A.J. Previews Super Bowl Licks....or LIX, the Rematch Some People Didn't Want

(Photo by the Washington Post)

Well, we are now down to two teams as the 2024 NFL season will head to its conclusion two weeks from Sunday. Let's see who is going to the Super Bowl party in NOLA.

From the AFC,

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

2024 REVIEW

It's time to hang the dreaded D word over this franchise......that word is DYNASTY. The Chiefs have been putting up the claim as the team of the 2020's. Honestly, it's an understatement. Three Super Bowl championships this decades as they are the model franchise that has movies made about them and commercials galore. This time, they are gunning for a three-peat.

OFFENSE

Patrick Mahomes, the man of many commercials, is coming off a less-than-stellar like season for his standards. Yet through all that, Mahomie was the glue to the team. A great quarterback needs some weapons as Patrick has one of the best tight ends in history with Travis Kelce. TK is putting up numbers to pad his Hall-of-Fame career and hopefully has a great game for his best gal.

The rest of the offense has a plethora of speed. Running backs Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt add a fixture of that great speed, power and ability to catch passes. Defenses need to beware of that. The receivers have speed and can catch passes with vigor. Despite Rashee Rice being out, Kansas City has a cupboard of Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster (you legit forgot he was back, huh?) to receive gracious passes from Mahomie. The offensive line has grit and moxie with Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey as the leaders. Mike Caliendo, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor and.....oh, hi, D.J. Humphries have the huge task to protect this generation's Joe Montana.

DEFENSE

It's time to give Steve Spagnoulo his damn credit, how is this man able to transform this defense into one of the best in the league? He does have Chris Jones and George Karlaftis at the defensive line, Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill at linebacker and one of the most underrated corners in the game, Trent McDuffie, but he can lose a quality corner in D'Jarius Sneed and plug in Jaylen Watson and Chamrri Conner without missing a beat. Safeties as Justin Reed and Bryan Cook help the secondary and defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton and Mike Danna add depth to continue the train.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Despite controversy that hovers over their heads, kicker Harrison Butker and punter Matt Araiza (PUNT GOD!) are clutch when the Chiefs need them. Returner Nikko Remigio has shown the breakaway capabilities of Kadarius Toney without the fumbling.

HEAD COACH

When hired in 2013, Andrew Walter Reid found a home in KC, and it was a perfect fit. This tenure has Reid finally headed to a Hall-of-Fame career as he seeks his fourth Super Bowl championship which would put him in immortal company.

And now from the NFC........

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

2024 REVIEW

After a horrible slump to end 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles knew that they were one of the best teams in the NFL and decided to run it back, but this time, they wanted to wreck absolute (bleep)ing havoc on the league. They went 2-2 to start the season, then proceeded to go 12-1 the rest of the way, helped by a ten-game winning streak. Despite a 14-3 record, Philadelphia moved past the Packers, ran through the Rams and destroyed the Commanders by putting up a 50 burger.

OFFENSE

When you think of the cream of the crop of dual threat quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts is at the summit. Jalen has shown poise and gusto as the quarterback that has a legion of Eagles fans cheering for him. Receivers AJ Brown (bookworm) and Devonta Smith are opposites, but lethal in many ways. Trade acquisition Jahan Dotson helps ease the pain as the slot receiver. Tight end Dallas Goebert is a nice blend of receiving and blocking that calms Jalen Hurts' nerves. The offensive line is one of the best in the business with Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurrgens, the refurbished Mekhi Becton and Lane Johnson.

Then, there is the biggest factor on the offense. A running back that is a weapon in all phases of the game, Saquon Barkley. After finishing with the second most rushing yards in NFL history, Barkley continued his assault by carving up the Packers, Rams and Commanders en route to his first Super Bowl. He can also thank fullback Khari Blasingame for some of the holes built. (Yes, they still use these.)

DEFENSE

On defense, Philadelphia will try to smash you with a defensive line of a Georgia tandem of Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, with Milton Williams on the opposite side of Carter. Linebackers are stacked despite Nakobe Dean being out. Oren Burks, Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith Jr. (Another Georgia Bulldog) round out the core with the glue that holds them together, Zack Baun, a free agent pickup from New Orleans. Baun has been mentioned for DPOY. The secondary has veteran representation of corner Darius Slay Jr., safeties CJ Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship. Slay has stated that this could be his final game as an Eagle. If so, Philly is well taken care of with rookie corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. (Side note: The guy pictured above, James Bradberry IV, isn't able to get his revenge since he is on IR.)

SPECIAL TEAMS

DeJean doubles as a punt returner and Isaiah Rodgers takes care of the kickoff return duties. Kicker Jake Elliot and punter Braden Mann are like their counterparts on the other side of the field, clutch when the team needs them to be.

HEAD COACH

Once again, after many fans wanted him to go far way, Nick Sirianni has steered the Eagles through troubled waters, hopefully ending up on the shore with the Lombardi Trophy in tow.

(Yes, that was lame.)

So, who is going to leave New Orleans as the NFL Champion? The team looking for history or the team that wants to wreck their dreams.

We will find out on February 9th.

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