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Super Bowl LIX Cheat Sheet: 25 Things to Know About Chiefs Vs. Eagles - The Ringer
17. If I had to choose just one matchup that I think will determine who wins this game, it would be the Eagles’ passing game against the Chiefs’ pass defense. Let’s start with Hurts and Co. It’s been an uneven season for that group. New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was supposed to come in and fix the passing game issues, but that didn’t happen. The Eagles ranked 14th in passing DVOA, which was tied for their lowest ranking in any season with Hurts as the starter. Hurts had turnover issues early in the season and then seemed to prioritize turnover avoidance above everything else. He’s been cautious, turning down throws and not even attempting the downfield shots that had led to success in previous seasons. It hasn’t necessarily been a bad passing game. It’s just been a mediocre passing game. But there have been glimmers of hope, such as the Eagles’ offensive performance in the NFC championship game, in which they scored eight touchdowns. The Eagles leaned on RPOs and schemed up easy completions that had Hurts playing more decisively and got the ball out of his hands quickly. He took shots downfield to guys like A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert. It was a reminder that the passing game doesn’t need to be a juggernaut; it just needs to be efficient enough to properly complement the run game. That will be the key in this matchup against the Chiefs.
Eagles-Chiefs analysis: Five big questions one week from Super Bowl LIX - Inquirer
Speaking of Spagnuolo, the imminent challenge the veteran defensive play-caller will present for Jalen Hurts in obvious passing downs will be instructive as well. The Chiefs finished the regular season fourth in blitz rate, sending extra rushers 31.6% of the time. Spagnuolo’s group was fifth in pressure rate as well, illustrative of how effective their rush packages have been throughout the year. Even teams that aren’t as effective as the Chiefs are with blitzing have been able to stress the Eagles offense with pressure looks this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Hurts is completing just 33% of his passes when hurried this postseason and has taken 11 sacks on 36 pressured dropbacks. By comparison, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is completing 62.5% of his passes against pressure and has taken five sacks on 25 hurried dropbacks. It’s fair to point out that not all pressures are created equal — Hurts has dealt with a handful of free rushers as a result of interior offensive line mix-ups — but those are exactly the types of blitzes Spagnuolo will try to recreate. Finding answers against those pre-snap looks will go a long way toward determining which side of the Eagles’ Jekyll and Hyde passing game shows up at the Caesars Superdome.
[Super Bowl preview: How did the Eagles and...
