Three Super Bowl trends the Chiefs are hoping to reverse against the Eagles
The Chiefs’ usual plan if they win the coin toss is to kick the ball to start the game.
If all goes well, the Chiefs will score just before halftime, then get the ball to start the second half and score again.
That all starts with winning the coin toss, but as we’ve seen in the Chiefs’ last two Super Bowl appearances, things have not always gone according to plan. The Chiefs won the toss in Super Bowl LV, but lost to the Buccaneers.
However, the Chiefs lost the coin toss but won Super Bowl LIV. In a weird quirk, the last eight Super Bowl winners have lost the coin toss.
The winner of the last 8 Super Bowl coin tosses has gone on to lose the game pic.twitter.com/g9BDZzS9kQ
— PFF Bet (@PFF_Bet) February 7, 2023
That’s one of three trends the Chiefs hope to reverse when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
The MVP
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the NFL MVP award Thursday night, and history suggests that’s a bad sign for Kansas City.
An NFL.com story, citing NFL Research, said the last nine NFL MVP winners who played in the Super Bowl have ended up losing.
Here is the list from CBS Sports.
Super Bowl LII: Tom Brady, Patriots lost to Eagles.
Super Bowl LI: Matt Ryan, Falcons lost to Patriots.
Super Bowl 50: Cam Newton, Panthers lost to Broncos.
Super Bowl XLVIII: Peyton Manning, Colts lost to Seahawks.
Super Bowl XLIV: Peyton Manning, Colts lost to Saints.
Super Bowl XLII: Tom Brady, Patriots lost to Giants.
Super Bowl XL: Shaun Alexander, Seahawks lost to Steelers.
Super Bowl XXXVII: Rich Gannon, Raiders lost to Buccaneers.
Super Bowl XXXVI: Kurt Warner, Rams lost to Patriots.
The last NFL MVP to win a Super Bowl was Warner with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Titans, CBS Sports noted.
Passing yards leader
Mahomes led the NFL with 5,250 passing yards, which historically has been a bad omen for the Super Bowl. No player who has led the league in passing yards has won a Super Bowl.
This is the 7th Super Bowl in which the regular season passing yards leader made the Super Bowl. The previous six all lost.
Patrick Mahomes led the NFL in passing yards this season... pic.twitter.com/dJX2GQ6QMV— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) February 10, 2023
As NFL writer Scott Kacsmar noted, only two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks have thrown for 4,700 yards in a season: Matt Stafford (last year with the Rams) and Eli Manning with the Giants.
Kacsmar’s research shows players have thrown for 5,000 yards or more 15 times in a season and none of the first 14 won a Super Bowl. Mahomes and the Chiefs hope to be the first on Sunday.
Did you know Eli Manning and MAtthew Stafford are the only QBs to throw for 4,700 yards in a season and win a Super Bowl?
Mahomes would be the first 5,000-yard passer and first passing yardage leader to win a Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/KeQ83unP5v— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) January 31, 2023
