Who has the edge? Breaking down matchups between Eagles, Chiefs in Super Bowl 57

The Philadelphia Eagles were the most consistent team throughout the season but the Kansas City Chiefs are a veteran group back in the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

Here’s a look at who has the edge in each area entering Super Bowl 57 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

QUARTERBACKS

Patrick Mahomes won his second Most Valuable Player award despite losing his most dynamic target, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, before the season started. In his sixth season, Mahomes has seemingly taken his game to another level, learning how to work his way down the field methodically instead of aiming for the big play on every pass.

Jalen Hurts finished second in MVP voting behind Mahomes and was one of the breakout stars of the season, leading the Eagles’ run-oriented scheme. He made significant improvements as a passer this season and, like Mahomes, possesses a calmness about him in the pocket. Both players have dealt with injuries in recent weeks but neither was on the final injury report. Edge: Chiefs

RUNNING BACKS

The Eagles ranked fifth in rushing and broke the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season (32). Miles Sanders is Philadelphia’s leading rusher and Hurts is always a threat on designed runs or scrambles. But Kenneth Gainwell has emerged in the playoffs, leading the team with 160 yards and 6.2 yards per carry.

The Chiefs ranked in the middle of the pack, averaging 115.9 yards per game. Kansas City is led by rookie Isiah Pacheco. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been sidelined since Week 11 because of a high ankle sprain but was activated from injured reserve and could play Sunday. Edge: Eagles

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

Philadelphia has a little bit of everything with its pass-catchers. Philadelphia’s trade for A.J. Brown brought the perfect complement to DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert is a steady presence in the middle of the field, too. Gainwell is also often targeted out of the backfield, a matchup problem for linebackers.

While the Chiefs lack the dynamic ability of Hill this season, they have gotten solid production from a number of proven wideouts, including JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Mecole Hardman won’t play because of a pelvic injury but Mahomes still has his No. 1 target, tight end Travis Kelce. At 33, Kelce is as productive as any player at his position with his wiggle and feel for zones. Edge: Eagles

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Eagles may have the best offensive line in the NFL. The unit ranked third in ESPN’s pass block win rate and second in run block win rate. But Kansas City isn’t too far behind. Over the past two seasons, the Chiefs have rebuilt an offensive line that was afflicted by injuries in their Super Bowl 55 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kansas City ranked second in pass block win rate and third in run block win rate. The Eagles and Chiefs are the only two teams to rank top three in both metrics. Edge: Eagles

Defensive line

Philadelphia recorded 70 sacks in the regular season, the third-most in NFL history. The Eagles have a talented and deep front, the reason why they became the first team in NFL history with four players recording double-digit sacks. Stopping the run, though, has been a problem at times for the defense, which led to Philadelphia signing veterans Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph in the middle of the season.

Kansas City may not have the depth of Philadelphia but its top players are as good as any in the league. Defensive tackle Chris Jones ranked third in the NFL with 15.5 sacks and defensive end Frank Clark has wreaked havoc in the playoffs, recording 2.5 sacks in two games. Both can rush from all over the defensive line. Edge: Eagles

Linebackers

Second-year player Nick Bolton is one of many young Chiefs defenders who have stepped up in the past two years. The middle linebacker started all 17 games in the regular season and led Kansas City with 180 combined tackles.

The Eagles’ linebackers corps is probably the least heralded of the talented defense but has given solid production. Inside linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White led Philadelphia in tackles with 159 and 110, respectively.

Edge: Even

Defensive backs

The Eagles had the best cornerback tandem this season with Darius Slay and James Bradberry on the outside and safety C.J. Gardner Johnson has been a ballhawk on the back end, tying for the league lead in interceptions (6) despite missing five games.

The Chiefs lost safety Tyrann Mathieu in the offseason but multiple young players have stepped up in the secondary, including rookie cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and safety Juan Thornhill lead the team with three interceptions apiece. Edge: Eagles

Special teams

The Eagles and Chiefs ranked 13th and 19th, respectively, in Football Outsiders’ efficiency metrics for special teams. Neither team gets much in the return game but Philadelphia is expected to get punter Arryn Siposs back. Siposs hasn’t played since injuring his ankle on Dec. 11. Edge: Even

Coaching

Sunday’s game will be one of the most lopsided coaching matchups in the Super Bowl by experience. The Chiefs’ Andy Reid, who coached the Eagles for 14 years, has 24 seasons of head-coaching experience, while the Eagles’ Nick Sirianni is making his first Super Bowl appearance in his second season. But Sirianni has earned the love of his players and the Philadelphia fan base with his moxie and aggressiveness on fourth down. Edge: Chiefs

Prediction

You can never count out a Mahomes-led team but the Eagles have the more talented squad and can win in multiple ways, whether it be their stout defense, physical running game or explosive passing game. Eagles 25, Chiefs 19 // Super Bowl MVP: Jalen Hurts