Super Bowl LIX is set, and it’s a familiar showdown. The Eagles and Chiefs are back on the biggest stage, facing off in a rematch of their last championship clash. That game was an instant classic. The lead swung back and forth, both teams battled until the last drive, and the Chiefs walked away with a narrow 38-35 win.
This time, things feel different. The rosters have changed. The stakes are just as high, but the storylines have taken on their own life. There's plenty to discuss, from game-changing players to unexpected reunions before kickoff.
Philadelphia didn’t have this version of its offense last time. Saquon Barkley wasn’t there. His arrival changed everything.
The Eagles struggled to run the ball in their last Super Bowl matchup. Miles Sanders had just 16 rushing yards. Jalen Hurts did it all himself, throwing for over 300 yards and running for three touchdowns. The offense was dangerous but not unstoppable. That’s no longer the case.
Barkley led the league in rushing this season, putting up over 2,000 yards. He bulldozed through defenses in the playoffs. His presence lets the Eagles drain the clock, keeping Patrick Mahomes on the sideline where he can’t do any damage. But then there’s the other side of it. Barkley can break a game open in seconds. One missed tackle, and he’s gone. Defenses that stack the box to slow him down open the field for Hurts to attack through the air.
Sportsbooks like FanDuel have noticed, adjusting odds based on Barkley’s impact. His ability to shift momentum has made the Eagles a different threat. This is the version of Philadelphia Kansas City hasn’t seen before.
It’s hard to believe, but Carson Wentz is back. His path to this moment has been anything but smooth.
Once seen as the future of the Eagles, he was playing at an MVP level in 2017 before tearing his ACL. He watched from the sideline as Nick Foles stepped in and led the team to its first Super Bowl title. That was the start of the unraveling. Two years later, the Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts. Wentz struggled, got benched, and eventually forced his way out.
After bouncing between teams, he’s found himself in an unexpected spot—as Patrick Mahomes’ backup. There’s no reason to think he’ll see the field. But if something happens to Mahomes? That’s where things get weird. Imagine Wentz stepping in to try and beat the team that once built around him, then moved on without hesitation. The idea alone is surreal.
That last Super Bowl ended with the Eagles’ defense on its heels. Kansas City moved down the field quickly in the final minutes, draining the clock before kicking the game-winning field goal. A controversial holding call on James Bradberry sealed it.
That was a different group.
Only three defensive starters from that night are still on the roster. The secondary is younger and faster. The defensive front is loaded with fresh talent. Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Quinyon Mitchell weren’t in the league yet. Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham were the anchors of the old defense—one is retired, and the other is on injured reserve.
This unit is more aggressive. It doesn’t just react; it attacks. Stopping Mahomes is never easy, but if this defense forces quick decisions and limits big plays, the game could look very different from last time. This Week's NFL Matchups on FanDuel prove to be exciting.
Andy Reid has been running the show in Kansas City since 2013. His influence goes beyond coaching. He built the staff from the ground up, and many of the most essential pieces have deep ties to his past—including the University of Delaware.
General manager Brett Veach, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and passing game coordinator Joe Bleymaier all have Delaware connections. Reid brought them in early, and they helped shape the team into what it is today. Veach pushed for drafting Mahomes, and Nagy developed him into a star. That kind of continuity is rare in the NFL.
Philadelphia knows Reid well, but they’ll have to find a way to beat more than just him. They’re facing an organization built from the same foundation for over a decade.
The last time these teams met in the Super Bowl, the Kelce family became the heart of the storyline. It was brother vs. brother—Travis on one side, Jason on the other. Their mom, Donna, showed up to Media Night with homemade cookies. The NFL couldn’t get enough of it.
Things are different now. Jason Kelce has retired, stepping away from the game after an incredible career. Travis is still at the top of his game, but this time, another layer to the attention. His relationship with Taylor Swift has taken over NFL coverage all season.
That brings up an unusual dilemma. Swift grew up an Eagles fan; her dad attended the University of Delaware. But she’s been in the stands weekly, decked out in Chiefs gear, celebrating their wins. What happens now? Does she go full Kansas City? Does she find a way to show love for both teams?
Eagles fans have a decision to make, too. Can they separate football from fandom? Or does Swift’s presence on the other side make this even more personal?
Last time, it came down to the final minutes. Kansas City made the plays that mattered most and took home the Lombardi Trophy. The pieces look different this year, but the rivalry is as intense.
Barkley changes the equation. The Eagles' defense isn’t the same one that let the game slip away two years ago. Wentz is back, even if it’s only as a backup. And then there’s the Kelce-Swift dynamic, which adds chaos nobody saw coming.
One thing is sure—Super Bowl LIX won’t be short on drama.
