Month: January 2025

Travis Kelce’s Playing Future Uncertain?

FEBRUARY 8: In spite of Kelce’s remarks from earlier this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports his situation is still uncertain. The four-time All-Pro is expected to take time this offseason to contemplate his future, with Rapoport adding the outcome of tomorrow’s Super Bowl may play a role in Kelce’s decision.

A fourth Super Bowl ring would leave him with even less to accomplish in the NFL for 2025 and beyond, but Kansas City’s offense would of course have a major vacancy to fill in the event of a retirement call. Kelce’s commitment one way or the other should be known before free agency begins in mid-March, per Rapoport.

FEBRUARY 4: Rocketing into a position as one of the best-known American athletes over the past two years, Travis Kelce has used this Chiefs dynasty period to cement himself as one of the all-time tight end greats. While this is obviously an easier NFL period to accumulate receiving yards compared to past eras, the Kansas City tight end stands on his own tier in terms of 1,000-yard seasons at his position.

This season brought a second straight sub-1,000-yard showing for Kelce, who has shown decline signs. Kelce earned his 10th Pro Bowl nod but averaged a career-low (by a significant margin) 8.5 yards per catch this season. The 12th-year veteran still led the Chiefs in receiving yardage (823), but he is not the dominant force that powered the Chiefs to victory in 2022. Kelce, who also stands at or near the top in terms of playoff receiving statistics, is not eyeing retirement on the heels of this step back.

[RELATED: Andy Reid Intends To Coach Next Season]

The Chiefs gave Kelce a pay bump this offseason, adding $4MM in total and providing substantial guarantee protection. After the 2024 raise provided $17MM in guarantees at signing, most of his 2025 money is set to vest on Day 3 of the 2025 league year. Kelce’s $17MM-per-year deal still runs through the 2025 season, as the Chiefs did not add any new years to his contract — one initially agreed to in 2020.

It would stand to reason Kelce would want to keep going, even though he has secured lucrative opportunities off the field — thanks to his New Heights podcast (with recently retired brother Jason) and burgeoning movie career. But Patrick Mahomes‘ longtime security blanket is aiming to play beyond this contract.

I love doing this; I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still have a lot of good football left in me. We’ll see what happens,” Kelce said, adding he would like to play beyond the 2025 season. “I know I’ve been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That’s always been the goal, knowing football only lasts for so long. You have to find a way to get into another career and another profession. I’ve been doing that in my offseason. But for the most part, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football.”

Even if the 35-year-old tight end may be unlikely to add an eighth 1,000-yard receiving season to his resume, no other tight end has more than four. Another season will likely give Kelce a gateway to surpassing Jerry Rice in playoff yardage; the receiver icon is up 2,245-2,039 presently. Kelce’s 20 postseason touchdowns are also second only to Rice’s 22, illustrating how important he has been to the Chiefs establishing themselves as this decade’s premier team.

The Chiefs may lack the style points from their Tyreek Hill years, leading to narrow victory margins and steady scrutiny, but Kelce has been vital for the team as it has crafted this threepeat attempt. His relationship with Taylor Swift has certainly brought the two-time reigning champs considerably more attention, even as their string of near-misses (packed with some officiating drama) this season has turned off plenty of fans. But the Chiefs are unlikely to exit stage left by 2025, as Kelce, Mahomes and Chris Jones join Reid in returning as this dynasty’s pillars. The Chiefs gave Jones (30) a massive raise this past offseason, while Mahomes (29) remains tied to his outlier through-2031 extension.

Even with Kelce no longer at his peak, it would be logical, based on all the value Kelce has brought the Chiefs, the team would be interested in continuing this partnership after 2025. Kelce has taken discounts, joining Mahomes in that regard, to help the Chiefs — all while simultaneously contributing to the wage gap that has formed between tight ends and wideouts — soar to their current perch. As a 13th Kelce season in Kansas City is all but assured, it will be interesting to see how much longer this partnership lasts beyond that point.

Injured Reserve Return Tracker

This offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 27 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. This introduces more strategy for teams, who will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 27 were eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Players who receive return designations after Week 5 also appear on this list.

This offseason also brought a second adjustment, with teams who qualify for the playoffs set to have two additional activations at their disposals. With the playoffs upon us, the two additional activations have been added to each team’s ledger. Here is how the Chiefs and Eagles’ activation puzzles look going into Super Bowl LIX:

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return:

Reverted to season-ending IR

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Designated for return:

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Final Transactions Of The 2024 NFL Season; Eagles Activate DE Brandon Graham From IR

The biggest game of the year will take place tomorrow night as the Chiefs are looking to threepeat for the first time in NFL history. The Eagles, on the other hand, are looking to avenge their Super Bowl loss to Patrick Mahomes and company from just two years ago. As has been the case all year, each team is allowed to elevate two players from their practice squad. Philadelphia has also taken the additional step to activate defensive end Brandon Graham from injured reserve.

Graham suffered a triceps tear in November, and it immediately became clear that he would not play again during the regular season. Triceps tears come with lengthy recovery timetables, and the 36-year-old said in the aftermath of the game in which his took place that he would be out for the rest of the year. As the season went on and the postseason drew nearer, hope began to rise that Graham would be able to make a return if the Eagles could last long enough to play in the Super Bowl.

To add on to that, Graham, who has spent his entire 15-year tenure in Philadelphia, said in July that he would retire following the 2024 campaign. If he is going to hold true to his word, he needed the team to keep winning in order to play one more game in green.

Luckily for Graham, his team held up their end of the bargain, and now, he’ll be able to hold up his. A Graham comeback will be significant for the Eagles, who have dealt with injuries to both he and Bryce Huff this season. Huff has since returned, though he is playing behind starters Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith in Vic Fangio‘s defense. At the time of his injury, Graham had already topped his 2023 full-season totals for sacks and QB hits in 11 games this season. The longest-tenured player in Eagles history was sitting on 3.5 and seven, respectively, in those categories when he went down against the Rams.

In order to make room on the roster, the Eagles have placed backup center Nick Gates on injured reserve. For their two practice squad callups, the Eagles have tabbed fullback Khari Blasingame and linebacker Nicholas Morrow. Blasingame has been elevated for all three of the team’s playoff games so far, while Morrow has been elevated for each of the last two.

The Chiefs only made standard gameday practice squad elevations today. Linebacker Swayze Bozeman and cornerback Steven Nelson will join the active roster for the final game of the season. Bozeman has played in two playoff games already for Kansas City, while Nelson will be making his 2024 debut.

Jaguars Finalize Coaching Staff

The time has come for Liam Coen to finally lead an NFL staff as a head coach. The 39-year-old has been an extremely fast riser after getting his first NFL assistant position in 2018. His first NFL coordinator role came in 2022, and three years later, he’s a head coach. The Jaguars announced yesterday that he’s now completed the building of his first NFL staff in Jacksonville.

He started with the hirings of offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Since then, we’ve been informed of the hiring of quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple, passing game coordinator Shane Waldron, passing game specialist John Van Dam, defensive line coach Matt Edwards, defensive backs coach Anthony Perkins, and linebackers coach Tem Lukabu, as well as the retention of special teams coordinator Heath Farwell. Their new announcement clears up the rest of the open positions.

On offense, we recently saw Vikings assistant offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett interview for the offensive line coaching job in Jacksonville, and his interview was a successful one. After one year in Chicago, Chad Morton joins the Jaguars as running backs coach. Before holding the same role with the Bears, Morton coached running backs in Seattle for seven years. It was announced earlier this week that Edgar Bennett would not be returning as wide receivers coach for the Raiders in 2025. Well, he has bounced back quickly, getting hired to the same position in Jacksonville.

Two familiar faces will remain on the offense with the Jaguars. Tight ends coach Richard Angulo and assistant wide receivers coach Tyler Tettleton will be retaining their roles with the team in 2025. Angulo has coached tight ends in Duval since 2022, while Tettleton has held his role for two seasons. Tettleton will add the title of passing game specialist to his role, as well.

On defense, we see Derrick LeBlanc join the staff as assistant defensive line coach. It was announced nearly two weeks ago that LeBlanc would not be returning as defensive line coach in Arizona, so he’ll take a step back in 2025 in an assistant role with the Jaguars. Kevin Wilkins has been hired as assistant linebackers coach. After being fired by the Giants last year, Wilkins spent 2024 as a defensive assistant for the University of Michigan. We saw earlier that Colts defensive backs coach Ron Milus would not be returning in 2025. He’ll stay in the AFC South, though, as the new secondary coach in Jacksonville.

Drew Lascari will make his debut as an NFL coach in 2025 as the team’s new assistant defensive backs coach. He’s spent the past seven years at Rutgers, coaching safeties in their last three seasons. One familiar face will be sticking around in Jacksonville on defense. Mario Jeberaeel was hired last year as assistant outside linebackers coach. He’s been retained in 2025, but will serve this year as a defensive assistant.

On special teams, being retained alongside Farwell will be assistant special teams coach Luke Thompson. Thompson will enter his fourth year in that role. Jay Kaiser has joined the staff as assistant to the head coach. It’s his first year with the Jaguars coming from the University of Illinois as director of college personnel and NFL liaison. Joining Kaiser in the role of assistant to the head coach will be ElizaBeth Harrison, who has held that role in Jacksonville for the past 16 years.

Thus concludes the hiring of the main positions of Coen’s first staff in Jacksonville. Some ancillary positions and other assistant roles remain to be filled out, but the main bones of the staff are now solidified.

NFL Coaching Updates: Schneider, Alexander, Berger

It didn’t take long for former 49ers special teams coordinator Brian Schneider to bounce back or for Commanders special teams coordinator Larry Izzo to get some new help. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Schneider has been hired by Washington as the team’s new assistant special teams coordinator.

Schneider was fired after three years in his role with the 49ers. He’s had two other short stints as a coordinator with the Raiders (2007-08) and Jaguars (2021), but his longest coordinator stint came from 2010 to 2020 with the Seahawks, where he worked alongside Commanders head coach Dan Quinn in 2010 and from 2013-14. The 53-year-old will now reunite with Quinn after 10 years.

Schneider fills the role left vacant by John Glenn. Glenn, who had served six seasons as the linebackers coach in Seattle before his lone season in Washington, departed in order to coach linebackers again for the Raiders.

Here are a couple other coaching updates from around the NFL:

  • The Steelers have a new defensive backs coach, per Josh Alper of NBC Sports. Gerald Alexander is returning to Pittsburgh after one year away from the team. Alexander’s first NFL job came in 2020 as the defensive backs coach for the Dolphins. He joined the Steelers as assistant defensive backs coach after being fired in Miami and left last year to retake a full defensive backs coaching job with the Raiders. With the staff turnover occurring in Las Vegas right now, Alexander returns to Pittsburgh. It seems Grady Brown is still on staff in Pittsburgh as secondary coach, but after the team finished 25th in pass defense in 2024, it’s not guaranteed he’ll stay.
  • Jon Berger has joined Aaron Glenn‘s new staff in New York. Berger will be the new game management coach for the Jets. He previously spent 35 years with the Giants in various analytics roles but has spent the past three years as an NFL employee, including holding a role as vice president of replay.

Chiefs “Very Interested” In Re-Signing WR Marquise Brown

The Chiefs want to keep Marquise Brown, but the team could face some competition for the wide receiver. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the organization is “very interested” in re-signing the impending free agent.

However, Fowler cautions that Hollywood should have a robust market as teams seek speedy outside receiver options. Several sources even believe an AFC foe could provide the Chiefs with the most competition for Brown’s services, as it’s believed Josh Allen “has long wanted to play” with the wideout.

After finishing his final season in Arizona with a career-low 574 receiving yards, Hollywood seemed to land in a perfect spot to rehabilitate his value. However, after inking his one-year deal in the offseason, Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason that kept him on the shelf for most of the 2024 campaign. He averaged 45.5 receiving yards in his two regular season appearances, and he’s hauled in three catches on seven targets in the postseason.

Considering his 2024 season was all but lost, suitors will presumably be looking to sign Brown to a similar one-year pact. The Chiefs would be a logical favorite to re-sign the receiver, especially since Patrick Mahomes advocated for the signing in the first place. However, if Brown is looking to parlay his next contract into a long-term deal, he may struggle to garner the necessary targets in Kansas City. First-round rookie Xavier Worthy occasionally looked the part of a WR1 in 2024, and the team will also welcome back Rashee Rice in 2025.

The Bills will continue to be connected to available wide receivers in a post-Stefon Diggs era, although the team (and their MVP QB) managed just fine in 2024. While the team is interested in re-signing Amari Cooper, there’s a chance they move on from the midseason acquisition, and veteran Mack Hollins is also set to hit free agency. That leaves second-round rookie Keon Coleman and third-year WR Khalil Shakir as the only guarantees on the depth chart.

Davante Adams “Intrigued” By Move To West Coast

Davante Adams has been generally noncommittal about a return to the Jets. The star receiver’s contract allows him to effectively control his own destiny, and if he wishes to move on from New York, he may be eyeing a move west.

[RELATED: Davante Adams On Future With Jets]

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Adams is “intrigued” by a move to the west coast, with a source specifically pointing to the Rams and Chargers as an option. Fowler also adds the 49ers as a potential suitor, noting Adams’ connection to Northern California.

Adams’ two-plus season stint in Las Vegas ended this past season when he was traded to the Jets. Despite teaming up with old friend Aaron Rodgers, things obviously didn’t go as planned. The Jets went 3-8 when Adams was in the lineup, and the veteran ended up finishing with his fewest yards from scrimmage since the 2019 campaign. Following the season, Adams admitted he “would love to be a part of this football team,” although he cautioned that a number of factors would come into play (including the status of Rodgers).

While Adams is technically signed through the 2026 season, he has the ability to push his way out of New York. The Jets previously restructured the wideout’s 2024 salary without touching his 2025 and 2026 figures, leaving untenable base salaries of $35.6MM for each of the next two seasons. If the Jets want to keep Adams, they’ll surely require another restructured deal to keep the wideout on the books. If the receiver decides he wants out, he could simply decline the inevitable restructure request, which would ultimately lead to his release.

Considering Adams’ track record, he wouldn’t have a lack of suitors should he hit free agency, and each of the cited teams could make sense. The Rams are looking to move on from Cooper Kupp, which would open a significant spot in their receivers room opposite Puka Nacua. Kupp’s health concerns have surely played a role in the Rams’ decision to move on, although the team is also making it clear that they’re not looking to pay $20MM for a veteran WR.

The Chargers got a standout season from rookie Ladd McConkey, but there are questions behind their young wide receiver. Former first-round pick Quentin Johnston is still under contract, but the second-year player struggled with drops and inconsistency in 2024. Much of the rest of the team’s depth chart, which includes the likes of Josh Palmer, DJ Chark, and Simi Fehoko, are set to hit free agency, so the team could be in the market for another notable pass catcher.

The 49ers are loaded with pass catchers. Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings are attached to veteran pacts, and the team added a pair of rookies last year in first rounder Ricky Pearsall and fourth rounder Jacob Cowing (not to mention tight end George Kittle, who led the team in receiving yards). The organization has shown an ability to juggle multiple offensive stars, but an Adams acquisition would surely push another big name off the roster.

K Brandon Aubrey Eyeing Cowboys Extension

Brandon Aubrey has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top kickers, and the 29-year-old is now positioned to cash in on his success. Entering the final season of his three-year contract, Aubrey told Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he’d be open to re-signing with Dallas.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Aubrey said of inking an extension with the Cowboys. “I’m eligible for an extension so it’s up to my agent to go up to the Cowboys and see if there’s any interest in signing it there early. If an extension comes then an extension comes. If not, I’m still making ten times what I was making working code [prior to football], so I’m pretty happy.”

The former soccer player pivoted to football in 2019, and he had a brief stint in the USFL as he worked on his craft. The Cowboys came calling in 2023, and Aubrey immediately made a name for himself. He earned All-Pro honors as a rookie after connecting on 36 of his 38 field goal tries (including going 10-for-10 from 50-plus yards). He was just as impressive in his follow-up performance, connecting on 40 field goals while also converting the league’s longest attempt of the season (65 yards).

As Harris notes, the 2025 campaign will represent a season of change for Aubrey. Besides the changes atop the coaching staff, special teams coordinator John Fassel is now with the Titans, with the Cowboys hiring Nick Sorensen to take his place. While Aubrey acknowledged Fassel’s impact on his career, he also noted that he’s still working with the same kicking coach he’s trained with since 2020.

Aubrey will also enter the 2025 season as an impending free agent. As Harris notes, the kicker has already prepared for the potential pay day by hiring Todd France (who also represents Dak Prescott) as his new agent. Despite his lack of NFL experience, Aubrey is still entering his age-30 season, but that shouldn’t drastically impact his earnings potential. The Cowboys star could be positioned to reset the kicker market, and at the very least, he should surpass the $6MM average annual value that Harrison Butker, Jake Elliott, and Justin Tucker earned on their respective contracts.

Nick Chubb Wants To Re-Sign With Browns

Nick Chubb‘s career has hit a few speed bumps over the past couple of years. The Browns star suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL that limited him to two games in 2023. He returned to the field this past October, but his 2024 campaign ended early thanks to a broken foot.

Now, the running back faces an uncertain future as he enters free agency. If Chubb had his way, he’d remain in Cleveland for the rest of his career. The veteran told Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal that he’d “of course” prefer to re-sign with the only team he’s ever played for and would like to complete a deal “sooner than later.” The RB also cautioned that he’s “not sure how it’ll work” since it’s his first true trip to free agency.

“Man, just for me, the city of Cleveland means lot,” Chubb said. “To me, it’s a special place. The people in Cleveland make it great, the fans and just the people around the city. But always a special place to me in my heart. I loved it here and it will always be home, no matter what.”

Chubb went on a historic run through his first five years in the NFL, averaging 1,466 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns per season. This culminated in a 2022 campaign when he compiled 1,764 offensive yards and 13 scores en route to his first All-Pro nod. Then, as mentioned, Chubb’s career hit some major setbacks. He’s been limited to only 10 games across the past two seasons, and his half-season return in 2024 saw him average a career-low 3.4 yards per touch.

This next deal will represent the third contract of Chubb’s career; the former second-round pick inked a three-year, $36.6MM extension with the Browns in 2021. The team reworked that contract last offseason to assure Chubb would remain in Cleveland for the 2024 campaign, but his future beyond that is very much uncertain. Browns GM Andrew Berry previously acknowledged the RB’s contributions to the organization while also describing the player’s impending free agency as a “challenging situation,” a potential hint that the team may look to move on.

While Chubb’s recent foot injury isn’t expected to impact his 2025 availability, the player’s recent injury history will surely impact his market value. While teams should be willing to gamble on his past production, the impending free agent will be hard pressed to garner a lucrative contract in free agency. Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs barely cracked $12MM average annual values last offseason, while Derrick Henry had to settle for a two-year, $16MM deal. Chubb will likely have to opt for a prove-it deal this offseason, although perhaps he could earn back some money via incentives.

That contract could still come from the Browns, who don’t necessarily have a succession plan at the position. Jerome Ford didn’t necessarily run away with the job while filling in for Chubb, and the former fifth-round pick is one of only two RBs signed for the 2025 campaign (along with Pierre Strong).

Poll: Who Will Win Super Bowl LIX?

After outscoring opponents by 211 points in a 14-game 1975 season, the Steelers pitched five shutouts in 1976. Pittsburgh’s regular-season-ending nine-game win streak featured only two touchdowns allowed. As the 1989 49ers outscored playoff opposition 126-26, their 1990 edition went 14-2 and rostered back-to-back MVP Joe Montana. The Cowboys’ 1994 threepeat attempt saw both the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson separation and a free agent-laden 49ers team play featured roles in their season.

All three dynasties saw their efforts at a third straight Super Bowl win stall in the conference championship round. The Packers did win three straight titles in the 1960s, though the first — in 1965 — came before the Super Bowl’s launch. This Chiefs run, for myriad reasons, has not brought the level of reverence compared to the above-referenced dynasties. While Kansas City’s effort has largely lacked the dominance the aforementioned operations displayed, Andy Reid‘s crew is the closest in the Super Bowl era to completing a signature NFL accomplishment.

The Chiefs are the first threepeat-seeking team to reach a Super Bowl. Although many would probably have a difficult time reconciling this Kansas City tightrope walk as the blueprint that pulls off this historic feat, as none of the Chiefs’ past three teams probably come too close to the juggernauts that headline lists of the league’s all-time greatest teams. However, even if the Chiefs’ present form does not exactly remind of the explosive start to their dynasty (as back-to-back 15th-place offensive rankings show), no team had even managed to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003-04 Patriots.

Regardless of how the Chiefs made it here, they have shown historic reliability. The Reid- and Patrick Mahomes-fueled superpower has secured this opportunity due to unprecedented execution in close games. The Chiefs have won their past 17 one-score contests, setting a record. Will the Eagles wreck their well-crafted threepeat bid?

Although the Chiefs’ one-score streak does not quite stretch back to Super Bowl LVII, they emerged victorious in that matchup. A hotly debated holding call on James Bradberry denied the NFC champions a chance at a potential game-winning drive, but that Eagles team saw its top-10 defense unravel in the second half. Even as Jalen Hurts carved up a well-regarded Chiefs defense that night, the Eagles fell just short largely because of mistakes on defense and special teams. After last season’s Sean DesaiMatt Patricia defense cratered to do enough to create Nick Sirianni hot-seat rumors, the Eagles have stabilized this unit via their Vic Fangio hire.

Not as reliant on sacks as the 2022 team was, the Eagles allowed fewer yards per play (4.7) with 41 sacks than they did with 70 two years ago (4.8). The team has seen emergences from All-Pros Jalen Carter and Zack Baun, the latter reaching first-team status on a one-year, $3.5MM deal, fuel its first two levels while rookie cornerback investments Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have been quick studies on the back end. The team’s decision to give Bryce Huff a $17MM-per-year deal has not paid off yet, but agreeing to a rework with Josh Sweat — before trading Haason Reddick — has benefited a defense that ranked first in yardage and second in scoring this season.

Philadelphia also carries a far more imposing run game into this matchup compared to 2022, as the three-year, $37.75MM Saquon Barkley pact — a zag after several years passed without the team allocating much at running back — has provided tremendous value. The NFL’s ninth 2,000-yard rusher already sits seventh for ground yards in a single postseason (442). Only two RBs (John Riggins, Terrell Davis) have amassed 500 in one playoff journey. The Eagles’ extensions for Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata, and Jason Kelce succession plan featuring Cam Jurgens, each preceded All-Pro or Pro Bowl accolades.

As Barkley has soared in Philly, Hurts has not factored in as prominently into Kellen Moore‘s offense. The high-priced QB threw 361 passes — 99 fewer than his 2022 output in the same number of games — but cut down on interceptions from 2023 (15 down to five) while matching his per attempt figure (8.0) from his breakthrough season. The pass-game volume decreasing has impacted A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith following their extensions, however. While Hurts does not rival Mahomes in terms of stature in the game, he is the more interesting component in Sunday’s matchup due to the latter’s big-game dependability.

Even when their 38-0 Broncos result is removed, the Chiefs’ point differential is worse than any 15- or 14-win team in NFL history. The first 14-plus-win team to outscore opponents by less than 100 continued to get by with late-game execution, though officiating in these close games certainly became a hot-button topic as well.

The Chiefs are here without Mahomes earning a Pro Bowl nod and as Travis Kelce averaged a career-low 8.5 yards per reception. But the Chiefs finished as the NFL’s second-best third-down team. As Mahomes has become more short- and mid-range merchant than deep-ball assassin, Kansas City has made this setup work without reliable tackle play; All-Pro LG Joe Thuney is expected to start there as a stopgap again Sunday.

Ex-Eagles assistant Steve Spagnuolo‘s defense ranks in the top 10 for the fifth time in six years, however, and it held the Bills to one first down on a potential go-ahead fourth-quarter drive. The decision to give Chris Jones a DT-record $95MM guaranteed, rather than take their chances in free agency, has paid off as well. The top prize from the Tyreek Hill trade, versatile CB Trent McDuffie has remained an elite cover man — on a rookie contract, which the Chiefs effectively mandate at corner — and operates as their second-most important defender.

Although the Eagles may again have more talent top to bottom, the Chiefs’ Reid-Mahomes-Kelce-Jones setup — which is 3-1 in Super Bowls — has elevated them to a slight favorite. Do the Eagles have enough to nix a Chiefs coronation or will this Kansas City dynasty, via a fourth title in six years, keep moving up the all-time ranks? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on Super Bowl LIX in the comments section.