Arrowhead Pride
The best running back in the NFL runs behind the best offensive line. What can the Chiefs expect on Sunday?
On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super LIX from New Orleans. The game will feature a rematch of Super Bowl LVII when the Chiefs narrowly defeated the Eagles 38-35 in one of the best games in recent memory.
While the cores of both teams remain relatively similar, the Eagles' offense boasts one major upgrade. This past offseason, Philadelphia signed star running back Saquon Barkley. One near-record-breaking regular season later, Barkley has been on a tear through the playoffs and has been the heart and soul of the Eagles' offense so far.
Barkley has looked unstoppable in dominating blowouts, and with the might of the Eagles' offensive line, he presents one of the hardest challenges the Chiefs have faced during the Spagnuolo era.
Barkley has been one of the most explosive players in the league this season, and his long runs have propelled the Eagles into the Super Bowl. With massive rips of 60, 62, and 78 yards, Barkley has changed the momentum of games, using his next-level moves to break away.
Of course, all of these plays have started with tremendous blocking from the Eagles' offensive line.
The Eagles' fierce offensive line will consist of future Pro Football Hall of Famer Lane Johnson, former first-round pick Mehki Becton, Cam Jurgens, Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson and All-Pro left tackle Jordan Mailata.
This massive, athletic and physical group has blown open holes for Barkley all season long and helped him get to the second level untouched. With the physicality of the offensive line mauling the first and second-level defenders, Barkley has been able to break into the secondary with full heads of steam.
This is where Barkley can turn on his electrifying moves and sensational ability to break tackles.
Once Barkley is able to follow his blocks and get through the defensive linemen and linebackers, he turns on the next-level speed and gets through any arm tackles.
This is also where his elite vision takes over. Barkley is one of the best in the league at finding creases in the defense, and he has the physical tools to hit these seams and put himself in a position to take it all the way.
These electrifying runs have been the story of the postseason so far, but it has been the constant beating the Eagles have put on opposing defense that has created these home runs.
Averaging close to 6.7 yards per rush so far this postseason, Barkley and the Eagles have not only opened up the big plays but have been able to dominate teams and control the ball with six to 8-yard plays.
These plays highlight the physicality of the Eagles' offensive line and how much movement they can create on a play-to-play basis. With one of the heaviest lines in the NFL, the Eagles use...
