Super Bowl LVII: Analyzing the Offensive and Defensive Weapons of the Eagles and Chiefs

By Alex Benjamin

Image via: https://www.bettingsuperbowl.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/bsb-Chiefs-v-Eagles.jpg

In the world of the NFL, having a well-rounded team is crucial for success.

Offensive weapons are the players that are relied upon to put points on the board. Along with a great quarterback, it is crucial to have running backs who are workhorses that can carry the load and wear down the opposing defense. Great teams also have wide receivers who are playmakers and can stretch the field to create big plays. However, defense wins championships. Linebackers are the heart of the defense and are responsible for stopping the run and covering the middle of the edge rushers who pressure quarterback and disrupt the passing game with defensive backs as the last line of defense.

The NFL is a game of inches and having strong offensive and defensive weapons is huge. The next time you watch an NFL game, pay attention to the weapons that each team has on both offense and defense. They will play a key role in determining the outcome of the game. Hopefully, the Jets will learn this sometime soon. As for the Chiefs and the Eagles, these teams have the best weapons all over the field and it's no surprise they are in the Super bowl.

Jalen Hurts is entering his third season in the NFL, and the Philadelphia Eagles have done an amazing job surrounding him with a talented cast of skill players. The trade for A.J. Brown was one of the best moves of the 2023 offseason, and Brown proved his worth with a monstrous 1,500-yard, 11-touchdown season.

Not only does the Eagles have a superstar receiver in Brown, but they also have DeVonta Smith who had 1,200 yards this season, and Dallas Goedert, a playmaking tight end who is a threat on every play. With such a talented supporting cast, Hurts will have all the weapons he needs to lead the Eagles to success. The team's offense has the potential to be explosive and dominant, and Hurts can spread the ball around to his talented receivers, keeping defenses guessing. With Hurts' dual-threat abilities and his surrounding cast of playmakers, the Eagles' offense is sure to be a force to be reckoned with.

The Kansas City Chiefs' skill players may not seem as daunting in the wake of Tyreek Hill's departure, but the team has proven to be plenty explosive and capable of reaching the season's final game. Travis Kelce remains one of the game's best players and is an unstoppable force at the tight end position.

While the cast behind Kelce may have been a mixed bag, Kansas City has seen players step up and fill the void left by Hill. The team's offense is still explosive, with players like Mecole Hardman and Juju proving their worth and stepping up when the team needed them. With the talent the Chiefs have, they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

Credit is definitely due to the Kansas City Chiefs for their recent improvement in running the ball. The emergence of rookie running back Isiah Pacheco has been a huge factor in their success, as he has quickly become a 900-yard rusher during the second half of the season. The Chiefs are not afraid to develop new talent and trust their younger players.

However, the real star of the show when it comes to running the ball is the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have been known for their strong running game for years, with quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Miles Sanders leading the way behind one of the league's best offensive lines. The Eagles' offensive line is composed of three Pro Bowlers, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, and Lane Johnson, who are not afraid to play to their strengths.

The Eagles' commitment to running the ball has been evident in their recent playoff wins, where they have totaled 416 rushing yards compared to just 269 passing yards. They believe in their offensive line and running backs, and trust them to carry the load.

In this matchup between the Eagles and the Chiefs, both teams have their strengths and weaknesses on defense. The pass rush and secondary are two key areas where the two teams differ, with the Eagles having more top-end talent in these positions.

Chris Jones of the Chiefs is considered to be one of the best pass rushers in this matchup, with 17.5 sacks on the season and being a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. However, the Eagles' pass rush has impressive depth, with players like Haason Reddick, Brandon Graham, Javon Hargrave, and Josh Sweat all contributing to the team's 70 regular season sacks, which were the third-most all-time. It's safe to say that the Eagles have the edge in the pass rush.

When it comes to the linebackers, the Chiefs have a star in Nick Bolton, who has made over 300 tackles in just two seasons, along with Willie Gay. The Eagles' Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards may not have the star power, but they have been effective working with the team's awesome D-Line. In this category, the edge goes to the Chiefs.

The Eagles shine in the secondary, where they have a top cornerback combo in Darius Slay and James Bradberry, as well as offseason acquisition Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who finished tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions. The Chiefs' secondary isn't as strong as it once was, but it's still respectable, thanks to the experience of Justin Reid and Juan Thornhill in the middle of the field. The majority of the Chiefs' cornerback play comes from rookies Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, and Jaylen Watson, who have already proven to be dangerous, intercepting Joe Burrow two times.

Both the Eagles and the Chiefs have talented supporting casts surrounding their quarterbacks. With Hurts and the Eagles' offense, and with the Chiefs' playmakers, It's anyone's guess who will come out on top.