We are getting closer and closer to kickoff for the Eagles- Chiefs Super Bowl. But what team has the matchup advantage? Over the next few days, we will be going roster spot by roster spot, to see which team is better. Do the Eagles have the better roster heading into this Super Bowl? Let’s find out, starting today with the offense.
QB- Jalen Hurts vs Patrick Mahomes
You would have to be a pretty big homer to give this to Jalen hurts over Patrick Mahomes. And that is nothing negative about Jalen Hurts. The guy has been an MVP-caliber QB all season long. Not only is he a dynamic threat to run the ball, but he can sling it too. Hurts is here for a reason, and deserves to be considered among the best NFL QBs.
But Patrick Mahomes is better. Mahomes is the best QB in the league. He has been here before and won it. The resume, the experience, and the arm talent all lean toward Patrick Mahomes. Is the gap as big as many people around the nation think? No. But there is a gap. The thing Hurts does have going for him is that he very rarely makes mistakes. He makes smart choices with the football.
But of course, when the Eagles played the Patriots in 2018 the patriots had the QB advantage. And that advantage was far wider than this one. This is two top 5 QBs facing each other. It just so happens one of them is the best QB in the league, and the other one, at least this season, has been the 2nd best.
Edge: Chiefs
WR- AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Quez Watkins vs Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney
Not even a competition. The Eagles have arguably the best WR group in the league, with only the Dolphins being able to argue otherwise. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are both true number 1 WRs. The production proves that. The Chiefs don’t have any number 1 WRs after Tyreek Hill left. The Eagles have two WRs with over 1000 yards, the Chiefs have none. Brown, Smith, Watkins, and Pascal have a combined 22 TDs. The Chiefs WRs have a combined 13. 4 of those come from Mecole Hardman who won’t be playing. Toney and Smith-Schuster are both banged up too, but they will probably play.
Is the Chiefs’ Wr group bad? No. But it is middle of the road. It can’t even come close to matching what the Eagles have at WR.
Edge: Eagles
Tight End- Dallas Goedert vs Travis Kelce
Dallas Goedert is great. He has established himself as one of the best Tight Ends in the league this year. But we are comparing him to a guy who is not only the best Tight End in the league but could go down as perhaps the best of All-Time.
It is nothing against Goedert, Kelce is just better. Kelce has 1338 yards this season, along with 12 TDs. Goedert had 702 yards and 3 TDS. To be fair to Dallas, he did miss some time. But I don’t think those couple extra games would have closed that gap. Goedert also is not the primary target for his team like Kelce is. So I don’t know if the talent gap is as large as the production gap suggests. But Kelce is still the better Tight End.
Edge: Chiefs
RB- Miles Sanders, Kenny Gainwell, and Boston Scott vs Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
This one is all Eagles. Pacheco has done a nice job this year. But you look at his production, vs Miles Sanders, and there is no comparison. Sanders racked up 1296 yards on his own, more than both Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire combined. And we have seen Kenny Gainwell really break out in the playoffs.
The one advantage Chiefs may have, is that their RBs get a bit more involved in the passing game. Especially McKinnon who has 9 receiving TDs. But in terms of running the ball, there is no comparison. The Eagles are the best running team in the league. And if you add Jalen Hurts in as an honorary Running Back, the Eagles run away with this by a mile. The production on the ground from them, is far greater than the Chiefs.
Edge: Eagles
LT- Jordan Mailata vs Orlando Brown
This one is probably closer than Eagles fans like to admit. Jordan is the better run blocker, but Brown may be the better pass blocker. Jordan Mailata gave up a couple more sacks this season than Brown did. But the gap between them as run blockers is larger than the block between them as pass blockers. Because Mailata as a run blocker is elite. He came in 2nd in the whole league with a run block win rate of 83%. It is close, but Mailata gets the slight edge.
Edge: Eagles
LG- Landon Dickerson and Joe Thuney
Another one that is really hard to call. These are two of the elite Left Guards in the league. Joe and Landon are 1 and 2 respectively in pass block win rate. And Landon comes in at the top of the league in run block win rate, while Joe is 5th. They gave up 2 combined sacks this season. The thing that may give the edge to Joe over Landon, is penalties. Joe committed just 2 penalties all season. While Landon led all LGs with 14. Both excel at their position, but Landon’s penalty issue gives this one to Joe Thuney.
Edge- Chiefs
Center- Jason Kelce vs Creed Humphrey
Creed Humphrey is a great center. Probably the 2nd best center in the league. But come on. We are talking about Jason Kelce. The guy you can lock in to be the First-Team All-Pro every single season at center. Kelce hasn’t given up a sack in years. Just like it is no slight to Jalen Hurts to say Patrick Mahomes is better than him, it is no slight to Humphrey to say Jason Kelce is better. Kelce will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame one day.
Edge: Eagles
Right Guard: Isaac Seumalo vs Trey Smith
Seumalo is a bit of an unsung hero on the O-Line. Everyone talks about how great the other 4 guys are. But Seumalo rarely gets that love. But he is pretty great in his own right. Seumalo gave up just 1 sack all season. Is he the 5th best player on the line? Yes. But that is like saying Ringo is the 4th best member of The Beatles.
As for Trey Smith, he is pretty good as well. There is not a huge amount of difference here. Both guys are solid dependable Linemen. Smith gave up 2 sacks to Seumalo’s 1, so I suppose the edge goes to Isaac, but it is close.
Edge:Eagles
Right Tackle: Lane Johnson vs Andrew Wylie
It is Lane. Not even close. Lane Johnson is by far the best RT in the league. He hasn’t given up a sack in forever. Even playing with an injury that will require surgery, he still shut down Nick Bosa. There is no debate to be had here. Lane Johnson gets the edge by a mile. Wylie has allowed 9 sacks this season. Of the 10 starting linemen between these two teams, he is the weakest of the group. And Lane Johnson may be the best of the group right now, with only Jason Kelce being his competition.
Edge: Eagles
Conclusion
QB-Chiefs
WR- Eagles
RB-Eagles
TE- Chiefs
LT- Eagles
LG- Chiefs
C-Eagles
RG-Eagles
RT-Eagles
