NFL playoffs: Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles set to meet in Super Bowl yet again

The Chiefs are one win away from the first three-peat of the NFL era, with a New Orleans showdown booked against a Philadelphia Eagles team hunting revenge.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the cusp of a historic three-peat, but will face a monstrous Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in what will be a battle of defences.

The Chiefs overcame rivals Buffalo Bills 32-29 in a thrilling AFC Championship final, ensuring pop star Taylor Swift is in the stands for another Super Bowl to support her boyfriend and Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce.

Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who scored two rushing touchdowns, passed to Xavier Worthy for another touchdown, and threw to Justin Watson for a crucial two-point conversion while throwing for 245 yards, the Chiefs went 4-0 over the Bills in playoffs.

Travis Kelce’s Chiefs are one win away from history. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP

But in the end, it was the Chiefs’ defence that stood tall, stopping Bills quarterback Josh Allen from rushing touchdown attempts on their goal line and on critical fourth downs.

In Allen’s final touch, Chiefs defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo orchestrated a surprise blitz from the cornerback, pressuring the quarterback into a rushed throw. Allen still made an incredible play, but the pass was dropped by Dalton Kincaid.

Mahomes then led a two-minute drive to seal victory and send his team into their fifth Super Bowl in six seasons.

That is unprecedented, as is three successive title wins in the Super Bowl era.

Not since the Green Bay Packers of 1965-67 has one team won three in a row – but the Super Bowl was only introduced in 1966. The Packers’ win in 1965 didn’t feature playoffs.

However, the Eagles will have revenge on their minds after losing Super Bowl LVII in February 2023 to the Chiefs.

What they have now they didn’t have then is game-changing running back Saquon Barkley, who again showed why he is one of the favourites for the MVP title after a supreme individual performance to lead Philadelphia to a whopping 55-23 win over Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game.

Patrick Mahomes is 4-0 in the playoffs against rival QB Josh Allen. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts scored three touchdowns each – Barkley with the Eagles’ first possession of the game, a 62-yard scorcher in which he beat five defenders.

The Eagles have laid down a marker for the running game that went out of fashion in the NFL over the past few years.

Barkley rushed for 118 yards, and the Eagles’ famed tush push, or “Brotherly Shove”, helped them make several fourth down conversions.

Philadelphia has the best defence in the NFL this year, while the Chiefs have had the best defence in playoff games over the past five years.

The Super Bowl will essentially come down to the Chiefs stopping Barkley, or the Eagles stopping Mahomes.

The latter has the big-game experience and is clutch in tight games – the Chiefs have now won a league record 17-straight one-score games.

Barkley will be playing in his first Super Bowl, but is in the rare kind of form that will give Eagles fans high hopes of winning their second Championship ring, having won their first in 2018.

The Super Bowl will be held in New Orleans on Monday February 10 (10am AEDT).

Nick Sirianni’s Eagles team lost 38-35 to the Chiefs two years ago, but they look far more potent in attack with Barkley, and wide receiver AJ Brown finding his best form at the right time.

Saquon Barkley was the catalyst yet again for the Eagles. Picture: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

Philadelphia’s 55 was the most points ever scored in a conference championship game, and puts the Chiefs on notice.

Kansas City defensive leader Chris Jones and colleagues Nick Bolton and Trent McDuffie will face their toughest test of the year, with the Bills finding holes with their running game, which is Philadelphia’s biggest strength.

But having won back-to-back titles against the Eagles and San Francisco, while claiming several last-gasp victories throughout this season, the Chiefs have become the NFL’s most clutch team.

Mahomes is seeking his fourth Super Bowl ring in just seven starting seasons, as he chases Tom Brady’s record of seven titles.

It will be up to Philly’s defensive stars, Zack Baun, Jalen Carter and Darius Slay Jr to stop the unstoppable in Mahomes, and deny the Chiefs the first three-peat by any American sporting team since the late, great Kobe Bryant led LA Lakers to the NBA Championships from 2000-02.

Originally published as NFL playoffs: Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles set to meet in Super Bowl yet again