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  • It hasn’t Always been Sunny in Philadelphia. A Look at some of the Worst Teams in Eagles History – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Believe it or not but the Philadelphia Eagles have not always been a juggernaut with a team able to compete for a Super Bowl. Who would’ve guessed that the last team to win a Super Bowl in the NFC East had some rocky years. Here we’ll take a look back at some of the most catastrophic teams in their long history. Before you think this will be too negative enjoy this highlight. By the way, buckle in it’s the longest article yet.

    There’s plenty of different metrics to use when debating the worst team. You can go by something simple like win loss ratio, point differential, or expectations going into the season. I’ll give some examples of each and then you can make a choice yourself. This isn’t a cop out I’ll give my thoughts but it’s incredibly bias, as most sports media is even if they don’t admit it.

    1933 Eagles: picture this, you’re living in Philadelphia three years after the cheesesteak came out. You spent all day Saturday smoking cigs indoors and getting your child’s bed ready with the most leaded paint you can imagine. It’s Sunday and you’re about to sit down and watch the newly created Philadelphia Eagles play this new confusing sport called football. Turns out, like most expansion teams, you stink. You lose to the New York Giants 0-56 in your very first game. Yup by inflation numbers you lost by around 200 points. Hey at least next week you only lose by 25, but still score 0 points.

    Now why would I say this is one of the worst teams? Because of the hope, that’s what kills you. A brand new team begins and anything could happen. That includes going 3-5-1 with a -81 point differential. You begin to wonder if this sets the tone for your franchise. Sadly, this team doesn’t have a winning record for a full decade. In other words, that child you painted the bedroom for (assuming they didn’t die of lead poisoning) hit double digits. They were ready for a career in the mines before a winning season. Lucky for the kid, they win two championships before they’re tenured at the mines by sixteen. Guess it is darkest before the dawn.

    1972 Eagles: Are you wondering how I’m going to talk about 1972? Well if you are I can skip a prelude and just jump straight in. It’s very fitting that The Exorcist came out this year. It must have felt like the Eagles were possessed given how bad the team played that year.

    This team can be summarized quickly by mentioning the -207 point differential and a 2-11-1 record. The lowlights include starting 0-5, losing 10-62 to the Giants, and tying the St. Louis Cardinals 6-6. Looking at the team, you see Harold Carmichael but he only started two games. You also see they had three (3) different quarterbacks. This never leads to much success.

    2012 Eagles: imagine this scenario, it’s 2012 and you survived the Mayan calendar predictions. Yeah turns out relying on data thousands of year old doesn’t pan out. Fill out the comments about a round earth being wrong (Please don’t). Unfortunately, you learn it may have been about the Eagles. The most successful team run of the Super Bowl era. They won zero Super Bowls during this run while all of your divisional rivals have at least two. Just a sad ending to a team that made four straight conference finals and walked away with nothing. We’ll analyze why it’s one of the worst teams.

    It represents an end of an era that coincides with my childhood innocence. Growing up I always had hope the Eagles and Andy Reid would one day complete the seemingly impossible. It’s also completely anecdotal so let’s get some real facts. Still it was the worst season for a coach that’s easily a hall of famer. But at the same time, it ended up working out for both teams. Analytically, it’s the third worst point differential in Eagles history at -164 and a 4-12 record.

    2015 Eagles: Think back to 2015. Everywhere you go, you hear Uptown Funk and it hasn’t started to get annoying yet. Harambe is still alive and well for at least the year. We’re also close to finding out what finally happened with the Malaysian flight. Spoiler but we did not learn anything of substance. Things aren’t all great, Chip Kelly obtained full executive power and immediately removed fan-favorite Desean Jackson the previous year. Howie Roseman had been relegated to just a figurehead.

    You may wonder why I would include this team. They finished second in the division and one game below .500 (7-9) and didn’t have a horrendous point differential (-53). The problem was learning that Chip Kelly’s offense was not sustainable. The Eagles made a lot of risky moves going into this season so it was a make or break season. The biggest move was trading Lesean McCoy for Kiko Alonso. They replaced McCoy with Demarco Murray who was a horrendous fit. This can be easily proven by this highlight of Demarco Murray sliding for the first down. The move that shocked me more was when they released (no trade or contract issue just released) Evan Mathis. If you forgot, Mathis was a back to back first team All-Pro. For a city that always prides themselves on strong trench play, I think this is the worst move made by Kelly.

    What do I think was the worst team? I already said it but it was the Andy Reid 2012 team. The whole year felt like things had to change but there were no good options. The franchise was about to embark on a tumultuous journey into uncertainty. Still if they had managed to win one Super Bowl, imagine how different things would have been. Let me know your thoughts and if you think I missed a team. As always, go birds!

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    Hello, I’m a greater Philadelphia native writing mostly about the Eagles and the rest of the NFL. Articles aren’t … More about Kyle Lavin

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    Kyle Lavin

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  • Broncos-Chiefs scouting report: No Patrick Mahomes. No Gardner Minshew. Hello, Chris Oladokun.

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    Broncos (12-3) at Chiefs (6-9)

    When: 6:15 p.m. Thursday

    Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

    TV/radio: Prime Video, 850 AM/94.1 FM

    Broncos-Chiefs series: Both Denver and Kansas City know this well. The Broncos are still down all-time to the Chiefs, at 57-73-0 in 130 total matchups in the franchises’ history. But Denver has the recent upper hand, with two straight regular-season wins and a nail-biting 22-19 win over Kansas City on Nov. 16. The Broncos’ defense hasn’t been the same since that win and subsequent bye, though.

    In the spotlight: Who the Kel(ce) is Chiefs starting quarterback Chris Oladokun?

    How the mighty have fallen.

    On Christmas, the Broncos will take a short flight up to Kansas City to witness the death throes of a franchise that only has a couple of games left on the throne. The Chiefs will not win the AFC West for the first time in a decade, and they’ll finish with a losing record for the first time since the 2-14 days of Romeo Crennel in 2012. This may well be the last time that Denver sees 36-year-old future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, who will make a retirement decision after the season. They won’t see quarterback Patrick Mahomes — and might not next year, either — after Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Dec. 14’s 16-13 loss to the Chargers.

    To make matters worse, Kansas City’s QB stopgap Gardner Minshew hurt his knee in Sunday’s loss to the Titans. That leaves this Kansas City dynasty, for a primetime affair with the country watching on Christmas evening, turning to … Chris Oladokun.

    Who?

    Here’s what’s known on the 28-year-old Oladokun, from a national perspective. He played two seasons of FBS football as a backup at USF, from 2017-18. He transferred to FCS program Samford for a couple of years. He started at South Dakota State for one year after that, and played well enough (3,164 yards, 25 TDs) to warrant a seventh-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022’s draft. Oladokun was waived during roster cuts that fall, signed to Kansas City’s practice squad a few days later, and has stuck there pretty much ever since.

    Now, after being promoted to the active roster after Mahomes’ injury and filling in for an injured Minshew mid-game against Tennessee — 11-for-16, 111 yards — Oladokun will make the first start of his NFL career against the current No. 1 seed in the AFC.

    “It’s something I don’t take lightly,” Oladokun told Kansas City reporters Tuesday. “These opportunities don’t come around often, and so when you get ‘em, you gotta take that and run with it. So, this is not only a big game for our team, but me personally a big game, in terms of letting the league know what I can do and letting these coaches know what I can do.”

    So what can he do? Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said this week that Oladokun has had an “easy transition” because of his knowledge of Kansas City’s offensive verbiage, but that they’d naturally ease back on specific formations without Mahomes. One obvious similarity: just 8% of Mahomes’ attempts this season have come from under center, in Kansas City’s shotgun-heavy offense. Just one of Oladokun’s 16 attempts against the Titans came from under center, too. That doesn’t seem destined to change.

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    Luca Evans

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  • Prescott’s Cowboys overcome Mahomes’ fourth-down magic in 31-28 Thanksgiving win over Chiefs

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    ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys still face long odds in trying to rally for a spot in the playoffs.

    They won’t be short on confidence with a win over last season’s Super Bowl runner-up just four days after beating the defending champs.

    Prescott threw for two touchdowns, Malik Davis sprinted 43 yards for a score and the Cowboys overcame two fourth down TD throws from Patrick Mahomes in a 31-28 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.

    CeeDee Lamb scored the first Dallas touchdown and finished with 112 yards on seven catches after drops plagued the star receiver in a 24-21 victory over reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

    The Cowboys (6-5-1) have won three straight and dropped the defending AFC champion Chiefs (6-6) back to .500 in a matchup of playoff-chasing teams.

    Dallas is 3-0 since 24-year-old defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide during the club’s open week. The Cowboys came back from the emotion-filled break with a 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

    “On top of where we put ourselves right before these games and just the place that we’re in, having to get these wins against two elite teams,” Prescott said. “I mean, two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year. Last year’s last year, but you’re talking about two organizations that obviously know how to win and we just beat them both in two great games.

    “On top of everything that we’ve been through.”

    Mahomes had four touchdown passes in his first professional game at the home of the Cowboys, where he played three times for Texas Tech not far from his East Texas roots.

    “They’re the same desperation that we are and they play better over four quarters than we did,” said Mahomes, who threw for 261 yards and was sacked three times, twice by Jadeveon Clowney. “So even though we have good plays here and there, we have be more consistent at the end of the day.”

    Travis Kelce caught Mahomes’ first fourth-down TD toss on a 2-yarder, and Rashee Rice’s second scoring catch came on fourth-and-3 early in the fourth quarter.

    Kansas City was down 10 when Mahomes was almost tripped in the backfield by Quinnen Williams but kept his feet and found Xavier Worthy wide-open down the field for 42 yards, setting up a 10-yard scoring toss to Hollywood Brown with 3:27 remaining.

    Prescott and company didn’t give Mahomes another chance.

    After two pass interference penalties gave Dallas first downs, Prescott hit George Pickens for 13 yards and a clinching first down at the two-minute warning. Prescott knelt three times after that.

    The Chiefs had five pass interference penalties, one that was declined, and another defensive holding that gave Dallas a first down. Kansas City finished with 10 penalties for 119 yards.

    “Bottom line is we’re having too many penalties, and we have to make sure to take care of that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “No excuses with it. We’re going to clean it up.”

    Rice had eight catches for 92 yards, his first score coming on a 27-yard catch-and-run on the sideline two plays after Prescott was intercepted by Jaylen Watson on the first Dallas possession.

    Davis had just three carries, but his long run gave Dallas its first lead at 17-14 late in the second quarter. Lead running back Javonte Williams scored on a 3-yard catch early in the fourth quarter, and Pickens’ catch on a 2-point conversion put Dallas back in front 28-21.

    The Cowboys were 10th in the NFC entering the game, same as the Chiefs in the AFC coming off nine consecutive AFC West titles. The schedule doesn’t get much easier, although two of the next four opponents — all playoff teams from a year ago — aren’t in the postseason picture at the moment.

    “We’ve got to continue with the same mentality,” Lamb said. “Obviously it’s been a short week. Now we get a little time to rest, a regular week so to speak. We get our bodies back, relax, build, grow, get better and on to next week.”

    Injuries

    Chiefs: The Chiefs lost two offensive linemen to injuries after beginning the game without RG Trey Smith, who was inactive because of an ankle injury. RT Jawaan Taylor injured an elbow, and rookie LT Josh Simmons went out with a wrist injury. … S Bryan Cook injured an ankle in the first half.

    Cowboys: CB Caelen Carson, who had started the previous two games, was inactive after being listed as questionable. He was added to the injury report during the week. … CB DaRon Bland injured a foot in the second half.

    Up next

    Chiefs: Play host to Houston in prime time on Dec. 7.

    Cowboys: Visit Detroit next Thursday night.

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Broncos-Chiefs scouting report: Banged-up Denver contends with Patrick Mahomes, desperate Kansas City team

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    Chiefs (5-4) at Broncos (8-2)

    When: Sunday, 2:25 p.m.

    Where: Empower Field at Mile High Stadium

    TV/radio: CBS, 850 AM/94.1 FM

    Broncos-Chiefs series: Here we go again. The Broncos endured a long period of futility in this matchup — 16 straight losses from November 2015 to early October 2023 — before finally toppling the Chiefs 24-9 on Oct. 29, 2023. Denver split this series 1-1 last year, drubbing Kansas City 38-0 in the final game of the regular season as the Chiefs rested their starters. The Broncos are 56-73-0 against the Chiefs all-time.

    In the spotlight: Can Nik Bonitto and company take down Patrick Mahomes?

    On Monday night, the Broncos’ 26-year-old edge rusher stood in a parking lot in Federal Heights, depositing box after box of Thanksgiving meals into the trunks of families pulling through a makeshift drive-thru in Thrive Church.

    Bonitto wore a hoodie, sweats and a large black brace on his wrist. He has been wearing the brace since hurting his wrist in the Broncos’ Week 1 opener against the Titans. The splint didn’t much hurt his ability to pick up turkeys. And it certainly hasn’t hurt his ability to gobble up opposing offenses, as Bonitto put together another dominant performance against the Raiders last Thursday with eight pressures and 1.5 sacks.

    But the greatest challenge of Bonitto’s career year — first in the NFL in QB pressures (51), third in sacks (9.5) — will come Sunday, when the Chiefs and one of the NFL’s most elusive quarterbacks come to Empower Field.

    “That’s the guy that everybody looks to when it comes to sacking the quarterback,” Bonitto said Monday. “He’s one of the best in our game, so, for sure — it’s going to be exciting.”

    The Patrick Mahomes of the last three years is not quite the same game-breaker the NFL saw in his mid-20s. He has dropped from the league’s undisputed top quarterback to just arguably the top dog. He lingers tied for 10th in yards per attempt (7.4) and a distant 12th in passer rating (98.2) through 10 weeks. The Chiefs are more vulnerable than at any point since the Mahomes Era began in 2018, sitting at 5-4 and a distant third in the AFC West.

    First-round rookie tackle Josh Simmons has missed the last four weeks while dealing with a family matter. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit has been typically excellent but has sagged on third down and in the red zone. And yet, Kansas City is still as complex to navigate as a laser maze because of the 30-year-old Mahomes, who’s playing a shiftier brand of football than ever.

    Mahomes’ sack rate the past two years has been the highest of his career. Still, the Chiefs rank ninth in the NFL overall in sack rate allowed. And Mahomes has gotten the ball out at an average rate of 2.69 seconds in 2025 — more than 0.2 ticks faster than any season of his NFL career. He is a shapeshifter under center, capable of adjusting his style and timing with each passing season in Kansas City. And this year, with a shaky situation at tackle between Simmons and backup Jaylon Moore, Mahomes is either punishing teams on quick intermediate routes or with his legs.

    Opposing defenses fear Mahomes much more than running back Isiah Pacheco or Kareem Hunt, as the Chiefs have faced one of the highest rates of defensive-back-heavy formations in the NFL when running the ball, according to the league’s Next Gen Stats. Pacheco and Hunt haven’t been able to take much advantage against a light box, both averaging less than 4.5 yards a carry on such attempts. But Mahomes has feasted: 7.8 yards a carry and 266 yards with his legs when defenses go with seven or less near the line of scrimmage.

    His one weakness? Pressure. Mahomes is 28-of-71 passing when under duress, according to Next Gen Stats. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has done an outstanding job of throwing pressure at Mahomes across the Broncos and Chiefs’ last three meetings, and held him to a total of two touchdowns in that time.

    “It’s more about getting them covered, and making them hold the ball enough until we can get there,” Joseph said Thursday.

    Denver will need another monster effort from Bonitto and company at Empower Field on Sunday in a game that could assert them as the new class of the AFC West.

    “This division’s been run by the Chiefs for so many years now,” Bonitto said Monday. “So, I mean, if we’re going to want to be that team to win the division and reach the goals that we said we want, we’re gonna have to go through them and beat them.”

    Who has the edge?

    When Broncos run: Denver will play without bell-cow J.K. Dobbins for the first time this year, in some truly horrendous timing. Suddenly, rookie RJ Harvey will be thrown to the wolves against Chris Jones, Nick Bolton and company. Harvey has only gotten 10-plus carries once this year, and is averaging 3.3 yards a carry outside of a 50-yard pop in Week 1. Kansas City has a top-12 rushing defense through nine games in 2025. Edge: Chiefs

    When Broncos pass: Bo Nix has been a bottom-tier NFL quarterback this year outside of the fourth quarter. The clutch gene helps. Against the Raiders last week, the script actually flipped. Nix was in rhythm in the second quarter before completely falling out of it in the second half. Denver will need juice from Nix early and late against Kansas City with Dobbins out and an untested Harvey in the run game. This is the kind of matchup where the Broncos start to determine if he’s the guy for a long-term extension after 2026. Edge: Chiefs

    RELATED: Broncos analysis: To unleash Bo Nix and unlock offense, Sean Payton must start at the beginning

    When Chiefs run: The key here is Patrick Mahomes. Lead back Isiah Pacheco’s health is up in the air after a sprained MCL in Week 8, and backfield mate Kareem Hunt has averaged 3.6 yards a carry across his last four NFL seasons. But Mahomes is on pace for the best rushing season of his career, and has put up 123 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in his last two games. The Broncos have handled dual-threat QBs with aplomb this year, but Mahomes is a different kind. Slight edge: Broncos

    When Chiefs pass: The Broncos still don’t have cornerback Pat Surtain II (pec). The Chiefs have Mahomes, even if coordinator Vance Joseph has proven effective at containing him. WR1 Rashee Rice has been back for three weeks, too, adding a much more dangerous element to Kansas City’s attack. Slight edge: Chiefs

    Special teams: Chiefs punter Matt Araiza has pinned the second-highest percentage of boots inside the 20 (54.5%) of any punter in the NFL this season. Broncos rookie Jeremy Crawshaw now sits below league-average in that category, and the punting differential in Raiders-Broncos nearly swung a game for Las Vegas. The Broncos do get a huge lift with the return of All-Pro Marvin Mims Jr., and Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has been iffy this year. Edge: Even

    Coaching: The Andy Reid-Matt Nagy-Steve Spagnuolo trio is as proven as any in the NFL. Joseph is one of the highest-regarded defensive coordinators in the NFL at the moment, but Sean Payton has plenty to prove with his play-calling and offensive execution after the past two weeks. Slight edge: Chiefs

    Tale of the tape

    Broncos Chiefs
    Total offense 334.6 (13th) 370.1 (7th)
    Rush offense 128.6 (9th) 121.2 (12th)
    Pass offense 206.0 (18th) 248.9 (5th)
    Points per game 23.5 (17th) 26.1 (9th)
    Total defense 270.7 (3rd) 291.8 (6th)
    Run defense 91.2 (4th) 104.6 (12th)
    Pass defense 179.5 (6th) 187.2 (7th)
    Points allowed 17.3 (3rd) 17.7 (4th)

    By the numbers

    1,908: Patrick Mahomes’ passing yards this season when he isn’t pressured, the most in the NFL.

    8: Chiefs All-Pro Chris Jones’ quarterback hits through nine games this year, on pace for his fewest total since 2017.

    28: Broncos All-Pro Zach Allen’s quarterback hits through 10 games this year, the most in the NFL.

    8: Difference between Allen’s QB-hit total and second-place Nik Bonitto’s (20), the same difference between Bonitto’s total and 19th-place Leonard Williams.

    4: Bo Nix’s game-winning drives in 2025, the most in the NFL.

    18%: Percentage of snaps Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw has played where he’s recorded a tackle.

    X-factors

    Broncos: LB Justin Strnad. He’s stepped up for two years in the face of injuries, and Strnad will step back into the limelight against Kansas City after starting ILB Alex Singleton revealed Monday he’d had surgery to remove a testicular tumor. Strnad said Monday the Broncos will be playing for Singleton, and this Kansas City matchup will put Strnad’s skills in coverage and pass-rush on full display as Vance Joseph tries to disrupt Patrick Mahomes.

    Chiefs: WR Xavier Worthy. He’s one of the fastest players in the league, but — much like the Broncos’ utilization of speedster Mims — Worthy’s usage comes and goes with each passing week. Andy Reid said this past week that Kansas City isn’t “down on Xavier Worthy,” and the Broncos will need to account for Worthy on every single snap without defensive leaders Pat Surtain II and green-dot captain Singleton.

    Post predictions

    Parker Gabriel, Broncos reporter: Kansas City 23, Denver 21

    The Broncos are 6-2 in one-score games. The Chiefs are 0-4. And yet K.C. is a 4-point road favorite against the team with the NFL’s longest home winning streak. Sean Payton will readily remind anyone listening that you are what your record says you are, but your record does not necessarily forecast what you’re expected to be going forward. The West tightens by one turn.

    Luca Evans, Broncos reporter: Kansas City 24, Denver 20

    This is not the week to be missing J.K. Dobbins, Pat Surtain II and Alex Singleton, who are among the 10 most important players on this Broncos roster. Kansas City is vulnerable. So is Denver, suddenly, with a rash of injuries and absences. Let’s circle back to this matchup in Week 17 on Christmas.

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    Luca Evans

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  • An Unfortunate Collapse. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    It’s been 371 days since the Philadelphia Eagles lost a football game. That is all in the past now. A last-second Hail Mary landed just out of the reach of Devonta Smith and AJ Brown in a 21–17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. It was Denver’s first win in Philadelphia in nearly 40 years.

    Twenty years after another Eagles’ team who had won the NFC and gone to the Super Bowl the year prior was another game with an unfortunate ending to Denver (49–21.) One of the few highlights of that game was a ninety-one yard touchdown catch and run by Eagles franchise wide receiver Terrell Owens. Within less than a year — Owens was no longer one of Andy Reid’s Eagles.

    On Sunday in South Philadelphia — after a week of controversy about the fluidity of the Eagles offense highlighted by a social media post by franchise receiver AJ Brown — the Eagles continued to stumble on offense. Even the combination of Brown and Devonta Smith combined for thirteen receptions for 157 yards was not enough.

    The Eagles got out to a 17–3 start early in the 4th quarter — highlighted by a 47-yard Saquon Barkley touchdown catch and a six-yard Hurts to Dallas Goedert touchdown in the first half. 

    But the Broncos and Penn Charter graduate Mike McGlinchey stormed back in the 4th quarter — scoring fifteen points unanswered. The Eagles missed an opportunity with 5:18 left in the fourth quarter when Devonta Smith reception was called back on fourth and five. Eagles punter Braden Mann subsequently got off a terrible kick. The Eagles had the Broncos stopped on a third and two when linebacker Zach Baun was flagged for a fifteen yard unnecessary roughness penalty. The Eagles committed nine penalties for fifty-five yards in the game.

    The Eagles overcame six sacks and did rally for one last drive coming down the field with one minute and six seconds left. Then a no-call on a pass interference call inside the ten yard line was proceeded by a last-gasp Hail Mary from the Broncos twenty-nine yard line with no time remaining that nearly was caught by Devonta Smith.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • For Those Who Have Our Number; We Salute You? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Strange, isn’t it? If there is a book out there on the Philadelphia Eagles like the one that AJ Brown has been reading on the sideline — maybe the Rams can should borrow a copy? But Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers seem to have some sacred documents on how to stymie the Eagles stored in the deep annals below Raymond James Stadium.

    Many times that the Eagles have had a pivotal game against the Buccaneers — Tampa always seems to come out on top. Sure — the Eagles were dominant against Tony Dungy’s Buccaneers in the NFC Wildcard Round in the first couple years of Andy Reid’s tenure that the Eagles were in the playoffs.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    But In 1979 — when Dick Vermeil’s Eagles were ascending for the first time in decades — the Buccaneers — who had combined for a 7–37 record in 3 seasons prior — defeated the Eagles in the Divisional Playoffs 24–17. Then in 2003 — Ronde Barber’s gut wrenching interception to close Veterans Stadium. The following September at the first game of the Linc — was another loss 17–0 to Tampa Bay. Fast forward to Jalen Hurt’s first playoff game loss 31–15 at Raymond James Stadium in 2022 and two years later a 32–9 loss in the 2024 NFC Wildcard Round that left us with the image of Jason Kelce’s unbridled outpouring of emotion captured by the national media.

    But there is a silver lining when it comes to some of our painful history of Tampa Bay. Really.

    Consider this. One year after the Eagles disappointing loss in Tampa in 1979 — they won the NFC and advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. Two years after Jon Gruden’s Bucs denied the Eagles a Super Bowl appearance — Philadelphia went back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1980. 

    One year after Tom Brady and the Buccaneers ended the Eagles season in South Florida — Nick Sirianni’s Eagles were also in the Super Bowl. One year after the Eagles lost in the NFC Playoffs again to Tampa Bay in 2024 and just six months after another regular season 31–16 blowout loss at Raymond James Stadium — the Eagles completed the most magical post-season run in team history — winning Super Bowl LIX. After that week 4 loss — the Eagles went 12–1 for the rest of the season.

    Across the South Philadelphia sports’ Complex — the Phillies are preparing to dazzle us with another Red October — perhaps ending with the exhilaration of a World Series victory like the defeat of Tampa in 2008 in South Philadelphia. Perhaps — it will be the Eagles who have a surprise ending on Sunday in the South Florida heat. If history is any judge — win or lose — the sky is the limit for these Eagles — either way. 

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  • Travis Kelce Finally Addresses Viral Heated Exchanges With Coach Andy Reid! – Perez Hilton

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    Travis Kelce is finally speaking out about his heated exchanges with Andy Reid!

    It has been a rough start to the season for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they have won only once so far, so emotions are high right now. And that was clear during their last game against the New York Giants on September 21. At one point, the tight end and the head coach shouting at each other on the sidelines. According to a lip reader, Andy possibly threatened to bench Travis before the athlete claimed he was suffering from an ankle injury — which is not good, obviously, if this is true.

    Other reports suggested he is struggling with the “pressure” and “scrutiny” of his upcoming nuptials to Taylor Swift, along with “juggling” other commitments. Plus, Travis is worried about the pop star’s safety amid a terrifying security threat. Oof. It’s a lot on one’s shoulders. And as you can imagine, all of it is distracting him from his duties on the field and causing this outburst.

    Related: Swifties Fans React After NFL Star Gets Cut From Team After Nasty Comments About Taylor & Travis!

    However, we also can’t forget that this game is not the only time the Happy Gilmore 2 actor lost his cool! He also got into Andy’s face and yelled at him during the Super Bowl 2024! Yikes!

    Given Travis’ history with Andy, some viewers cannot help but think there is now some drama going on between them! Uh oh! Is the football player feuding with the coach? That is bound to make things tense and awkward in the locker room…

    However, don’t worry, Chiefs fans! Travis made it clear to the Kansas City Star on Friday that he has nothing but “love” for Andy! Addressing their heated exchanges, he said:

    “I love that guy, man. There’s nothing outside of this building that’s going to make me feel any different way. We know exactly each other’s intentions.”

    Phew! He went on to rave about Andy’s coaching:

    “I think what Coach Reid does best is he challenges guys to be at their best, and I love that about him. It definitely helped me take my game to another level that game.”

    We guess they are just two guys who are extremely passionate about the game, and sometimes that causes them to butt heads. However, it is all love at the end of the day – we hope! For what it’s worth, Andy also wasn’t upset about the incident, saying:

    “He’s a passionate guy and I love that part. I’ve been through a lot of things with him, that’s all part of it. I love that he loves to play the game, that’s what I love. And it’s an emotional game, so I’ll take it.”

    Hopefully, their upcoming games turn out better — with a lot less screaming! The Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, so we’ll see how it goes!

    [Image via NBC, ESPN/YouTube, MEGA/WENN]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • Chiefs vs Eagles: Sirianni Expecting a Tough Test in Super Bowl Rematch – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: NFL/YouTube

    The Philadelphia Eagles will get an early test of their Super Bowl credentials when they go head-to-head with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

    The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22 to claim the NFL championship last season and will be eager to lay down a marker this time around.

    Despite heading into the 2025 season as the reigning champions, the Eagles have spent the summer playing down their chances of going back-to-back. 

    Their reluctance to talk themselves up has had a knock-on effect elsewhere, with several NFL pundits overlooking them when discussing this season’s title race.

    For example, in a recent interview with Betway Insider, former NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper predicted that the Minnesota Vikings would emerge victorious at the Super Bowl.

    ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) computer model has also jumped on the bandwagon, predicting that the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills will contest the big game in February.

    The FPI gives the Eagles a 9.5 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl, which seems surprisingly low given the manner of their success last term.

    The Eagles have the opportunity to demonstrate why they should not be underestimated when they go head-to-head with the Chiefs again this weekend.

    Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was made to look second-rate by the Eagles’ dominant defensive unit in the last Super Bowl, which allowed Jalen Hurts to strut his stuff during the game.

    Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score to earn Super Bowl MVP honours. He threw for 221 yards as the Eagles cruised to an impressive victory.

    While Sunday’s game will present a different challenge, given that it will be played in Kansas, the Eagles will fancy their chances of securing a positive result.

    They triumphed 21-17 on their last visit to the Arrowhead Stadium in 2023. The Bills were the only other team to defeat the Chiefs on their own patch during that season.

    Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni is expecting a tough battle and says both teams will try to learn from their recent matches when they face each other this weekend. 

    “We’ve played them every single year, so you’re constantly looking at those tapes and you have a plan of what you do when you play a team again, and you go through that process,” Sirianni said.

    “From that, you can expect things they did successfully to come again in different forms, and you can expect things they may not have done successfully that they change a little bit.”

    PHOTO: NFL/YouTube

    The Eagles’ chances of victory in Kansas would be significantly boosted if they can find a way to become more effective with their running game. 

    Running back Saquon Barkley was shackled by the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s plan holding him to a season-low 2.3 yards rushing on 25 carries.

    Barkley had similar troubles in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, recording just 3.3 yards per carry on 18 runs at Lincoln Financial Field.

    When considering that he ran for more than 100 yards in 11 games last year and had an NFL-record seven touchdown runs of 60-plus yards, it is easy to see why the Eagles need Barkley to fire.

    The Chiefs will be desperate to set the record straight against the Eagles, especially after failing to impress in their first game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

    A 27-21 defeat in Brazil has put the Chiefs on the back foot, and they cannot afford a similar outcome against the Eagles, setting up what promises to be a thrilling clash.

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  • Hurts vs. Mahomes? It’s America’s Marquee QB Showdown – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    It’s Football Afternoon In America. But It’s Just another Game to Jalen Hurts.

    Do you have your popcorn ready? 

    In the NFL — quarterback competitions are hyped to an incredible degree. Unlike the NHL or the NBA — opposing NFL quarterbacks never face each other a a field of play. Rather they alternate offensive possessions — waiting patiently to get eleven or twelve opportunities during the course of a game to outscore their opponent on the other sideline — often in the NFL’s elite quarterback club; Elway vs Marino, Namath vs. Unitas, Bradshaw vs. Staubach, Brady vs. Manning.

    Now we have a new powerhouse matchup — Jalen Hurts vs. Patrick Mahomes.

    The franchise that Andy Reid brought back to prominence vs. the midwest team that Reid perfected. The quarterback that the very same Andy Reid personally selected vs. the quarterback that he gave the nod on for the Eagles as a consultant eight years after being let go.

    It’s a fitting description for Reid’s former team which is now the envy of the world — complete with playmakers on both sides of the ball and a GM who never hesitates to add more. And his current team — still directed by one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game with three Super Bowl Championships and three Super Bowl MVP’s — isn’t nearly the franchise that it once was — being demolished by the Eagles in the Super Bowl and beaten by the chargers last week. They haven’t won a game since January of last season.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    But for Jalen Hurts — who has suffered the post-Super Bowl euphoria scrutiny of frequently being left out of the conversation as a top NFL quarterback — instead being passed over in favor of professional signal callers who haven’t even won a conference championship — is the reality that he can still be great without being Patrick Mahomes. Pretty or problematic, crisp or closely contested -all Jalen Hurts does is win games.

    After all — 2–0 is 2–0. If you ever wanted to see a quarterback who didn’t want to get caught up in the hype — Jalen Hurts is for you. Slow and steady — never too high — never too low. Always concentrating on leading his team. Whether re-focusing the squad after Jalen Carter’s ejection and talking with him personally — to being a more vocal leader this season.

    For this weekends marquee NFL matchup however — none of this really matters. It’s still Mahomes vs. Hurts. And in this current chapter — Jalen Hurts is winning. So are the Eagles.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • A Special Guest — One Who Knows NFL Dynasty Euphoria. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Imagine this, Philly. The Dallas Cowboys — with a fresh start once again to begin the 2025 NFL Season — not only have to commence the season in the bosom of the home of their arch rival — but from a box high above the field — Jerry Jones will get a good view of the raising of the Eagles championship banner.

    For Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie — it’s been quite a journey for his franchise to achieve prominence. After nearly two decades of being the class of the NFC — his Eagles finally advanced to the realm of sports euphoria after out-dueling New England in Super Bowl LII in 2018, advancing to the big game again in 2023, and brought the Lombardi Trophy home in Super Bowl LIX last year.

    Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.

    For Cowboy’s owner — Jerry Jones — the reality is much worse. There was a time when bold moves from an oil tycoon and his Head Coach from the University of Miami bundled an aging Herschel Walker in return for draft selections that would deliver them a dynasty. Thirty-five years later — the end of Jones’ dynasty with a championship in 1995 — would be the end of the best time of his ownership of the Cowboys. Since 1996 — the Cowboys have advanced to the playoffs thirteen times — never again reaching a Conference Championship Game again. In August (Jones) exchanged Parsons to the Packers in exchange for (two) 1st round picks and defensive tackle (Kenny) Clark.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    In the end — it would be the Eagles would contribute to the end of the Cowboys. Twenty-six years ago — the (Eagles) Coach Reid and Donovan (McNabb) were part of a team that opened the season in Dallas amid scorching temperatures— Troy Aikman threw a pick six to Jeremiah Trotter, went 0–5, and wound up in the hospital with a concussion. That next season would be his last. The same year at Veterans Stadium — Tim Hauck hit Michael Irvin effectively ending his career. In 2003 — Emmitt Smith’s last game with the Cowboys ended with a screen pass intercepted by Shawn Barber.

    Last season — a video surfaced of Jerry Jones being heckled at Lincoln Financial Field. This year — without Micah Parsons and a team going sideways — the trip on Thursday night could be much, much worse for Jerry.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • What to Stream: Vanessa Kirby, Maroon 5, Madden NFL 26, Alicia Silverstone and ‘The Chicken Sisters’

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    Vanessa Kirby starring in a gritty film about the aspirations of home ownership, “Night Always Comes,” and Maroon 5 releasing their eighth studio album with songs featuring Lil Wayne and Blackpink’s LISA are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

    Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Alicia Silverstone leading a new TV crime drama called “Irish Blood.,” the multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark and EA Sports jumps aboard the artificial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26.

    New movies to stream from Aug. 11-17

    — Isaiah Saxon’s “The Legend of Ochi” (streaming Friday on HBO Max) is a handcrafted fantasy throwback seeking to conjure the kind of magic once found in movies like “The Never Ending Story.” The A24 film stars Helena Zengel as Yuri, a girl who runs away from the forest home she shared with her father (Willem Dafoe) and brother (Finn Wolfhard). She leaves with a baby Ochi, a creature hunted by her father. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that “The Legend of Ochi” “has the feeling of a film you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

    — Vanessa Kirby may be one of the standout performers of the summer blockbuster “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but she also stars in a gritty new film about the aspirations of home ownership. In “Night Always Comes” (Thursday on Netflix), Kirby plays a woman going to extreme lengths to secure a home for her family. The movie, directed by Benjamin Caron and adapted from Willy Vlautin’s best-selling novel, takes place over a single night.

    — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

    New music to stream from Aug. 11-17

    — Maroon 5 will release their eighth studio album, “Love is Like,” on Friday via Interscope Records. Expect smooth, funky pop music — like the sultry “All Night.” Singer Adam Levine and Co. continue their trend of unexpected and delightful collaborations as well, with songs featuring Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Blackpink’s LISA. You read that correctly.

    — Clifford Antone opened Antone’s, one of the most storied music venues in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural performance by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier in 1975. In the decades since, Antone’s has become the stuff of mythology; a performance space that embraces its history and looks towards its future. A new box set out Friday from New West Records seeks to celebrate Antone’s legacy with “Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues.”

    — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

    New series to stream from Aug. 11-17

    — The multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark. The series stars Schuyler Fisk, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick and Genevieve Angelson as family members in a small town divided over their rival fried chicken businesses. It’s based on a novel of the same name. The series streams new episodes beginning Monday on Hallmark+.

    — Alicia Silverstone leads the new crime drama called “Irish Blood.” She plays Fiona, a woman who has been led to believe her father abandoned her as a child — and has carried around some heavy emotional baggage ever since. When she learns the truth is more complicated — not to mention dangerous — she heads to Ireland to investigate. The premiere of the six-part show drops Monday on Acorn TV.

    — A new one for the kiddos is the Disney Jr. series “Iron Man and his Awesome Friends,” coming to Disney+. The first 10 episodes drop Tuesday. The show follows besties and fellow geniuses, Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho, who team up to solve problems.

    — Chris Hemsworth continues his quest to live a healthier, more present, and longer life in a second season of “Limitless,” now called “Limitless: Live Better Now.” The three-part docuseries sees Hemsworth learn more about brain power (with help from his friend and recording artist Ed Sheeran), risk and pain. The three episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Friday.

    — Alicia Rancilio

    New video games to play from Aug. 11-17

    — EA Sports is jumping aboard the artificial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26, promising “a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade.” The most intriguing additions are QB DNA and Coach DNA — so, for example, if you’re playing the Kansas City Chiefs, you’ll see the kind of moves you’d expect from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As always, the goal is to get ever closer to real-life football, with more dynamic weather effects, more details from pro stadiums and the return (at last!) of team mascots. The cover model this season is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who’ll be ready to start leaping over defenders Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC.

    — Lou Kesten

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  • 15 Minutes That Changed the World (Or at Least Philadelphia) – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    15 Minutes That Changed the World (Or at Least Philadelphia) – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Moment in Time When Nick Sirianni’s Eagles Were Changed Forever.

    Shortly after you absorb that euphoric feeling of your team winning a Super Bowl — you immediately want to feel it again.

    Not fifteen minutes after Tom Brady’s final Hail Mary Pass in Super Bowl LII fell short in the end zone — the priority shifted from celebration to preservation.

    What would it take for the Eagles to return to claim another Lombardi Trophy?

    The wait for another shot at NFL immortality wasn’t as quick as initially wished for, but it wasn’t as long as it could have been.

    With the departure of Doug Pederson and ushering out of former quarterback Carson Wentz — whose own ego had prevented him from reaching greatness in Philadelphia— the Eagles were focused on a re-tooling.

    Just two years after the Eagles hired 39-year-old coach Nick Sirianni and committed to 23-year-old quarterback Jalen Hurts — the Eagles whose seemed like its bold offense could never be stopped from scoring — were back in the Super Bowl once again.

    When the Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LVII and powered their way to a 24–14 lead through two quarters — it looked as though not even a short halftime to regroup could save Andy Reid’s Chiefs and a hobbled Patrick Mahomes.

    Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) attempts the tackle during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
    Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) attempts the tackle during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports PHOTO: Denny Medley/Imagn Images

    During that fifteen-minute window — with Rhianna crescendoing her greatest hits on a stage at the 50-yard line — something happened to the Eagles. Perhaps it was arrogance, overconfidence, or inexperience. Perhaps it was a feeling that they were better than the game itself. Perhaps it was a combination of all of these.

    What happened during the next 30 minutes was that a Head Coach—once skewered in Philadelphia for nearly fourteen years for not being able to make in-game adjustments—flipped the script on the Eagles. He gave his injured quarterback quick throws, attacked the Eagles’ defense in different ways, and contained Philly’s devastating offensive attack.

    The team that wins the second half wins the game. That is exactly what happened.

    Nick Sirianni’s Eagles never recovered from that moment. Even when the Eagles were eking out wins at 10–1 last season, something didn’t look right. When they went 1–6 the rest of the way, something certainly didn’t.

    Many people didn’t want Nick Sirianni back this season. But making a convincing argument to stay — he did. At an early bye week, the Eagles are 2–2. They return from Tampa after yet another shellacking to a team that doesn’t have a talent level equal to Philadelphia.

    Since 2016, the Eagles have spent too much time purging themselves of coaches and players who utilize arrogance as a defining quality. The last coach and franchise quarterback to try to plow forward, driven by this sense, left the Eagles in an eventual rebuild.

    For the Eagles to return to the euphoric feeling of the NFC Championship Game win against the 49ers in 2023, it will take an adjustment of this team back to good fundamental football and a new approach for one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses. 

    PHOTO: Denny Medley/Imagn Images

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • PREVIEW – Week 2: Classic Matchups for These Rare Birds – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    PREVIEW – Week 2: Classic Matchups for These Rare Birds – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    For the Eagles and the Falcons — It’s Nothing Short of Amazing Matchups.

    In the wild, deep, and largely untouched expanse of America’s wildness — Falcons and Eagles sometimes entangle. For the Eagles and Falcons in two different NFC Divisions, playing against each other hasn’t been an annual tradition. It has, however, brought us some of the best moments for both franchises. On Monday night, as the Eagles look to continue a path to the Super Bowl — Lincoln Financial Field will once again be electric for another chapter in a history that already runs deep between these two franchises.

    Sep 12, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles up the field against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
    Sep 12, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles up the field against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
     PHOTO: John David Mercer/Imagn Images

    Since Atlanta entered the NFL in 1966 — the teams have played 37 times, including four postseason matchups. The Eagles lead the series 21–15–1 going into Monday night — another opportunity for another great chapter to be told.

    In the 1978 NFC Wildcard Round, an up-and-coming Eagles playoff team under Coach Dick Vermeil traveled to Atlanta. After a 13–0 Eagles lead, Atlanta would come back to win the game 14–13 thanks in part to a controversial call where Falcons wide receiver Wallace Francis and Eagles Safety Herm Edwards both went caught the ball at the same time. The ruling went in the Falcons’ favor.

    When Andy Reid’s Eagles were fast becoming contenders in the early 2000s, the Eagles would again meet the Falcons in the post-season. The much-billed matchup between Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick featured McNabb’s first game back from a broken ankle in the 2003 NFC Divisional Playoffs at the Linc. The Eagles would win that game 20–6.

    Two years later — Vick and the Falcons would return to Lincoln Financial Field for the 2005 NFC Championship Game. In a game when the Eagles offense wouldn’t be denied and a genius scheme from Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson — flipping defensive ends Javon Kearse and Derrick Burgess and not letting the elusive Michael Vick escape to his left in the 27–10 victory.

    Then, in January of 2018 — in one of the most memorable games in Eagles history — Nick Foles and the Eagles would beat the Falcons 15–10. It was a game that featured an Eagles goal line stand against Julio Jones and Matt Ryan with only seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the first post-season victory in the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning, magical season of 2017-2018.

    In the wild — bald Eagles of the Accipitridae family dominate the skies against any other flying mammal in the region.
    On Monday night, the Eagles will undoubtedly dominate the South Philly skies once again, with the Falcons in their territory.

    PHOTO: John David Mercer/Imagn Images

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Eight Seconds, 46 Seconds, No Timeouts. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eight Seconds, 46 Seconds, No Timeouts. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    For the Eagles Top Offense, Eight Seconds Still Fester.

    NFL Athletes need to have short memories. Make a great play and enjoy it. Make a key mistake, learn from it and move on while hoping that you still have a career as a professional athlete afterward. Then prepare for the next play.

    Just ask James Bradbury, the Eagles cornerback whose late-game game Super Bowl penalty allowed Kansas City to bleed the clock and gave Philadelphia the ball back with only eight seconds left and no timeouts remaining.

    The Eagles young offense was dazzling in 2022–2023. No team had more yards in the NFC in 2022, and it seemed at times that their explosive offense was able to break-out on every possession.

     Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    The Eagles offense of 2024 — now complete with the addition of All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley — does not dwell on a late season floundering that ended with a late evening listless performance in Tampa Bay in the Wildcard Round of the NFC Playoffs.

    But rather, is haunted by one last possession in the Super Bowl that given their potency and perhaps an additional ninety seconds could have given Philadelphia its second World Championship in five years.

    The coach who won the Super Bowl that day knew this position before as he peered across the sideline through a sea of red and white confetti that was all too close to instead perhaps having been midnight green in the last moments of Super Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

    Twenty years ago, the Eagles had battled the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville all game and were down by a field goal 24–21. Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, and Brian Westbrook got the football back with 46 seconds and no timeouts. Much like 2023, the Eagles would not score again that day and lost to New England.

    Andy Reid — who had brought the Eagles back to prominence with his first Head Coaching job —would never return to the Super Bowl with the Eagles. Aside from a magical playoff ride in 2009 that ended in Arizona with a monstrous performance by Larry Fitzgerald, The Eagles would never return to Championship form under Reid and would shortly spiral into a needed turnover of the Philadelphia nucleus including parting ways with Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, and Jeremiah Trotter.

    The anticipation of yet another Eagles season in 2024 is almost as high as the July sun with Training Camp just on the horizon. Can this Eagles season put away the shadows of the past season of offensive ineptitude and the haunting memories of just eight seconds to avoid the fate of Andy Reid’s Eagles of the late 2000s?

    We shall soon see.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Travis Kelce’s Moment of Rage Became the Super Bowl’s Best Meme

    Travis Kelce’s Moment of Rage Became the Super Bowl’s Best Meme

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    What’s better than football? The memes that come out of it! At this weekend’s Super Bowl, people had a lot of fun with Chiefs tight end/Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce’ screaming in the face of head coach Andy Reid’s moment of rage. Truly have you seen how ANGRY he is? He got mad so yes, we memed him!

    Kelce—who’s not not known for his temper on the field—was angry that head coach Andy Reid took him out of the game in the first half, and he made that anger known by yelling in Reid’s face and appearing to shove him. Reid later laughed off the drama, saying during the post-game show, “He keeps me young.”

    “He tested that hip out. He caught me off balance,” Reid said. “Normally, I’d give him a little bit, but I didn’t have any feet under me.” Meanwhile, Kelce said of Coach Reid after the game, “I just love him, man.”

    Okay! Sure! That doesn’t look like someone screaming “I love you” but what do I know? Maybe that’s just the way men express themselves.

    The resulting image of Kelce getting in Reid’s face did, however, become the talk of the internet. It’s easy to meme an image like this (remember Trump yelling at the kid mowing the White House lawn?). And it made everything so much better because we were all online tweeting about the Super Bowl.

    May the best meme win!

    The meme format is simple: You just post a quote that Kelce would be screaming into the face of Reid and make sure people get it. Meaning we had a lot of fun options to look at, though some are better than others. And trust me, there were plenty of Taylor Swift jokes as part of this. Swift, who is dating Kelce, was at the game and the camera did cut to her hanging with Ice Spice and Blake Lively a lot.

    So it’s not surprising that some of the Kelce memes connected back to his relationship.

    The game was airing on CBS as well as on Nickelodeon. Who were the commentators if you watched it on Nickelodeon? The cast of Spongebob Squarepants. And our girl Sandy Cheeks was on the field!

    The issue many found is that Sandy still had on her air-tight astronaut gear while serving as our commentator. Famously, she only wears it while out in Bikini Bottom because she needs air to survive, unlike Spongebob and Patrick. So why then was she still wearing her helmet ON LAND?

    My own personal favorites are very much tied to movies that I know and love. One of those being James and the Giant Peach because sometimes, you just need to scream the plot of it at someone.

    OBVIOUSLY my favorite of the night goes to a meme born out of Iron Man and continued in movies like Spider-Man: Far From Home.

    A meme that also happened last night was the return of an iconic Vine. Because the trailer for Wicked dropped during the big game, many were reminiscing about the classic video of two guys fighting over The Wizard of Oz and whether or not Glinda the Good Witch was a princess.

    This one is for the millennials. It was only a matter of time before someone had Travis Kelce screaming Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lines from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith at Andy Reid.

    Andy, you know what to do.

    When I say that this meme had everything, I mean everything. Even I Think You Should Leave got a shoutout.

    As did Succession.

    Personally, I gave the meme the Marriage Story treatment.

    The memes just keep popping up because it is so much fun to see just how we can make something fit. So which is your favorite?

    (featured image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]



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    Rachel Leishman

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  • ‘Travis Kelce Devouring His Coach’

    ‘Travis Kelce Devouring His Coach’

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    Travis Devouring His Coach, 2024
    Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

    Travis Kelce has much to celebrate — famous girlfriend, Super Bowl win, podcasting, general fame, etc. Still, based on the memes circulating post–Super Bowl, you’d never know it. Chiefs tight end Kelce was caught on-camera screaming at the Chiefs’ chief coach Andy Reid — much to Reid’s apparent shame — after their team lost a fumble in the second quarter. Look, it happens. Kelce’s a competitive guy, this is the biggest game of the year, and he already missed hanging out with Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff at the Grammys to be at practice, so it’s important that that choice be worth it. So Kelce opened his gaping maw and became worthy of an art-history class — the photo is somewhere between Munch’s The Scream and Goya’s painting that is popularly known as Saturn Devouring His Son. But to the internet, it is simply a meme.

    But if Kelce yelling is too much for you, just wait till you see what the president of the United States posted after the win.

    Boo!



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    Jason P. Frank

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  • How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs won? All of Kansas City’s past victories and appearances

    How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs won? All of Kansas City’s past victories and appearances

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    There’s something to be said about the heart of a champion. The Kansas City Chiefs have proven it time and again. So it will be hard to bet against the defending champions when they take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

    Chiefs’ 2024 season leading up to the Super Bowl

    Kansas City had an up-and-down regular season but still won 11 games and captured the AFC West title for the eighth consecutive year. The Chiefs then went on the road in the playoffs, which many thought would lead to their undoing considering their relative lack of postseason experience away from the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium.

    It turns out, it didn’t matter. Defense and timely performances from key offensive superstars played large roles in wins at Buffalo and Baltimore.

    “We know nothing is going to be given to us. We’ve got an even bigger target on our back than we did last year,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said last Saturday. “But as far as the mentality in the room, we’re working to continue this dynasty, and continue to build on what we did last year, not just rest on our laurels of what we did.”

    Kansas City Chiefs celebrate AFC Championship win
    Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, celebrates with teammates defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. 

    Emily Curiel/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images


    Kansas City has positioned itself as the NFL’s gold standard in the post-Tom Brady era. Brady’s New England Patriots won six Super Bowls, tying them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history. However, if the Chiefs can get the job done on Sunday night, they’ll be more than halfway to equaling that mark. And with a young superstar quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, a surefire Hall of Fame coach in Andy Reid, and a front office that always seems to retool the roster, there’s no reason to believe they won’t continue to be a perennial Super Bowl contender for the foreseeable future.

    How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs won?

    The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions and have won three total:

    • 2023: Kansas City Chiefs def. Philadelphia Eagles 38-35
    • 2020: Kansas City Chiefs def. San Francisco 49ers 31-20
    • 1970: Kansas City Chiefs def. Minnesota Vikings 23-7

    How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs appeared in?

    This Sunday will mark Kansas City’s sixth trip to the Big Game and its fourth in the last five years, including a 31-20 victory over the 49ers in 2020 at Super Bowl LIV in Miami:

    • 2024: Kansas City Chiefs v. San Francisco 49ers
    • 2023: Kansas City Chiefs def. Philadelphia Eagles 38-35
    • 2021: Tampa Bay Buccaneers def. Kansas City Chiefs 31-9
    • 2020: Kansas City Chiefs def. San Francisco 49ers 31-20
    • 1970: Kansas City Chiefs def. Minnesota Vikings 23-7
    • 1967: Green Bay Packers def. Kansas City Chiefs 35-10

    Here’s a look back at their championship game history:

    The last Chiefs Super Bowl win, in detail

    Feb. 12, 2023: A third ring for Kansas City —The Chiefs trailed the Philadelphia Eagles by 10 points at halftime and by six after three quarters of Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, but eventual MVP Mahomes threw two touchdown passes in the first 5:38 of the fourth to open an eight-point advantage. The Eagles tied the game with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by Jalen Hurts’ 2-yard run and subsequent two-point conversion plunge. Mahomes, however, got the ball back with plenty of time to spare and marched the Chiefs 66 yards before Harrison Butker booted a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left, giving K.C. the 38-35 victory.

    Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Super Bowl 2021

    Feb. 7, 2021: A repeat wasn’t in the cards, thanks to Brady — Mahomes, star tight end Travis Kelce and the rest of an extremely talented group finished the regular season 14-2 and looked like a lock to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the Patriots in 2004. But Brady and his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had other ideas. The 43-year-old quarterback became the oldest player to win Super Bowl MVP, his record-breaking fifth, and the first to do it with two different franchises, as the Buccaneers cruised to a 31-9 victory at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

    Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl 2020

    Feb. 2, 2020: Long wait ends with comeback win over 49ers — The Chiefs erased a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter with 21 unanswered points on their way to their second league championship and first in 50 years. Super Bowl LIV MVP Mahomes threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score. The title was the first for head coach Andy Reid, who has since gone on to join the short list of the greatest coaches in NFL history.

    Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings at Super Bowl 1970

    Jan. 11, 1970: Lessons learned and championship earned — Led by Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson and coach Hank Stram, the Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Dawson, who was named MVP, threw for 142 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs, like the New York Jets the year before, showed with relative ease that the upper-echelon teams from the AFL had come a long way in a very short time.

    Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl 1967

    Jan. 15, 1967: Chiefs no match for Bart Starr-led Packers — They will always be remembered as the first team to represent the AFL in the Super Bowl following the league’s merger with the NFL, but the game, itself, was anything but a celebration for the Chiefs. Kansas City hung around early and only trailed by four points at the half, but did not score over the last two quarters on its way to a humbling 35-10 loss. Coming into the game, many prognosticators believed that type of outcome was inevitable, given the strength of the more-established NFL representative. Green Bay’s Bart Starr threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns and was named MVP.

    Super Bowl LVIII will air on CBS and Nickelodeon and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Feb. 11 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

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  • Super Bowl LVIII: Kansas City Chiefs Saturday Pool Report

    Super Bowl LVIII: Kansas City Chiefs Saturday Pool Report

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    HENDERSON, Nev. — Coach Andy Reid, in the final on-field prep work for Super Bowl LVIII, said his Kansas City team “got everything covered that we needed to get covered” in the usual Saturday “Mock Game” practice that has become a staple of his game weeks.

    Reid held the final tuneup, lasting for 27 minutes, for Super Bowl LVIII on a sunny, breezy 48-degree late morning; the temperature never got above 50 in Kansas City’s practice sessions at the Raiders’ Intermountain Health Performance Center. The players went through plays installed in Sunday’s gameplan, then took a team photo, then returned to their hotel for about six free hours. Reid said the team would hold customary 7 p.m. night-before-the-game team meetings in its Nevada hotel.

    “We’ve got a short day tomorrow with the earlier [3:30 p.m. PT] game. It’s not a night game, which is good. The guys practiced fast. They were accurate with their assignments. I was pleased with what I saw. I think they’re ready to go play.”

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  • Super Bowl LVIII: A guide to the 49ers’ championship rematch against the Chiefs

    Super Bowl LVIII: A guide to the 49ers’ championship rematch against the Chiefs

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    The stage is set for a Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11 in Las Vegas. Both teams overcame a season of peaks and valleys, nonstop headlines and the pressure to sustain the success they’ve enjoyed over the past several years. The Chiefs are looking to solidify a dynasty, while the 49ers have an opportunity to avenge their heartbreaking loss to Kansas City in Superbowl LIV. If the game itself doesn’t excite you, a highly anticipated Usher performance, wacky commercials and Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce schedule conflicts might. Super Bowl LVIII has just about everything. Here’s what to know. Details on kickoffSometimes, you can get so caught up in planning your Super Bowl that you can lose track of the time the game actually starts. Super Bowl LVIII is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will be telecast on CBS. | SAVE MONEY | Score major deals on TVs in time for the Super BowlThere will be an alternate telecast airing at the same time on Nickelodeon. The telecast will open with an animated performance of the song “Sweet Victory” from “Spongebob Squarepants.”Spongebob or Tony Romo? The choice is yours.| MORE | Tom Brady speaks about the ‘respect’ he has for Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy ahead of Super Bowl LVIIIWhat colors are each team wearing?The Chiefs will wear their red jerseys, while the 49ers will wear white.Each season, the winners of the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) alternate between which conference representative will be considered the home team in the Super Bowl. The home team gets the first pick over the away team of which color jersey they will wear.The Chiefs represent the AFC and are considered the home team this year.Kansas City also wore red while the Niners wore white when they met in Super Bowl LIV.| MORE | Cheer on Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers at home with Niners-themed party itemsFree Usher concert!Usher was announced in September as the headlining performer for the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show. The NFL released a series of ads promoting his performance that included a callback to his iconic “Confessions, Pt. II” music video. A Las Vegas performance makes all the sense in the world for Usher, who had a residency in the city from June 2022 to December 2023. Earlier in his superstar career, Usher said it was a goal of his to one day take over Las Vegas and put on an unforgettable show. He’s already been doing this, but now, the world will be watching. “It definitely has been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes,” he said when he addressed the media Thursday in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl.He said he’s been asking himself, “What songs do people know me for, what songs have been a celebration of all of the journey?”| MORE | Making the trip to Super Bowl LVIII? Check out these things to do in VegasHow much does it cost to attend the game?Prices for a seat at Allegiant Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday start no lower than $5,000 across multiple ticket vendors. Below is a roundup of prices As of the morning of Feb. 5. Vivid Seats: Tickets are selling from $5,307 on Vivid SeatsStubHub: Tickets are selling from $5,394 on StubhubSeatGeek: Tickets are selling from $5,773 on SeatGeekTicketmaster: Tickets are selling from $5,800 on TicketmasterTickPick: Tickets are selling from $6,944 on TickPickTicket Network: Tickets are selling from $7,282 on Ticket NetworkKeep in mind these are the lowest ticket prices. The average price of a ticket ranges from $9,000-$12,000 across multiple vendor sites.KCRA 3’s Del Rodgers said that when he played in Super Bowl XXIII, ticket prices were $100. Both teams’ road back to the Super BowlOften in team sports, greatness can be taken for granted. Each season ends with just one champion, they’re celebrated for a few months, and then the pressure to do it again is immediately back on as if it never happened. No teams have won more playoff games than the Chiefs (13) and 49ers (8) since the 2019 postseason. The writing was probably always on the wall for them to meet in the Super Bowl again, but you wouldn’t know it based on the discourse around both teams since last spring. The Niners entered this season with a quarterback controversy on their hands. | MORE | What to know about 2 Niners players with Sacramento-area tiesBrock Purdy was thrown into the fire in 2022 as a rookie and helped San Francisco make a push to the NFC Championship Game, but he tore a ligament in his elbow in the first quarter and the team got blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles. Purdy, the last pick in his draft, went undefeated as a starter in the 2022 regular season and brought the team within one game of the Super Bowl, but ahead of the 2023 season, he was coming off an injury to his throwing arm and the 49ers still had to figure out what to do with Trey Lance, who they drafted in 2021. | MORE | Sacramento’s Bark Purdy makes Puppy Bowl finals for Most PupularPurdy and Lance competed for the starting quarterback spot in training camp. After months of media speculation, 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear Purdy had won the starting spot, telling Sports Illustrated in August: “He would have to melt in practice to lose .”Trey Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys weeks before the season and the Niners came out the gates on a roll. The Niners won their first five games, lost the next three and then won eight straight to lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 (when most of the Niners key players were resting for the playoffs). Despite a 13-4 season where San Francisco blew their opponents out more often than not, some still poked holes at their success.Purdy was named a finalist for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. Still, some argued he was being carried by his supporting cast, particularly Christian McCaffrey, who is also a finalist for MVP. The 49ers defense is loaded with talent, but they weren’t as statistically dominant as they have been in years past. In the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, the Niners trailed 24-7 at halftime and it looked like the team was going to fall a game short of reaching the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season. But in the second half, the script flipped. The Niner defense got stops, Purdy made plays and his supporting cast did too. Now all the doubters are going to have to wait a week. As for Kansas City, the reigning Super Bowl champs have been facing doubt since the first game of the season, a loss to the Detroit Lions at home. Much was made all year long of the Chiefs’ lack of reliable wide receivers. The offense in the regular season was the least dynamic it looked since Patrick Mahomes won league MVP in his first year as the starter in 2018. Mahomes still had a reliable security blanket in Travis Kelce and the guidance of one of the greatest NFL coaches ever: Andy Reid. But as the season progressed, narrow victories against weaker teams became memorable losses to playoff teams. The spotlight has been on the Chiefs since they beat the 49ers in Super Bowl 54, opening the door for them to be the next great NFL team after 20 years of dominance from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s Patriots. But this year, they were under the microscope like never before. Between Kelce’s headline-grabbing relationship with Taylor Swift and Mahomes’ increasing frustration with the offense’s struggles, the stage was seemingly set for the best team of the past five years to melt down. | MORE | Will Travis Kelce propose to Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl? There’s a gambling line for thatIt looked like this may not be the Chiefs’ season and they would crack under the pressure to keep their success going. It turns out, the playoffs removed all of that pressure. While much was said of the struggling Chiefs offense this season, the emergence of a truly dominant defense flew under the radar. That defense has held Kansas City’s playoff opponents to a combined 41 points in three games. Mahomes and Kelce returned to their typical playoff form and have willed the offense to victories, along with running back Isaiah Pacheco, who has had a rushing touchdown in all three games. | MORE | 49ers legend Jerry Rice had a hilarious response to Travis Kelce breaking his recordThe Niners’ quest for the sixth Super Bowl in franchise history has led them to the same destination it did four seasons ago: A matchup with a Chiefs team that keeps finding new ways to break their opponent’s hearts. But who’s to say this time won’t be different? We’re just going to have to watch and see. Daily Super Bowl Coverage The San Francisco 49ers are just one win away from securing the franchise’s sixth championship. KCRA 3 is going all in on Niners coverage live from Las Vegas every day this week leading up to the Super Bowl. Watch our specials at 7:30 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.

    The stage is set for a Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.

    Both teams overcame a season of peaks and valleys, nonstop headlines and the pressure to sustain the success they’ve enjoyed over the past several years.

    The Chiefs are looking to solidify a dynasty, while the 49ers have an opportunity to avenge their heartbreaking loss to Kansas City in Superbowl LIV.

    If the game itself doesn’t excite you, a highly anticipated Usher performance, wacky commercials and Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce schedule conflicts might.

    Super Bowl LVIII has just about everything. Here’s what to know.

    Details on kickoff

    Sometimes, you can get so caught up in planning your Super Bowl that you can lose track of the time the game actually starts.

    Super Bowl LVIII is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will be telecast on CBS.

    | SAVE MONEY | Score major deals on TVs in time for the Super Bowl

    There will be an alternate telecast airing at the same time on Nickelodeon. The telecast will open with an animated performance of the song “Sweet Victory” from “Spongebob Squarepants.”

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Spongebob or Tony Romo? The choice is yours.

    | MORE | Tom Brady speaks about the ‘respect’ he has for Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy ahead of Super Bowl LVIII

    What colors are each team wearing?

    The Chiefs will wear their red jerseys, while the 49ers will wear white.

    Each season, the winners of the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) alternate between which conference representative will be considered the home team in the Super Bowl. The home team gets the first pick over the away team of which color jersey they will wear.

    The Chiefs represent the AFC and are considered the home team this year.

    Kansas City also wore red while the Niners wore white when they met in Super Bowl LIV.

    | MORE | Cheer on Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers at home with Niners-themed party items

    Free Usher concert!

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 15: Singer/songwriter Usher performs during the 2022 Lovers &amp&#x3B; Friends music festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds  on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

    Usher was announced in September as the headlining performer for the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.

    The NFL released a series of ads promoting his performance that included a callback to his iconic “Confessions, Pt. II” music video.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    A Las Vegas performance makes all the sense in the world for Usher, who had a residency in the city from June 2022 to December 2023.

    Earlier in his superstar career, Usher said it was a goal of his to one day take over Las Vegas and put on an unforgettable show. He’s already been doing this, but now, the world will be watching.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    “It definitely has been a challenge to squeeze 30 years into 13 minutes,” he said when he addressed the media Thursday in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

    He said he’s been asking himself, “What songs do people know me for, what songs have been a celebration of all of the journey?”

    | MORE | Making the trip to Super Bowl LVIII? Check out these things to do in Vegas

    How much does it cost to attend the game?

    Prices for a seat at Allegiant Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday start no lower than $5,000 across multiple ticket vendors.

    Below is a roundup of prices As of the morning of Feb. 5.

    Keep in mind these are the lowest ticket prices. The average price of a ticket ranges from $9,000-$12,000 across multiple vendor sites.

    KCRA 3’s Del Rodgers said that when he played in Super Bowl XXIII, ticket prices were $100.

    Both teams’ road back to the Super Bowl

    Often in team sports, greatness can be taken for granted.

    Each season ends with just one champion, they’re celebrated for a few months, and then the pressure to do it again is immediately back on as if it never happened.

    No teams have won more playoff games than the Chiefs (13) and 49ers (8) since the 2019 postseason. The writing was probably always on the wall for them to meet in the Super Bowl again, but you wouldn’t know it based on the discourse around both teams since last spring.

    The Niners entered this season with a quarterback controversy on their hands.

    | MORE | What to know about 2 Niners players with Sacramento-area ties

    Brock Purdy was thrown into the fire in 2022 as a rookie and helped San Francisco make a push to the NFC Championship Game, but he tore a ligament in his elbow in the first quarter and the team got blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles.

    Purdy, the last pick in his draft, went undefeated as a starter in the 2022 regular season and brought the team within one game of the Super Bowl, but ahead of the 2023 season, he was coming off an injury to his throwing arm and the 49ers still had to figure out what to do with Trey Lance, who they drafted in 2021.

    | MORE | Sacramento’s Bark Purdy makes Puppy Bowl finals for Most Pupular

    Purdy and Lance competed for the starting quarterback spot in training camp. After months of media speculation, 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear Purdy had won the starting spot, telling Sports Illustrated in August: “He would have to melt in practice to lose [the job].”

    Trey Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys weeks before the season and the Niners came out the gates on a roll.

    The Niners won their first five games, lost the next three and then won eight straight to lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 (when most of the Niners key players were resting for the playoffs).

    Despite a 13-4 season where San Francisco blew their opponents out more often than not, some still poked holes at their success.

    Purdy was named a finalist for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. Still, some argued he was being carried by his supporting cast, particularly Christian McCaffrey, who is also a finalist for MVP.

    The 49ers defense is loaded with talent, but they weren’t as statistically dominant as they have been in years past.

    In the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, the Niners trailed 24-7 at halftime and it looked like the team was going to fall a game short of reaching the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season.

    But in the second half, the script flipped.

    The Niner defense got stops, Purdy made plays and his supporting cast did too. Now all the doubters are going to have to wait a week.

    As for Kansas City, the reigning Super Bowl champs have been facing doubt since the first game of the season, a loss to the Detroit Lions at home.

    Much was made all year long of the Chiefs’ lack of reliable wide receivers. The offense in the regular season was the least dynamic it looked since Patrick Mahomes won league MVP in his first year as the starter in 2018.

    Mahomes still had a reliable security blanket in Travis Kelce and the guidance of one of the greatest NFL coaches ever: Andy Reid. But as the season progressed, narrow victories against weaker teams became memorable losses to playoff teams.

    The spotlight has been on the Chiefs since they beat the 49ers in Super Bowl 54, opening the door for them to be the next great NFL team after 20 years of dominance from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s Patriots.

    But this year, they were under the microscope like never before. Between Kelce’s headline-grabbing relationship with Taylor Swift and Mahomes’ increasing frustration with the offense’s struggles, the stage was seemingly set for the best team of the past five years to melt down.

    | MORE | Will Travis Kelce propose to Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl? There’s a gambling line for that

    It looked like this may not be the Chiefs’ season and they would crack under the pressure to keep their success going. It turns out, the playoffs removed all of that pressure.

    While much was said of the struggling Chiefs offense this season, the emergence of a truly dominant defense flew under the radar.

    That defense has held Kansas City’s playoff opponents to a combined 41 points in three games. Mahomes and Kelce returned to their typical playoff form and have willed the offense to victories, along with running back Isaiah Pacheco, who has had a rushing touchdown in all three games.

    | MORE | 49ers legend Jerry Rice had a hilarious response to Travis Kelce breaking his record

    The Niners’ quest for the sixth Super Bowl in franchise history has led them to the same destination it did four seasons ago: A matchup with a Chiefs team that keeps finding new ways to break their opponent’s hearts.

    But who’s to say this time won’t be different? We’re just going to have to watch and see.

    Daily Super Bowl Coverage

    The San Francisco 49ers are just one win away from securing the franchise’s sixth championship.

    KCRA 3 is going all in on Niners coverage live from Las Vegas every day this week leading up to the Super Bowl.

    Watch our specials at 7:30 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.

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  • Nick Sirianni Shows Why Andy Reid Was Right To Drop His Ass As Chiefs Wide Receivers Coach In 2012

    Nick Sirianni Shows Why Andy Reid Was Right To Drop His Ass As Chiefs Wide Receivers Coach In 2012

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