MATT VOLZ
Sports Editor
Note: This article was written as a game preview before the Super Bowl was played.
At the start of the NFL playoffs, fans tossed around various matchups they’d like to see.
Perhaps the most popular would have been a Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions matchup — a clash between two lovable losers who’d never won it all.
We know how that quest ended for Buffalo, as Mitch’s column explains.
Some thought we might see Lamar Jackson lead his Baltimore Ravens to the big game, or maybe the Minnesota Vikings would continue their shocking 14-win season and pack their bags for New Orleans.
But on many social media platforms, there was one potential matchup between two higher seeds that most fans appeared to have disdain for.
Seemingly very few people outside of Kansas City or Philadelphia wanted to see a Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl.
Well, here we are.
Much to the chagrin of some fans, Super Bowl Sunday will feature a rematch of the title game from two years ago, a game which Kansas City won on a last-minute Harrison Butker field goal.
The Chiefs also won it all last year, beating the San Francisco 49ers on an overtime touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Mecole Hardman.
If Kansas City were to beat the Eagles, it would mark three straight Super Bowl wins, a feat that’s never been accomplished in the history of the NFL.
In fact, the Chiefs are only the fourth team in league history to reach the Super Bowl three or more times in a row.
The Miami Dolphins went to three straight from 1971 to 1973, losing the first but winning the next two.
Most notably, they finished the 1972 season with a perfect 17-0 record, winning all 14 regular season games and beating Washington to win it all.
Several years later, the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots went to three straight from 2016 to 2018.
They famously came back from a 28-3 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in 2016 and picked up their sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy with a low-scoring win over the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
In between the two, they lost a shootout to the Eagles, who were led by backup quarterback Nick Foles.
Only one team was able to reach four consecutive Super Bowls.
That was Buffalo, heading to the big game every year from 1990 to 1993, losing each time.
I sincerely apologize to my fellow Bills fans for bringing it up.
The Chiefs could make history by winning a third straight title, which might not be received well by fans who claim they’ve gotten here on luck rather than merit.
Kansas City finished the regular season at 15-2, which should come with an asterisk considering the fact that none of their starters played in their Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos.
The wins have mostly been close, with 11 being decided by one score (eight points or less).
In fact, the Chiefs currently hold the record for the most consecutive wins in one-score games with 17.
But the wins have drawn the ire of many fans, as several of their wins were defined by good fortune, questionable officiating or poor play against inferior opponents.
Some fans have attributed the Chiefs’ success to “devil magic” or some other force that allows Kansas City to continue to win.
They’ve seen themselves become the villain of the NFL world, and standing in their way is a team that knows that persona all too well.
(Yes, that’s a Taylor Swift reference.)
The Philadelphia Eagles are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, but they’re led by a slightly different cast of characters this time.
Running back Saquon Barkley, an offseason free agent signing, ran for over 2,000 yards during the regular season.
He fell just 100 yards short of the single-season record, set by Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson in 1984.
Barkley has been the driving force of the Eagles’ offense, running behind a dominant offensive line that hasn’t missed a beat after last year’s retirement of legendary center Jason Kelce.
He’ll likely still be at this game, but he’ll have to choose between cheering on his old team or pulling for his brother, Travis, and the Chiefs.
Philadelphia’s defense was excellent in 2024, led by linebacker Zack Baun who received All-Pro honors for his efforts.
The Chiefs also bring a top-tier defense to the table, with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo calling the signals.
Despite the fact that it should be a good matchup on paper, many fans on social media have voiced their displeasure.
In light of the frustration with officiating in Chiefs games, as well as others, a petition was started on Change.org to boycott NFL games “until adequate officiating fairness measures are implemented.”
As of Friday, Jan. 31, the petition has over 2,000 signatures.
There has also been a growing trend on social media to avoid watching the Super Bowl, and some fans have jokingly stated any alternative thing they could possibly be doing during the time of the game.
The Super Bowl kicks off at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Whether fans like it or not, one of these teams will hoist the Lombardi Trophy again.