Well, let’s start by pointing out the oh-so-painfully obvious in stating that I am not a gambling man. With the current prices of gas and groceries, I can barely even afford to be a rambling man. I usually reserve my Super Bowl predictions for a group chat full of my best friends, with a couple months of bragging rights as the only stakes. But why not share with the class? Just don’t come hunting for me if you decide to put more on the line than I am.
Expect a heavy dose of Devonta Smith
While former Alabama Heisman winner Devonta Smith often takes a backseat to ex-Ole Miss star AJ Brown in discussions about the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, I doubt he’ll be overlooked or outshined on Sunday. If his first Super Bowl performance against the Chiefs in 2023 — seven catches for 100 yards — was any indicator of what’s to come, he’ll be heavily involved once again in Super Bowl LIX.
Smith, a native of Amite City, La., has a knack for playing his best football in front of his family. Ask the LSU Tigers, who had no hope of slowing “The Slim Reaper” down during an eight-catch, 231-yard, three-touchdown performance in Smith’s Heisman campaign back in 2020.
With the Super Bowl being in New Orleans, Smith will be even more motivated to come up big for his team and help the Eagles pull an upset.
A low-scoring game wouldn’t be a big surprise
While the Chiefs and Eagles are proud owners of two of the NFL’s best offenses, don’t expect Philly head coach Nick Sirianni to dive head-first into a shootout with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ iconic passing attack. The Eagles’ biggest advantage entering Sunday’s matchup lies within their rushing attack, featuring MVP candidate Saquon Barkley. I’d argue their best shot at flipping the outcome from Super Bowl LVI will be to win the time-of-possession battle by leaning on Barkley and milking the clock. If the Chiefs pull ahead early and force the Eagles to play keep-up, things won’t end very well for Jalen Hurts and company.
As sick as we all get of saying it, I’ll bet offenses are even more sick of knowing that it remains true. One or two key defensive stops could make all the difference in Sunday’s outcome; and on this occasion, both defenses are more than good enough to make that happen.
It’s often former MSU Bulldog Chris Jones who comes up big for the Chiefs’ defensive front, just as fellow former Bulldog Fletcher Cox has come up big in Super Bowl appearances for the Eagles. But I’d suggest keeping an eye on Philly’s second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter — or as we Seattle Seahawks fans call him, “the one who got away.” Carter was a force to be reckoned with in postseason wins over the Rams and Commanders, and he’ll be motivated to continue making a name for himself by pressuring Mahomes in key moments during his first Super Bowl appearance.
As I mentioned in my last column, I’m far from a Chiefs fan. I’m no Eagles fan, either, but there will be plenty of former SEC standouts wearing green on Sunday, which is the main reason I’ll be rooting for the Eagles.
But even if I was a gambling man, would I bet against Mahomes and the Chiefs? Not a chance.
Mahomes may not play long enough to touch a lot of Tom Brady’s career records, but I’d argue Mahomes has already caught up to him in one important category. The reigning Super Bowl MVP has reached a point in his career, much like Brady, where it simply feels dumb to bet against him in win-or-go-home scenarios.
If that’s not the ultimate sign of greatness, I’m not sure what is. Mahomes has proven that he can rise to any occasion, and even though I’ll be stoked if he falls short of the mark on Sunday, anything short of a win for the Chiefs would be a shocker for those of us who passionately follow this league each weekend throughout the fall.
