Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs headlines for Friday, February 7
Repeat performances: Ranking every Super Bowl rematch | Yardbarker
1. Super Bowl LVIII (Feb. 11, 2024) | Chiefs 25, 49ers 22 in OT
First meeting: Chiefs 31, 49ers 20 (Super Bowl LIV)
Rematch: In the second Super Bowl to reach overtime, Kansas City turned it into an all-time classic. The Chiefs won their third title in four seasons, cementing their modern dynasty and setting them up for a historic first three-peat if they emerge victorious in New Orleans on Sunday.
Hall of Fame meter: 10 Chiefs, Eagles with legacies on the line in SB LIX | FOX Sports
CHIEFS
5. DC Steve Spagnuolo
No one has ever been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame based primarily on their work as an assistant coach, but Spags might be the one to finally break that glass ceiling. He is already the only coordinator to win four Super Bowl championships, and the only one to win with two different franchises (he also won with the 2007 Giants). His work in turning the Chiefs defense into a top-10 unit is a big reason why this dynasty is still rolling (and could complete the first three-peat).
His one head coaching stint was a disaster (10-38 with the Rams from 2009 to 2011), and it seems unlikely he’ll get another shot in the big chair, although he did interview with two teams in this cycle. But a fifth ring as a defensive coordinator has to get the selection committee’s attention. His bust would belong right next to Andy Reid’s.
Super Bowl 2025 preview: Chiefs-Eagles stats, prediction, more | ESPN
Will Spags send the house?
The ultimate risk-reward gambit for Spagnuolo and his pressures is to all-out blitz. The Chiefs play Cover 0 (no deep safety help and one defender in coverage for every eligible receiver, with everyone else blitzing the quarterback) on 7.8% of opposing dropbacks. The Raiders were the only team that played Cover 0 more this season. A year ago, with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in the mix, the Chiefs played Cover 0 on 11% of snaps in the playoffs. That was more than double the league average.
Of course, if I were imagining what sort of offensive playmakers would scare a defensive coordinator away from calling Cover 0, I would ... basically have the Eagles. In a defensive look in which one missed tackle can mean a touchdown, Barkley has been unstoppable in the open field. He can run through entire teams if given the opportunity and is a mismatch against any defender in any sort of space.
It’s not just Barkley. Hurts is more of a threat on designed runs than he is as a scrambler, yet he still averaged 10 yards per scramble this season. Brown is capable of either running past or through cover corners. Smith is a threat to run...
