In just a few days, the Kansas City Chiefs may be on the cusp of making football history. If the Chiefs win their third consecutive Super Bowl victory, they will become the first team to ever do so in NFL history.
The Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will face off Sunday, Feb. 9 in Super Bowl LIX. Both teams secured their spots in the championship game by winning their respective conference titles.
The Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29 during the AFC Championship game. Thanks to an early touchdown from running back Kareem Hunt and an extra point from kicker Harrison Butker, they started the game seven points ahead of the Bills. The Bills didn’t give up the fight and scored a touchdown in the second quarter, pushing them to a 10-7 lead. Right before halftime, the Chiefs scored 14 points to take back the lead. Buffalo responded quickly with a touchdown drive, tightening the score to 21-16 in favor of the Chiefs.
The score swung back and forth throughout the entire second half, and with just moments left, the game was tied 29-29. Neck and neck, with three minutes remaining, Butker kicked a 35-yard field goal, putting the Chiefs three points ahead of the Bills and en route to compete in the Super Bowl.
Despite the fluctuating score, the Chiefs maintained their poise and trust throughout the game. This unwavering confidence was key to their victory.
“I’m always nervous whenever the football’s not in my hand, but I have so much trust in that defense,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “They’ve done it all year, and I know that’s a great offense that they’re going up against and [Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen] has made a lot of great plays all night, all season long, but I trust that [defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo] is going to call the right blitz or call the right coverage and the guys are going to execute the assignment and then whatever happens, happens.”
During a Jan. 30 Chiefs press conference, Hunt expressed his gratitude and excitement for the upcoming Super Bowl.
“Opportunities like this don’t come often,” Hunt expressed. “There’s only two teams left and now all we have to do is finish the job.”
At the same time, the Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 55-23 during the NFC championship game. The Eagles started the game off strong with a touchdown from running back Saquon Barkley in their first offensive play. Philadelphia continued to score six more touchdowns and one touchdown reception, adding up to a record number of points in a conference championship game since the Bills beat the Los Angeles Raiders in 1991 51-3.
“I came to Philly to be part of games like this,” Barkley said. “And there’s nothing better than a game where you can advance to the Super Bowl.”
Despite the two teams’ standings as some of the best in the league, the Chiefs and Eagles have been under public scrutiny, making them some of the most widely despised franchises in the NFL. Fans of rival teams claim that referees often favor the Chiefs and rob other teams of deserved points, leading to resentment towards Kansas City. The Eagles have quite a negative reputation as well, generally due to their fans’ violent and rambunctious behavior at games. A match-off between two of the NFL’s most controversial teams is sure to spark some discussion and criticism from fans on Sunday.
The 59th Super Bowl will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Artists Kendrick Lamar and SZA will perform at the highly-anticipated halftime show. Kevin Burkhardt will provide play-by-play with analysis by Tom Brady.
