The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes can achieve something historic against the Philadelphia Eagles: Three wins in a row has never happened since the inception of the Super Bowl (1967).
09.02.2025, 04:45
09.02.2025, 08:30
SDA
In American team sport, where the major leagues are closed and there is therefore no promotion and relegation, there are various measures to promote balance. For example, there are forms of salary cap, the draft and the adjusted schedule, in which the best teams from the previous year face teams that tend to be stronger. Above all, however, the NFL has a playoff system with only one game per round, which decides whether a team advances or the season ends.
Of course, there are still franchises that - if a team is well constructed - can dominate for years. Most recently, this was the New England Patriots with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick, who won the title six times between 2002 and 2019. But there is now a new dream duo: Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. They have reached the Super Bowl for the fifth time since 2020 and could win the Lombardi Trophy for the fourth time. Thanks to their victories in 2023 and 2024, it would be the "threepeat" this time.
Since the Los Angeles Lakers, who were NBA champions from 2000 to 2002, no team in the major US leagues has won the championship three years in a row.
Mahomes on the hunt for a record
The Chiefs from the US state of Missouri are believed to be capable of this feat. The team, which is spoiled for success, also impressed this year with a self-confidence that is second to none. The team repeatedly pulled itself out of difficult situations and almost always won evenly matched games. With the exception of the last game of the regular season, in which the Chiefs played with a B team, they only lost to the Buffalo Bills. The fact that they came out on top again in the rematch of the semi-final is indicative of their incredible composure in the decisive moments.
Quarterback Mahomes in particular knows how to play when it counts. The 29-year-old could win his fourth title in the 59th Super Bowl in New Orleans and thus catch up with legends Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Only Tom Brady would then be ahead of him with his seven victories.
Eagles with a strong defense
The Philadelphia Eagles, who are playing under coach Nick Sirianni for the fourth year in a row, have their sights set on preventing that. For them, the final is all about revenge. Two years ago, they faced the Chiefs in the Super Bowl and looked to be on course for their second title since 2017, but the 24:14 lead at the break was not enough and the team led by quarterback Jalen Hurts ultimately lost 35:38.
Now the 26-year-old Hurts can prove it to all the critics who, despite the playmaker's strong statistics, keep pointing out his lack of passing accuracy. With running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver A.J. Brown, he has strong options in the offense.
The Eagles' showpiece, however, is undoubtedly their defense. They only allowed 17.8 points per game in the regular season, the second-best figure behind the Los Angeles Chargers. With 4732 yards that the Eagles conceded to their opponents in 17 rounds, Philadelphia was the only team to remain below the 5000 mark - and that by a wide margin.
However, the ultimate test for the defending champions will come on Sunday when they face Mahomes and Co. in one of the biggest finals in the sporting world, who have proven to be virtually unstoppable in their "threepeat" mission so far.
