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Chiefs, Eagles Advance to Anticipated Super Bowl Showdown Between the Leagues’ Best

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By: Marvin A. Azrak

It’s here! After a long season, we’re down to two teams for that coveted Lombardi trophy as the top-seeded Eagles and Chiefs took home victories in their respective conference title games on Sunday and will now meet for all the marbles in the Super Bowl, which will take place in Glendale on February 12th. Here’s a look at how both teams recorded their most recent triumphs with my prediction for how the big game will turnout at the end.

 

NFC:  49ERS 7 EAGLES 31

This was as ugly as the final score indicated.  The Eagles pounced on every inch that the beleaguered niners gave them and then some.

San Francisco watched helplessly as day for the Niners, who saw quarterback sensation Brock Purdy leave early due to injury. He was replaced by Josh Johnson who would soon sustain a concussion, forcing the injury-riddled Purdy back in as a necessity. After the loss, it was revealed Purdy would be sidelined for the next six months with a torn UCL. The madness hit the point where San Francisco’s star running back in Christian Maccafrey, who scored their lone touchdown of the contest was the one wearing  the headset in his helmet. “It stinks to play an NFC Championship game where you have no QB” said tight end George Kittle, which leaves the 49ers headed into the offseason with a sour taste in their mouth.

Meanwhile, this was an Eagles defense led by Jalen Hurts and a powerful running game that picked apart a world class defense from start to finish and earned this game regardless of what was happening on the other sideline. Akin to last weeks’ 38-7 drubbing of the Giants, Philly struck quickly as Hurts found DeVonta Smith streaking down the right side of the field for  a big catch which led to a Miles Sanders rushing touchdown and early 7-0 lead.

What followed was the play that essentially ended the 49ers season, with a Haason Reddick strip sack, unintentionally injuring Purdy in the process. San Francisco had hope when Mccafrey turned on the jets for a 23 yard score, but another Sanders touchdown flipped the lead back in the Eagles favor for good. That advantage was doubled just before intermission, as another Reddick takeaway set up Boston Scott’s score and affectively took the wins out of San Francisco’s sails. The entertainment level for those neutral fans watching dipped in the second half as the Eagles kept their foot on the gas, adding to their lead when Hurts ran it in himself late in the third quarter. Down big and desperate, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan went for it 4th and 2 at midfield with 10:58 left, but Avonte Maddox came up with the stop to thwart his comeback plans.

As time wound  down, Trent Williams let out his frustration and body slammed K’Von Wallace to the turf enraging the rabid  and jubilant Eagles-lad crowd.

Those fans  along with the Eagles will flock to Glendale for the Super Bowl on February 12th, looking to bring home the Lombardi for the second time in six seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker (7) is lifted in the air after his game-winning field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 23-20. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

AFC: BENGALS 20 CHIEFS 23

Akin to their  meeting 364 days prior, this one came down to a field goal. Only this time, it were Harrison Butker and the Chiefs who celebrated a Super Bowl berth, as the kicker’s 45 yard field goal uplifted Kansas City to a 23-20 victory.  Despite concerns throughout the week of him of being limited due to his sprained ankle, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, now a three time AFC champion, went 29-43 for 326 yards and two touchdowns, as he will be looking for his second  Super Bowl in four seasons on February 12th in Glendale against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Following a first half played on both teams strict defensive terms, the scoring opened up in the second half as an early touchdown pass on 4th and one from Mahomes to Travis Kelce extended Kansas City’s lead to 13-3. After a field goal trimmed their deficit back to seven, the renowned Cincinnati defense held the Chiefs in check, setting up their offense for a game-tying score.

Faced with a third and six on Kansas City’s 25, Bengals star quarterback Burrow lobbed the ball up for Tee Huggins, who used his size and changed directions in the air to haul it in and even the contest. Suddenly, these Bengals who shocked Kansas City and all of Arrowhead last year with a 27-24 triumph in the AFC championship game, had an opportunity to do it yet again.  However, Mahomes would answer back by showing off his  incredible pinpoint accuracy, fitting a spiral through tight coverage to Marcus-Valdez-Scantling for a 20-13 entering the last stanza of play.

Minutes into the final frame, Burrow reminded all why the Bengals named the field  “Burrowhead” throughout the week and converted on 4th and 6 to Jamar Chase, before Samaje Perine muscled through a goal line  scramble tie things up yet again. Before the fatal field goal drive by Mahomes, the Bengals, who had  won 10 straight to get back to the conference title game, had two opportunities to cement back-back Super Bowl berths. The first came with 7:00 remaining in regulation, when Burrow tried to hit Chase again  downfield, but the ball was tipped by Bryan Cook and picked by  Joshua Williams. After the defense got him the ball back taking advantage of costly Kansas City penalties, off Burrow converted on a 3rd and 16 from deep in his own territory. However, faced with another third down three plays later, the QB was taken down by Chris Jones and the rest was history.

An unnecessary roughness call by Joseph Ossai moved the sticks up 15 yards, setting up Butker’s near-buzzer and a Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl clash.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts passes during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Super Bowl PREDICTION:

Both teams deserve to be here as they dominated their respective conferences and doubled down with two rousing playoff victories apiece. Amongst the pregame storylines include the Kelce  in Jason and Travis ,who will become the first pair of bros competing against each other in the Super Bowl as each look for their second title.

Matchups to look out for aside from Hurts Vs Mahomes include  Chiefs OT Orlando Brown Jr. vs. Eagles LB Haason Reddick, with Brown tasked of helping

protect Mahomes from the wrath of Philadelphia’s prolific defense.  On the flip side, the Eagles will go to star WR DeVonta Smith early and often, testing elite Kansas City  CB Jaylen Watson right from the start.

Last but not least, it’ll be Andy Reid of the Chiefs coaching  against his former squad who are led by Nick Sirianni.

Ultimately, it’ll be a tight one between two of the games best and deepest teams who’ve made it here by finding different ways to win games. It’s a tough one to call and will undoubtedly come down to execution, but I have the Chiefs 34-27.

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (21) tackles Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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