Super Bowl LVII: Most Impressive Stats from Chiefs, Eagles in 2022 NFL Season
When the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles take the field for Super Bowl LVII, statistics will only be part of the story.
However, plenty of numbers and trends help explain why both the Chiefs and Eagles reached the NFL's biggest stage and define how Super Bowl LVII might be won.
Several of these stats will matter immensely, while others might not show up Sunday night. Trends are trends, not certainties.
The facts highlighted are a combination of historic, impressive or interesting.
Philly's Pass-Rush Record
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By no means will Kansas City be surprised, but the Chiefs certainly must be prepared for the Eagles' relentless front seven.
This season, Philadelphia became the first defense in NFL history to have four players rack up 10-plus sacks. Haason Reddick had a team-high 16, while Javon Hargrave, Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham each notched 11.
Unsurprisingly, the Eagles paced the league with 70 sacks during the regular season, which is tied for the third-most in league history. Meanwhile, Kansas City finished second with 55.
While notable, the gap between the two is not overwhelming. But the Eagles have an undeniably elite top-end group compared to KC's reliance on star defensive tackle Chris Jones and creative blitzes.
When healthy, Patrick Mahomes is a master at evading pressure. However, an ankle injury may limit him against this defense, and his Super Bowl LV loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a reminder of how pressure can disrupt a quarterback even as great as Mahomes.
Mahomes' Production Rarity
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Although he had the benefit of a 17th regular-season game, Patrick Mahomes finished with the fourth-most passing yards of any quarterback in a single season in NHL history.
The newly crowned league MVP threw for 5,250 yards, finishing 66 yards behind Tom Brady for the 17-game record. Mahomes joined Drew Brees as the only quarterbacks ever to tally multiple 5,000-yard, 40-touchdown years, and he could become the first one ever to do so three times.
Although the 17th regular-season game helped Mahomes pad his stats, he had already crossed the 5,000-yard plateau before the Chiefs' regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. There are no asterisks here.
If Mahomes adds a second Super Bowl ring to his resume Sunday, his Hall of Fame chances would likely improve from "expected" to "guaranteed." The numbers only continue to strengthen his case.
Eagles' 1st 1,000-Yard Duo
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Prior to the 2022 campaign, the Philadelphia Eagles had never boasted a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in a single season.
DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown changed that.
Smith reeled in 95 passes for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns, standing out as a reliable short and intermediate target. He set a single-season franchise record for most catches for a wide receiver.
Brown, on the other hand, brought the explosiveness. Acquired in a 2022 draft-day trade with the Tennessee Titans, he snagged a career-high 88 receptions with team-leading totals of 1,496 yards and 11 scores. Brown earned second-team AP All-Pro honors in his debut season with Philly.
Kansas City's rotation of corners—L'Jarius Sneed and rookies Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams—is a quality bunch, but it has an immense challenge ahead.
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Jerick McKinnon's Efficiency
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Future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce and 2022 free-agent additions JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling account for a majority of the Chiefs' pass-catching production.
But don't sleep on what running back Jerick McKinnon brings to the table. He carved out an impactful role as a pass-catcher and touchdown scorer this season.
McKinnon hauled in 56 catches for 512 yards to go with his 72 carries for 291 yards during the regular season. He also hauled in nine receiving touchdowns on the year, including at least one in each of Kansas City's final six regular season games.
McKinnon has been relatively quiet this postseason with only 43 yards on 17 total touches. But he's the type of versatile, under-the-radar player who could emerge as a key counter to Philly's aggressive defense.
CJGJ's Interceptions
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During his three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson nabbed a total of five interceptions.
This year, he surpassed that total in a five-game span.
From early October through mid-November, CJGJ picked off a pass in five straight outings. He closed the regular season sharing the NFL lead with six interceptions.
Philadelphia has unleashed the versatile defensive back, who aligns at safety, nickelback and regularly wanders into the box to help in run support. Gardner-Johnson tallied a career-best 67 tackles during the regular season this year in addition to reclaiming the ballhawk label he held as a college standout.
Chris Jones' Pressure Rate
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Defensive tackles are not supposed to create havoc like Chris Jones does. Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald is the only player at the position who has more pressures than Jones in the last half-decade.
This season, Jones ranked third in the NFL with 46 pressures. Amid a barrage of edge-rushers, Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants (36) was the lone defensive tackle to be within 15 pressures of Jones. The four-time Pro Bowler also amassed 15.5 sacks, tied for fourth-most in the league.
"He's so good, man. He makes it so hard on you," Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said, per Dave Skretta of the Associated Press. "He's so big and strong. Physical. He really understands what you're trying to do to him up front."
Burrow certainly felt Jones' presence in the AFC Championship Game, as he registered five pressures with two sacks. Philly understands it needs to contain Jones, but that's a task easier said than done.
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