At the NFL season finale in New Orleans, a slew of superstars will be on display, including Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Travis Kelce, and Jalen Hurts.
Super Bowl LIX will see the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. Who should you be watching this time around, however, since it’s a repeat of the huge game from two years ago when the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35 in Phoenix, Arizona?
We’ve selected the star players from each squad that have a chance to alter the course of history and determine who takes home the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 9 in New Orleans.
Battle of the QBs: Mahomes vs. Hurts
This positional matchup analysis starts with a challenging contrast. Both team’s placement in the Super Bowl is attributable to the leadership of two of the premier quarterbacks in the National Football League.
In 2024, Jalen Hurts of the Eagles had modest passing statistics, averaging 193.5 yards per game throughout the regular season, placing him below the top 25. Hurts’ 246 passing yards in the NFC Championship Game was just the second occasion since mid-November that he has over 200 yards in a game. However, Hurts had just five interceptions throughout the regular season, placed third among quarterbacks in running yards, and added 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Nonetheless, despite Hurts’ potential danger, he does not compare to Patrick Mahomes.
No one can.
Mahomes’ statistics in 2024 were just mediocre by his own standards. For the first season since assuming the role of the Chiefs’ starter, he passed for less than 4,000 yards. His 26 touchdown throws equaled his career-low as a starter. Mahomes was 16th in the league in passing rating, and yet, his average is still beyond most players’ best!
We are discussing the greatest quarterback of his generation. Ultimately, Mahomes may be the greatest quarterback in the sport’s history. This will be Mahomes’ sixth Super Bowl appearance, yet he has not yet celebrated his 30th birthday. We all know that when it comes to big-game moments, he’s the most trustworthy player in existence. He might not show up every game, but he certainly shows up when it counts.
Hurts will go to New Orleans, aware that he must provide his finest performance of the season. Potentially the pinnacle of his career. The Eagles learned in Super Bowl LVII the hard way that failing to perform at their highest level against Mahomes would result in defeat, and that’s a lot of pressure to handle.
Super Bowl MVP Odds
Aside from the Lombardi trophy itself, one of the most prestigious recognitions a player can receive at the Super Bowl is the MVP (Most-Valuble Player) award. When bettors look for a sportsbook sign-up bonus ahead of the big game, they’ll instantly notice the MVP odds available for this award, and it’ll be no surprise to see Patrick Mahomes topping these probability percentages.
Here’s a look at the top-five Super Bowl MVP odds, which, in turn, can give fans an inkling of what players should be watched:
- Patrick Mahomes [+110]
- Saquon Barkley [+150]
- Jalen Hurts [+340]
- Travis Kelce [+1600]
- AJ Brown [+2000]
Running Back Dominance: Saquon Barkley
The 27-year-old, who signed with the Eagles as a free agency this spring, has compiled what may be the most exceptional season by a running back in NFL history: having surpassed 2,000 regular-season rushing yards, he has already recorded five playoff touchdowns. Barkley is a legitimate MVP candidate, a rarity for his position, and is almost unstoppable when in full stride. For the Eagles to secure victory in New Orleans – on Barkley’s 28th birthday -his contribution is pivotal and one that could decide the outcome of this game.
Barkley enters the SB with the Eagles’ franchise records for most running yards in a season (2,005), the highest number of 100-yard games in a season (12), the most rushing yards in a playoff game (205), and the most rushing yards in a regular-season game (255).
In 2024, the Eagles topped the NFC in running, with Barkley serving as the driving force behind that success. Should the Birds secure victory in Super Bowl LIX, Barkley may be regarded as the most consequential free-agent acquisition in NFL history.
Tight in the End: Travis Kelce
The 35-year-old has been Mahomes’s collaborator for seven seasons. He is approaching the conclusion of his NFL career—but what an illustrious career it has been. Kelce, an astute route runner and formidable in wide space for a player of his size, has diminished some of his explosiveness but should never be underestimated in critical moments.
He has also attained global celebrity as Taylor Swift’s partner. Should the Chiefs triumph in New Orleans, do not exclude the possibility of immediate retirement and a proposal on the platform. And for that reason, don’t be shocked if Kelce can overcome father time, which has evidently crept in, and give one last incredible performance for bae!
Defensive Wrecking Ball: Jalen Carter
A great rookie last season and an even more outstanding sophomore now. Jalen Carter sets the tone for the premier defense in the NFL, upsetting rival offensive lines and compelling quarterbacks to commit errors.
After Philadelphia’s Divisional Round victory against the Los Angeles Rams, the 22-stone wrecking machine was a sight to see. In turn, Carter’s involvement will be crucial if the Eagles want to prevent Mahomes from executing his typical performance.
Experience Matters: Chris Jones
In conjunction with Kelce and Mahomes, Jones has led the Chiefs to seven consecutive Conference Championship games and five Super Bowls. In his tenth season with the squad, the 30-year-old has seldom missed a game and hardly faltered.
Although he had just five quarterback sacks in the regular season, after double-digit totals in the preceding two years, he is consistently involved in the play and, as expected, delivered an unyielding performance as Kansas City triumphed over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game.
