The Underrated Stars Who Could Win The Super Bowl for the Chiefs, Eagles
Legacies are defined on Super Bowl Sunday.
Career trajectories can be altered, and Hall of Fame candidacies are solidified with the Lombardi Trophy at stake.
Chances are, that if the Chiefs can bring home a record third consecutive Super Bowl championship, Patrick Mahomes will win a fourth Super Bowl MVP award. It’s the nature of the award, and what happens when MahomesMagic comes through for Kansas City.
Likewise, the Eagles’ chances of stopping history in its tracks likely depend on Saquon Barkley doing Saquon Barkley things—and building on his 442 rushing yards and five touchdowns this postseason. If Barkley keeps up that pace, the quarterback reign of terror in Super Bowl MVP history may come to an end.
However, NFL history is littered with unsung heroes who emerge during the Super Bowl and carve out their own legends.
Desmond Howard only had six career touchdown catches when he set the Super Bowl record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown for the Packers, in New Orleans, back in 1997.
Jacoby Jones was instrumental in the Ravens’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers, also in New Orleans, when the lights went out in 2013.
Both the Eagles and the Chiefs have plenty of players who are capable of making the play that ultimately decides the outcome of this Super Bowl.
Here’s a look at the most likely breakout candidates to watch.
Chiefs - WR Xavier Worthy
It seems the Chiefs spent the vast majority of the regular season waiting for Xavier Worthy and Patrick Mahomes to get on the same page, and for Worthy’s game-breaking speed to be the kind of weapon that can alter outcomes.
As it turns out, Worthy’s rookie season was merely a tuneup for the postseason.
After slogging through catching 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns, seventh among rookie receivers, all while consistently seeming to be just a hair off in terms of timing and connection with Mahomes, Worthy has been a revelation for the Chiefs during these playoffs.
Worthy enters Super Bowl Sunday as Kanas City’s second-leading receiver, behind only future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce, catching 11 of his 13 targets for 130 yards and a touchdown.
More than just his productivity, the Chiefs must be encouraged by the fact that he and Mahomes have closed the learning gap and appear to be on the same page. His 11.8 yards per catch average underscores his big-play ability, often when the Chiefs have needed it most.
Look for the Chiefs to find ways to get the ball in Worthy’s hands in space, and don’t be surprised if that also means some trickery and end-arounds in the running game to avoid matchups against some of the Eagles’ young lockdown cornerbacks.
Eagles - EDGE Nolan Smith
Nolan Smith isn’t quite a household name just yet, but, the Super Bowl stage represents the Eagles’ first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft’s opportunity to break through on a national level.
Smith has shed the first-round bust label as quickly and effectively as he has opposing offensive tackles this season, on his way to 6.5 sacks in 2024.
However, as the playoffs began and the games became more meaningful, Smith found another gear. In the Eagles’ three postseason victories, Smith has logged a team-high four sacks, and four tackles for loss while developing a reputation for wreaking havoc in opposing backfields.
While Jone Thuney is a likely Hall of Famer one day, he simply isn’t built to play offensive tackle, as the Chiefs have been forced to deploy him. If defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and the Eagles plant Smith opposite Thuney, he has the traits to make life miserable for Mahomes and potentially significantly disrupt the Chiefs’ offense. And their chances of a three-peat.
PODCAST
This week on the Between The Hashmarks Podcast,
checks in from the shadow of the French Quarter, and we break down the biggest keys to both the Eagles and Chiefs emerging with the Lombardi aloft on Super Bowl Sunday. Plus, a deep-dive into Eli Manning’s chances of being a first ballot Hall of Famer this week, and a whole lot more. Be sure to subscribe to and the Between The Hashmarks Podcast on Apple Podcasts.Chiefs - EDGE Charles Omenihu
If a defensive player somehow wrangles the Super Bowl MVP award away from someone like Mahomes, Kelce, Jalen Hurts or Saquon Barkley, Omenihu heading to Walt Disney World would be the ultimate Cinderella story.
Omenihu didn’t have the opportunity to play in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory last season because he tore his ACL in the AFC Championship Game. This week, he admitted in New Orleans that during his rehab, he gave serious thought to retiring.
However, at age 27, the former fifth-round draft choice of the Houston Texans back in 2019 has become an instrumental and disruptive weapon in Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s arsenal.
In six games this season, Omenihu logged six total tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble as he got his sea legs back underneath him. But, during the playoffs, Omenihu has already produced four total tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass breakup during Kansas City’s three wins to make it to New Orleans.
By and large, the Chiefs’ chances of winning an unprecedented third Lombardi Trophy hinge on Spagnuolo conducting a masterclass as Kansas City’s driving force, and Omenihu is getting stronger each week with the skill set to make the kind of plays that can alter the outcome.
Eagles - CB Quinyon Mitchell
Quinyon Mitchell was widely viewed as one of the premier cornerback prospects at a loaded NFL Draft class at the position this spring, and he’s certainly lived up to that billing after landing with the Eagles.
Mitchell is going to receive Defensive Rookie of The Year votes—and may win the award, after posting 46 total tackles while holding opposing quarterbacks to a meager 87 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus, before leveling up his game during the playoffs.
In his first three career playoff games, Mitchell pulled down his first two career interceptions while breaking up four passes and posting 11 total tackles. Jordan Love, Matthew Stafford, and Jayden Daniels learned first hand the perils of throwing the football in the region of Mitchell Island.
Sunday, it doesn’t feel inconceivable that Mitchell could intercept Mahomes in a big spot of the game to seal or set up an Eagles victory. Much like Worthy, Mitchell is ascending at the right time and in the biggest moments of Philadelphia’s most important games.
I keep hearing that this Super Bowl features two teams no one wanted to see in this game. Personally, I didn't want to see Bears-Raiders or Bears-Titans. I'm quite happy with Eagles-Chiefs. A game with two top four defenses. The Eagles terrific run game testing that Chiefs defense. The rabbit-from-a-hat offense conjured by Reid, Mahomes, Kelce against a great Eagles defense. I expect a good, entertaining battle. Looking forward to it.
Just curious why you put the team names in the title of the post. I would think your readers already know who's playing!