game since the 1970 merger.
After the game, Barkley told reporters that moments like this are why he decided to play for the Eagles.
“I came to Philly to be part of games like this,” said the 2000-yard rusher. “And there’s nothing better than a game where you can advance to the Super Bowl.” Barkley finished with 118 yards and three touchdowns.
Hurts finished with 246 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and three rushing touchdowns said he didn’t care about his stats, he just wanted to win.
I don’t play the game for stats,” he said. “I don’t play the game for numbers, any statistical approval from anyone else. Winning and success is defined by that particular individual; it’s all relative to that person and what I define it as winning. And so, my No. 1 goal is to always come out and win. The standard is to win.”
Daniels finished with 255 yards, one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, and one interception for Washington.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, this upcoming matchup represents an opportunity to rectify past mistakes. The last time these two teams faced off in the Super Bowl, the Eagles found themselves in a favorable position, holding a 10-point lead at halftime. However, a pivotal moment came when a costly turnover by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts shifted the momentum, ultimately leading to their defeat. With the addition of a dynamic running back like Saquon Barkley, who brings both speed and power to the offense, Hurts now has a reliable weapon to complement his skills. This new dynamic could significantly enhance the Eagles’ chances of clinching their second championship title in franchise history as they aim to capitalize on this rematch and bring home a victory.
If the Kansas City Chiefs win the upcoming Super Bowl, they will carve their name into the annals of sports history as the first team to achieve a three-peat in the Super Bowl era. This remarkable feat underscores their dominance in the league, as no team has successfully won the championship title three times in a row. Moreover, the Chiefs have already made history simply by reaching this point, as they are the first team to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls after winning the previous two consecutive. With this trip to the Super Bowl, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has one of the best starts to an NFL career. In his eight years, Mahomes has two NFL MVPs, five AFC championships, three Super Bowl titles, three Super Bowl MVPs, and 17 postseason wins, the second-most ever by an NFL quarterback. All before his 30th birthday. One more playoff win this season, and the 29-year-old quarterback will be a four-time Super Bowl champion. The stage is set for Super Bowl LIX (59) in NOLA. Who will win the sequel from two years ago? We’ll find out in two weeks on February 9.
