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5 matchups to watch in Super Bowl 59

2S4JK27 Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws a pass against Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

  • The Chiefs' motion will be defining yet again: Kansas City's motion-heavy offense gashed the Eagles two years ago, but Philadelphia has been the NFL's best defense against shifts all year.
  • Will Jalen Hurts maintain better play under pressure? Hurts struggled to handle rushers in the Eagles' first two playoff games but elevated his play there against the Commanders.

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes


While the outcome of every football game is influenced by the 22 players on each team’s side, the niche, micro-level battles add an extra layer of nuance. That includes players or units battling head-to-head or defensive coaches trying to out-scheme the opposing quarterback.

Looking back at the conference championship iteration of this recurring article, the focus on the Bills’ run game (0.021 EPA per play, only one power run) and Jalen Hurts’ play-action passing (75.4 PFF passing grade) certainly helped decide which teams reached New Orleans. With Super Bowl 59 marking the third time in two years that the Chiefs and Eagles will do battle, these teams’ familiarity means that coaches will pull out all the stops to change tendencies.

Whether strength against strength, weakness against weakness or simply an individual war of great consequence, here are five matchups to focus on in Super Bowl 59.


Chiefs’ motion vs. Eagles' defense

When two powerhouses square off in a championship bout, everyone wants to see iron against iron. That’s exactly what this chess match will be when the Chiefs have the ball.

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