At halftime of Super Bowl LVII two years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles appeared on track for victory. They led the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 24 to 14, powered by two Jalen Hurts touchdown runs in the red zone.
Nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter, the Eagles found themselves trailing 35-27. But once again, Hurts took control, leading a 75-yard drive and capping it off with yet another touchdown run. He then ran in a two-point conversion to tie the game at 35 with 5:15 left.
How Super Bowl 2023 Ended
However, heartbreak struck the City of Brotherly Love when Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 66-yard drive, setting up a Harrison Butker field goal that put Kansas City ahead with just eight seconds remaining. The kick sealed the Chiefs’ second Super Bowl victory in four years.
After winning last year’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs now look for a three-peat, while the Eagles hope there won’t be a repeat of Super Bowl LVII. If the Eagles want to rewrite their franchise history, they’ll need three key factors to go their way.
1. Saquon Barkley Needs to Be the Difference-Maker in Super Bowl 2025
Hurts did it all in the Eagles’ 2023 Super Bowl appearance. He had a hand in every single Eagles touchdown — rushing for three of them and then connecting with A.J. Brown for another. In addition to throwing 27-38 for 304 yards, he also led the team with 70 rushing yards.
But he has far more help on the offensive end today, with a top-tier running back in Saquon Barkley. In 2023, the Eagles had a dual threat in the form of Hurts — that has now only multiplied with the AP Offensive Player of the Year Barkley.
What to watch out for: Can Saquon Barkley break the Super Bowl rushing yards record?
2. The Offensive Line Must Rise to the Challenge
The Eagles’ offensive line has been a strength all season — arguably the league’s best. Led by LT Jordan Mailata, they’ll need to continue dominating in the trenches.
Fortunately, they enter this Super Bowl nearly at full strength — and they’ll need it as Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo throws blitzes at Hurts.
3. A.J. Brown, Eagles Receivers Need to Read Defensive Blitzes
Speaking of blitzes, the Eagles’ receivers will have to be on alert too.
WR Brown, in particular, must be prepared to recognize and react to blitzes effectively, adjusting his routes accordingly.
Parallels Between 2022-23 and 2024-25 Seasons
The 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons share eerie similarities. In both years, the Eagles finished 14-3 and advanced to the Super Bowl to face the Chiefs after dominant NFC Championship Game wins.
This time, though, they’re determined to force a different outcome.
With a more balanced offense that’s less reliant on Hurts and a still-strong defense, the Eagles have the tools to flip the script.
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