Chiefs' Key Matchups vs. Eagles in Super Bowl 57

For the third time in four years, the Kansas City Chiefs will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs officially exacted revenge on the Cincinnati Bengals after Joe Burrow and Co. spoiled their quest for another conference championship last season.

Despite Patrick Mahomes playing through a high ankle sprain and Travis Kelce dealing with back spasms, the Chiefs came out on top against their AFC counterpart 23-20. The win sets up a great matchup with plenty of storylines.

They'll meet the Philadelphia Eagles in the big game: the franchise that Andy Reid led for more than a decade without quite capturing a championship; the team that has the other Kelce playing on the offensive line.

While those are fun stories that will be covered often over the next two weeks, it's the matchups on the field that matter most.

These two teams were the top seeds in their respective divisions for a reason. These matchups could determine what is bound to be a close game.

Patrick Mahomes vs. the Eagles' Pass Rush

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 29: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles have an impressive roster from top to bottom, but the scariest thing about them is how well they rush the passer.

With four rushers who had 11 or more sacks in the regular season, there are few teams in history that have had the kind of depth they boast up front. Their 70 sacks were the most by any team in the league in the regular season, and the second team (which happens to be the Chiefs) was 15 sacks behind with 55 on the year.

So the question isn't whether the Eagles will get pressure on Mahomes. The Chiefs' offensive line is a decent unit, but not one that is going to shut out Haason Reddick, Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat and Javon Hargrave.

The question is what Mahomes can do in the face of that pressure. After all, much of his game is predicated on his ability to scramble and make things happen when everything breaks down in the pocket.

Despite the high ankle sprain, Mahomes was six-of-six on passes outside the box, on the run and when holding on to the ball for longer than four seconds, per Next Gen Stats. That's not something that should be possible.

If the Chiefs are going to win the championship, it's going to take another superhuman effort from No. 15.

He's done it enough at this point that it shouldn't be discounted.

Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson vs. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith

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Trent McDuffie has proven to be worth the first-round pick the Chiefs used to acquire him.

The Eagles' combination of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were a real problem for teams in the regular season. Thus far, they haven't had to do much in the playoffs for the Eagles.

Jalen Hurts has had under 200 yards passing in both playoff wins. The running game and defense were effective enough against the Giants and Niners that they didn't have to rely too much on Hurts and his injured shoulder to move the ball through the air.

It's led to a relatively quiet two weeks for the duo.

But the Chiefs are eighth in rushing yards allowed per game and their offense tends to at least put some pressure on the opposing team to keep up.

The Chiefs' best shot at winning the game lies in their ability to create a shootout. If a healthy Mahomes can consistently beat the Eagles' pass rush and lead touchdown drives early it's a game that favors the Chiefs.

But that also means on relying on rookie cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to contain Brown and Smith. Both Philly receivers were top ten in the league in receiving yards this season but McDuffie and Watson have been solid in the playoffs.

Watson has picked off a pass in each of the Chiefs' first two games. McDuffie has had a tremendous under-the-radar rookie campaign. Now, it's time for both of them to show out against an elite pairing of receivers.

If the Chiefs can win those matchups on the outside it's a big step toward taking home the Lombardi.

Andy Reid vs. Jonathan Gannon

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Andy Reid will be a key factor in his current team's bid to beat his old team.

The matchups on the field are going to be important, but the chess match that takes place when the Chiefs have the ball could determine how this game goes.

There's little argument that Andy Reid is one of the elite offensive minds in the league. It helps to have Patrick Mahomes executing the offense, but Reid deserves plenty of credit for putting together an AFC-winning unit after losing Tyreek Hill this offseason.

However, his scheming will have a worthy foe in Jonathan Gannon. Much like Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Gannon has proved to be skilled at putting his defensive personnel in a position to succeed.

Gannon does a great job of switching up defensive fronts and getting his deep stable of pass-rushers in a position to get after the quarterback. On the back end, they can play a good mixture of zone and man. They are sixth in EPA when in zone coverage and third when playing man, per The 33rd Team.

That gives Gannon plenty of ammunition to throw different looks at Reid and Mahomes. At the same time, the Chiefs are capable of attacking defenses several different ways, so the game is afoot between two of the league's best minds this season.

The give-and-take between the offensive mastermind and the up-and-coming defensive coordinator will be a fun and key battle to track all night.