“Not one of y’all said the Chiefs were gonna take it home this year,” that’s what Travis Kelce had to say when the Chiefs lifted the Super Bowl LVII trophy. But the star TE was not done, he had a message—one that feels like a prophecy in hindsight: “And on top of that, the next time the Chiefs say something, put some respect on our name!” Fast forward two years and the same teams are ready to go head-to-head to grab that Lombardi. Can the Chiefs grab this one by defeating the Birds? Well, if they overcome Jalen Hurts and his ‘special move,‘ they sure can!

As of January 2025, Hurts has been tearing it up. He’s got a 68.7% completion rate with 2,903 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions—talk about a baller. On top of that, Hurts’ legs are doing just as much heavy lifting, particularly in short-yardage situations, with his rushing ability being a constant threat.

So, when it comes to the Hurts‘ “special move,” let’s just say the Eagles’ offense isn’t exactly playing nice, and this move—tush push— has been pivotal in their success. Need a proof point? The NFC Championship against the Washington Commanders? Oh, he used that move to score a one-yard touchdown and helped seal the deal in a 55-23 win. And don’t forget that Week 3 win against Tampa Bay where he made the push look as easy as Sunday morning.

And you better believe Chiefs’ Defensive Coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, and the gang have been doing some homework, especially after watching Hurts bulldoze through defenses all season long. And it turns out, as 7x All-Pro LB Luke Kuechly says, stopping Hurts’ Tush Push isn’t a one-and-done thing—it’s all about strategy and playing with your eyes wide open. “Do you think that the Eagles will push the tush against Bags in the Super Bowl?” asked Kay Adams. And Luke, without missing a beat, answered, “Philly just does it in a such a different manner than anybody else in the NFL. They’re just so big and physical on the inside, and Jalen Hurts is one strong guy…and the O-line—man, it’s an efficient and brutal force.”

Imagine you’re a DB or an edge player for Kansas City. It’s 4th and 1, and Hurts lines up for what looks like yet another sneak. Do you just hope the defensive line holds strong and hope the refs don’t call that “Tush Push” a little too early? Nope, you keep your eyes peeled. Because here’s where it gets juicy: if Hurts fakes the sneak and flips it over the top for a big touchdown? Game over. That’s when the Chiefs’ defense is in serious trouble.

When Kay Adams asked if Spagnuolo could just copy last week’s defensive strategy, Kuechly shut that down fast. “No. I think it’s a completely different sneak,” he said. “You watch Josh [Allen] and how he sneaks the ball—everything seems to go snap, let the offensive line get a push, and move to his left. Jalen Hurts is just right behind that offensive line.” Translation?

You don’t stop Hurts with a normal QB sneak defense because the Eagles don’t run a normal QB sneak.

It’s the power of the tush push, with big names like Landon Dickerson and the muscle of Jason Kelce pulling their weight. But with Kelce retired and Dickerson facing health issues, the Chiefs’ might have an advantage. Still, the fact remains: When you’ve got that kind of offensive strength and a QB with Hurts’ grit, you don’t need to be fancy—you just need to be efficient.

But then the Chiefs are nothing is not efficient! And, and, they are in a pretty good shape if HC Reid’s words are anything to go by.

Big Red’s injury report: All clear for the Super Bowl?

The Kansas City Chiefs faced many challenges this season beyond their offensive plays because of numerous injuries throughout their roster. The Chiefs battled numerous injuries this season, including Jaylen Watson‘s fractured fibula and tibia and Jody Fortson‘s torn ACL which ended his season prematurely. Despite playing through an ankle injury, Patrick Mahomes somehow continued to perform at an extraordinary level. We are talking 3 touchdowns, no interceptions and 211 passing yards.

Despite multiple injuries, Kansas City finished the regular season with a strong 15-2 tally. Mahomes and Kelce weren’t the sole focus, as this team embodied the next man-up mentality. Fast forward to now, and head coach Andy Reid is giving us the good news: “I have no injuries to give you here…looking forward to the challenge of playing with the Eagles”

The Chiefs enter Super Bowl LIX with their healthiest lineup this season. Time to relax for the Chiefdom! The other side, however, will not be entering this game without injuries, as both Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson are dealing with health issues, but they will be on the field. Both teams face significant challenges ahead.

And now, it’s time for a little throwback. The competition between Chiefs and Eagles has intensified over several decades. The Eagles secured their first victory against the Chiefs in 1972 by winning 21-20. After playing 11 games against each other, the Chiefs come up with six wins over Philly’s five.

But here’s where things get spicy: Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs won a close 38-35 game against the Eagles to capture their second Super Bowl championship in four years. And then the Birds took revenge in the 2023 season—that too at Arrowhead—with a 21-17 victory in week 11. The teams have not faced each other post that.

So what’s on the horizon? The Chiefs and Eagles will face off on February 9, 2025, to add another thrilling chapter in their legendary rivalry. And I can pretty much guarantee, whether you’re rooting for Hurts to push that tush or Mahomes to do his magic, this game is gonna be one for the history books.