NFL 2024 Week 21 – The Jared Goff Cup

 

 

Greetings Tipsters

Superbowl LIX, Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Dome. Conmen, pickpockets and hookers have been looking forward to this for months. These two teams played a SB two years ago, the Chiefs won a close and exciting game 38-35. How do these teams shape up this time?

Chiefs, as everyone knows, have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. They’ve won three SBs, including the last two, Patrick has played an AFC Championship game every season since he became the starting QB and his stats are way ahead of Tom Brady’s at this point in their careers. The man is a freak, and even better in playoffs than the regular season. Andy has always been a great coach, he understands the flow of the game, knows when to pull the right lever.

Nick Siriani cops a lot of flak, but that’s life in Philadephia (the Eagles sacked Andy). He’s more a manager and motivator than an X&O coach. Jalen Hurts, despite an MVP, is not fully trusted by some. Worth noting here that Eagles have the most infamous fans in the league, occasionally veering toward 1980s English soccer standards. If they win, expect street lights to be pulled down, cars dumped in the river, several arrests and an accidental fatality or two.

Eagles DC Vic Fangio is running the best D in the league. Part of that is limiting 20+ yard plays and making the opposition go for the methodical short gains, which is what Chiefs have been doing this season anyway. Patrick has thrown passes behind the line of scrimmage more than any other QB but the Eagles have the best record against such passes.

On the other sideline, Steve Spagnuolo is a D guru who calls the right play at the right time and if sometimes it seems risky, he trusts his troops to get the job done. He does have Chris Jones, who can play anywhere along the D line and do it better than most anyone. Expect the D to try to rattle Jalen, keep him off rhythm and mess up his passing game, which could work but…

Saquon Barkley, Eagles running back, is 30 yards off the single season rushing record, set by Terrell Davis, who was the last RB to win the season rushing record and a SuperBowl. It’s Saquon’s birthday on Sunday too. More to the point, the Chiefs have allowed a lot of rushing yards over the last couple games, Saquon can break tackles, jink and jive in the open field and outpace most cornerbacks and safeties.

Chiefs O line isn’t great, the Eagles D line could belt it around and attempt to pressure Patrick, maybe that might work, but he’s an alien in human form. Just cos the Chiefs have dinked and dunked their way down the field to a lot of one score wins – highest winning margin this season was 8 – doesn’t mean they’ll do it this weekend. Their receivers include a pacey rookie and a couple of old hands, they might a few long passes this weekend cos Chiefs running game isn’t that hot and Eagles have a great run D. Better recievers too.

It’ll likely be a close, high-scoring game. Defence wins championships, will Steve come up with a plan to shut down Saquon and force Jalen to throw into coverage? Will Vic have a plan to cut off the Chiefs short passing game? And how will the Offences adjust?

I’m gonna go watch the rest of Jon Gruden’s 55 minute vid, he won a Superbowl, it’s a great insight into coaching details and presentation.

 

 

Cheers Tipsters

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