During Super Bowl LIX Opening Night, Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt spoke to Sports Radio 810 about the challenges facing the Philadelphia Eagles offense on Sunday.
“To be honest with you, this is probably going to be the best team we’ve faced all year. Their offensive line is the best we’ve seen. The running back, of course, is the best that we’ve seen. And then the quarterback.” said Merritt. “If you go back three years ago or two years ago, whenever it was that quarterback lit us up on the back end, he played a heck of a game. I mean, he didn’t make a mistake, and that is sitting right there in the back of our minds.”
#Chiefs DB Coach Dave Merritt says that this defense is motivated after their last Super Bowl performance against the Hurts and the Eagles.#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/tHZ74bcBEZ
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) February 4, 2025
Hurts was Philadelphia’s biggest offensive weapon during the team’s matchup in the Super Bowl two years ago. He finished the game with a passer rating of 103.4 and 304 yards, carrying the ball 15 times for 70 yards, a Super Bowl record for a quarterback, and three touchdowns.
“Jalen Hurts. He took it to us, and so the guys are very motivated right now to stop the run,” said Merritt. “First, and then we’re motivated to go out there and shut down the passing game, and so it’s going to be a tough task for the best all year.”
The defense will be challenged to stop Saquon Barkley, who led the league in rushing and is the key to opening things up down the field for Hurts in the passing game.
