Super Bowl 2023: Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts to headline Super Bowl between Chiefs and Eagles

After an exciting season, a thrilling Super Bowl LVII showdown will begin in less than two weeks in Arizona. The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Kansas City Chiefs – with the Eagles as the designated “home” team due to the rotation of the NFC and AFC teams as hosts – for the right to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Eagles are looking to win their second Super Bowl in six years, while the Chiefs are vying for their second ring since 2019.

There are two big narratives heading into this game: Andy Reid coaching against his former team and the first Super Bowl brothers – Travis and Jason Kelce – One against the other. Both brothers have already established careers that will eventually lead them to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The two teams last met in Week 4 of the 2021 season, with the Chiefs winning a 42-30 shootout behind Patrick Mahomes’ five touchdown passes. Jalen Hurts, in just his eighth career start, threw for 387 yards and two touchdowns.

Let’s take a look at the composition of each team, starting with the AFC champions.

Kansas City Chiefs

1	Jerick McKinnon, WR
2	Ronald Jones, AR
4	Chad Henne, QB
5	Tommy Townsend, P.
6	Bryan Cook, S
7	Harrison Butker, K.
8	Carlos Dunlap, DE
9	JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
ten	Isiah Pacheco, RB
11	Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR
12	Shane Buechele, QB
13	Nazeeh Johnson, S
15	Patrick Mahomes, QB
17	Mecole Hardman, WR
19	Kadarius Toney, WR
20	Justin Reid, S
21	Trent McDuffie, BC
22	Juan Thornhill, S.
23	Joshua Williams, DB
24	Skyy Moore, WR
26	Deon Bush, DB
32	Nick Bolton, LB
35	Jaylen Watson, BC
38	L’Jarius Sneed, BC
41	James Winchester, LS
43	Jack Cochrane, LB
47	Darius Harris, LB
50	Willie Gay Jr., LB
51	Michael Danna, DE
52	Credo Humphrey, C
54	Leo Chenal, LB
55	Frank Clark, DE
56	George Karlaftis, DE
57	Orlando Brown, T.
59	Joshua Kaindoh, DE
62	Joe Thuney, OL
65	Trey Smith, OL
66	Brandon Williams, DT
70	Prince Tega Wanogho, T
73	Nick Allegretti, G
75	Darian Kinnard, T.
77	Andrew Wylie, G
81	Blake Bell, ET
83	Noah Gray, TE
84	Justin Watson, WR
87	Travis Kelce, ET
88	Jody Fortson, ET
91	Derrick Nnadi, DT
94	Malik Herring, Germany
95	Chris Jones, TD
99	Khalen Saunders, DT

Kansas City is heading to the Super Bowl with an overall record of 16-3. The Chiefs earned the No. 1 seed thanks to another MVP-caliber season from Mahomes, who threw for 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns. Mahomes’ season is even more impressive considering the team parted ways with wide All-Pro player Tyreek Hill last offseason.

Mahomes’ new weapons on offense include rookie Isiah Pacheco and veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It was Valdes-Scantling’s clutch reception from Mahomes that helped the Chiefs dethrone Cincinnati in the AFC title game. Along with Mahomes, the offense continues to have several perennial Pro Bowl-level players in tight end Travis Kelce and linemen Creed Humphrey, Orlando Brown Jr. and Joe Thuney.

He wasn’t dominant during the regular season, but the Chiefs’ defense played a big role in Kansas City’s playoff wins over Jacksonville and Cincinnati. He forced two turnovers in both games while harassing quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow. Chris Jones was unstoppable against Cincinnati: He had a pair of sacks while leading a pass rush that sacked Burrow five times.

Featured game | Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles

1	Jalen Hurts, QB
2	Darius Slay, BC
3	Zach Pascal, WR
4	Jake Elliott, K
6	DeVonta Smith, WR
7	Haason Reddick, LB
ten	Gardner Minshew, QB
11	AJ Brown, WR
13	Brett Kern, P.
14	Kenneth Gainwell, Arb
16	Quez Watkins, WR
17	Nakobe Dean, LB
18	Great Britain Covey, WR
19	Ian Book, QB
22	Marcus Epps, S
23	CJ Gardner-Johnson, S
24	James Bradberry, BC
26	Miles Sanders, RB
27	Zech McPherson, BC
28	Josh Jobe, Cb
29	Avonte Maddox, BC
32	Reed Blankenship, S
33	Josiah Scott, BC
34	Trey Sermon, Rb
35	Boston Scott, RB
42	K’Von Wallace, S
43	White Kyzir, Lb
45	Rick Lovato, LS
48	Patrick Johnson, LB
51	RAdm Jurgens, C/G
53	Christian Elliss, LB
55	Brandon Graham, DE
56	Isaac Seumalo, G
57	TJ Edwards, LB
58	Kyron Johnson, LB
61	Josh Sills, G.
62	Jason Kelce, C
63	Jack Driscoll, T/G
65	Lane Johnson, T.
68	Jordan Mailata, T.
69	Landon Dickerson, G.
72	Linval Joseph, DT
74	Ndamukong Suh, DT
77	Andre Dillard, T.
81	Grant Calcaterra, Te
88	Dallas Goedert, ET
90	Jordan Davis, DT
91	Fletcher Cox, DT
93	Milton Williams, DT
94	Josh Sweat, DE
97	Javon Hargrave, DT
98	Robert Quinn, DE

Like the Chiefs, the Eagles head to Arizona with a 16-3 record. Philadelphia also earned the No. 1 seed in its conference after winning arguably the most competitive division in the NFL.

Mahomes will likely win league MVP, but Hurts was the favorite to win the award before suffering a season-ending injury. Hurts, who is one of five finalists to win the prize, returned to help the Eagles wrap up the No. 1 seed. Although little was asked of him, Hurts was nonetheless instrumental in helping Philadelphia rout the Giants and 49ers to make it to the Super Bowl.

Hurts led an Eagles offense that finished third in the NFL in scoring and red-zone efficiency and fourth in third-down efficiency. Wideouts AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith helped Hurts in the passing game, while Hurts and running backs Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell helped the Eagles break the Packers’ 50-year record for most touchdowns in one season.

Jones’ dominance of the Bengals offensive line came after Haason Reddick wreaked similar havoc on the 49ers front. Reddick recorded two sacks on Sunday as Philadelphia seeks to become the first 70-sack team to win the Super Bowl. The Eagles pass rush is complemented by an opportunistic secondary, led by CJ Gardner-Johnson, Darius Slay and James Bradberry.