By Jacob Diblasio / Sports columnist

In 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles watched as the Kansas City Chiefs hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after beating them 38-35.

This Sunday, two years later, the Eagles have their chance to win that back.

The Chiefs, however, are looking to “three peat,” something that has never been done in NFL history.

This match up will be the seventh time in league history where a Super Bowl rematch occurs.

While it may seem that not much has changed for the Kansas City Chiefs since their previous match up in Super Bowl 57, the Eagles with big changes to their roster have a steeper hill to climb. The Eagles have brought in many new faces while the Chiefs are looking to run it back with a similar roster. Each team has had a unique journey that has led them back to a game of destiny. As the two powerhouses collide once again, the stakes have never been higher.

The Revamped Eagles Defense

Since their last Super Bowl match up, the Eagles defense has so many new faces, including its defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. This past offseason, Fangio, the Pennsylvania native was the hottest defensive coordinator on the market. Fangio was tasked with the challenge of making the Philadelphia Eagles an elite defense once again, and he has done just that. During the 2023 season, the Eagles defense ranked 26th in yards allowed compared to this year where they allowed the fewest yards in the entire league. While Fangio’s revival of the Eagles defense has been nothing short of incredible, he did not do it alone. Since the start of the 2022 season, general manager brought in numerous game-changing players such as Zach Baun, Jalen Carter, Cooper Dejean, Quinyon Mitchell and more. These players have made an impact immediately since joining the Eagles. Dejean and Mitchell have been crucial in revamping the Eagles’ secondary, both of which are finalists for defensive rookie of the year. Baun, a finalist for defensive player of the year, has emerged as one of the best middle line backers in the NFL and has helped the Eagles as both a run and pass defender. While the overhauled Eagles defense has been a large part of why the birds are bag in the Super Bowl, it is far from the only reason.

The Addition of Saquon Barkley

Despite it only being his first year as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, the two have already become widely linked together. Pairing Barkley with one of the best offensive lines in the NFL was simple, yet effective. In 2024, Barkley became the 9th player ever to rush for 2,000 yards. Barkley has put this Eagles offense on his back allowing them to become one of the best rush offense in the NFL. Last season, the Eagles finished 8th across the league in rushing yards and have climbed all the way up to 2nd in 2024. The addition of Barkley has allowed for a lot of pressure to be taken off Quarterback Jalen Hurts. Instead of Hurts having to win the Eagles games, he has emerged as a game manager which has taken a lot of pressure off the former Heisman Trophy winner. Similar to the defense, much of the Eagles offensive success could be attributed to new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. While Moore has traditionally built offenses centered around the pass, he has adapted to a run first team which has allowed the Eagles to flourish.

Defensive Consistency in Kansas City

Whenever someone thinks of the Kansas City Chiefs, they immediately think of Patrick Mahomes and their high powered offense. While that is true, an under apricated part of the Chiefs has been there consistency above average defenses. Since hiring Steve Spagnuolo in 2019, year in and year out the Chiefs have had one of the best defenses. Take this past year for example, during the regular season, the Chiefs on average gave up 19.4 points per game, the fourth fewest of any NFL team. This type of consistency on a weekly basis has allowed for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions to finish with a 15-2 record. Similar to the Eagles, there are many people to credit for the success of the Chiefs defense. One of those players is Defensive Tackle Chris Jones and Defensive End George Karlaftis. Jones has been an anchor for Kansas City’s defensive line ever since being drafted in 2016. During his career, Jones has acquired 80.5 sacks and consistently reeks havoc in the middle of the line. Karlaftis on the other hand has been a monster in the post season during his tenure with the Chiefs. Karlaftis has 7 sacks in his playoff career showing when the lights are brightest, he can be trusted. The Consistency of the Chiefs defense has been integral in their return to the Super Bowl.

Patrick Mahomes

It is no secret that Patrick Mahomes is the best player in the NFL. Mahomes is a two time MVP and a three time Super Bowl champion all before the age of 30. His ability to perform under pressure and deliver in clutch moments is unmatched. Since his first year as a starter in 2018, Mahomes has paired his big play making ability with impressive decision making. He’s not just a game changer; he’s a generational talent. This has allowed Mahomes to show up at 7 consecutive AFC Conference championships while also leading the NFL in passing touchdowns and passing yards during that same time frame. Enough good things can not be said about Mahomes as he looks to make history. Through out his NFL career, Mahomes has achieved so much and is still looking to add to his resume. As mentioned before, no NFL team has ever three peated something Mahomes will look to add to his long list of accolades. Even as Mahomes looks to do the impossible, it is hard to doubt him.

This year’s Super Bowl is unique and special. Along with the bad blood between both teams, the match up is projected to be one of the most competitive Super Bowls in a long time. While Kansas City has kept around many of the same faces and continues to use the same approach they have in recent years, the Eagles have done the complete opposite. Philadelphia has retooled their defense and brought in Saquon Barkley to be the face of the franchise. With the big game only being a few days away, each team will look to take the Lombardi Trophy home with them and establish themselves as the best team in the National Football League.