The matchup for Super Bowl 57 has been set and it’s chalk: The NFC champion and top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles faces the AFC champion and top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
Here are a few things we learned from the conference title games.
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Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, February 12, 2023 – 06:30 PM EST at State Farm Stadium
For the first time ever, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will meet in a postseason game as they square off in Super Bowl 57 from outside Phoenix on Feb. 12. FOX has the telecast.
The spread already has jumped around quite a bit with the Chiefs opening as slight favorites according to NFL odds but now generally 2-point underdogs at BMR’s top-rated books.
The total opened at 49 and is now 49.5 across the board. Like nearly every Super Bowl these days, the weather won’t be an issue on Feb. 12.
One big storyline will be current Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who was with the Eagles from 1999-2012 until being fired and landing immediately on his feet in Kansas City and now a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
The Eagles are 4-5 all-time vs. the Chiefs.
Reid has been the winning coach in the last six matchups – in 2001, 2005, and 2009 with the Eagles and in 2013, 2017, and 2021 with the Chiefs.
Better Have A Good Backup QB
The NFL introduced the third-quarterback rule in 1991, which gave teams an emergency signal-caller available who was not on the 45-man game-day roster, although if the emergency QB entered before the fourth quarter none of the other quarterbacks could return.
Before the 2011 season, the league expanded the game-day roster from 45 to 46, allowing teams to suit up another player at any position it wanted, but did away with the third-QB rule itself. And very few teams would carry a third quarterback.
That was a MAJOR issue for the 49ers on Sunday in their 31-7 loss in Philadelphia with starting QB Brock Purdy going down in the first quarter with an elbow injury and journeyman backup Josh Johnson eventually leaving with a concussion.
Purdy had to come back in but literally couldn’t throw the ball.
The Niners looked silly for not having a third QB. Neither the Eagles nor Chiefs carried a third in their conference title games, but at least both have quality backups should Jalen Hurts or Patrick Mahomes go down in Super Bowl 57 in veterans Gardner Minshew and Chad Henne, respectively.
The Niners didn’t have such a luxury.
Turnovers Matter
Yes, the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round despite turning the ball over five times and not forcing a single LA turnover, but that was the massive exception to the rule.
Teams that win the turnover battle generally win in the playoffs.
San Francisco committed three turnovers in Sunday's loss in Philadelphia, finishing the 2022 season with a 15-0 record in games in which it won or tied in turnover differential and an 0-5 mark when it finished on the losing side.
Kansas City also won the turnover battle against Cincinnati, picking off Joe Burrow twice and the Chiefs losing one fumble.
The Eagles are plus-4 in turnover margin this postseason and the Chiefs are plus-3, the second-and third-best marks of all playoff teams behind the Chargers.
Penalties Also Important
The two teams that lead this postseason in penalties are the Bengals and 49ers with 16 each. Probably not a coincidence they are both out.
San Francisco’s 11 penalties on Sunday bought the Eagles countless second chances.
Meanwhile, the name Joseph Ossai will live in infamy in Cincinnati for his crushing penalty in the AFC title loss at Kansas City. With the game tied 20-20 in the final seconds and the Chiefs facing third-and-4 at Cincinnati's 47-yard-line, Mahomes scrambled to his right to gain a first down.
As Mahomes stepped out of bounds, Ossai shoved the QB from behind and was whistled for unnecessary roughness.
It was the right call. Without that penalty, KC likely only has a chance at a Hail Mary to the end zone.
Instead, the extra 15 yards sent Kansas City from the Cincinnati 42 to the 27 and it allowed the Chiefs to attempt a 45-yard field goal, which Harrison Butker converted. In good conditions, maybe Butker tries a kick from 59 yards but no chance Sunday in the cold conditions. His maximum length was probably 50.
“Why the [expletive] would you touch the quarterback?” cameras caught Ossai’s teammate Germaine Pratt yelling as he walked into the locker room.
The Bengals had nine penalties for 71 yards and the Chiefs four for 55.
Good Trend For Eagles
Philadelphia has looked dominant so far in these playoffs, smashing the New York Giants 38-7 in Divisional Round and then smacking around the 49ers 31-7 on Sunday.
The Eagles are the fifth team to win in the Divisional Round and Conference Championship by at least 21 points.
Each of the previous four teams won the Super Bowl.
Common Opponents
We often look at common opponents in college football bowl games. How about some more trends to help you with your NFL picks for the Super Bowl 57 matchup?
Philadelphia and Kansas City have these common opponents:
- Cardinals
- Colts
- 49ers
- Titans
- Jaguars
- Texans
And both Philly and KC actually won at State Farm Stadium against Arizona.
The Eagles went 6-0 against those teams, and the Chiefs went 6-1 as they faced Jacksonville in the regular season and playoffs and won both.
The lone KC loss was 20-17 at Indianapolis in Week 3.
Remember - NFL fans from the Show Me State or the City of Brotherly Love who are looking to make a wager on Super Bowl LVII should be sure to check out our top-rated Missouri or Pennsylvania betting sites.
Out of State? No problem! Check out the best US Betting Sites available in order to make secure wagers in your own home state.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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