Chiefs and Eagles players to watch in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII: will experience matter?
If Super Bowl experience matters, the Chiefs have a slight edge over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Using the starting lineups from the AFC and NFC championship games as a reference point, the Chiefs will start five players who opened the previous two Super Bowls, while the Eagles will start three from their most recent appearance.
The Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Frank Clark and Derrick Nnadi. Also back from those games are kicker Harrison Butker and long-snapper James Winchester.
From the Eagles, it’s center Jason Kelce, tackle Lane Johnson and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Kicker Jake Elliott and long-snapper Rick Lovato also are back, too.
The Chiefs will start a different running back, Isiah Pacheco, for the third straight Super Bowl. Before him it was Damien Williams and Darrel Williams.
Four new offensive lineman will start for the Chiefs, bringing to 12 the number of offensive lineman who will have started at least one of the Chiefs’ three most recent Super Bowls.
One offensive lineman with a personal three Super Bowl starts in four years is Stefen Wisniewski. He started at left guard for the Eagles in 2017 and Chiefs in 2019 and at right tackle for the Chiefs in 2020.
On defense, seven are set for their first Super Bowl start, including rookies George Karlaftis, Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie. Along with Pacheco, that would make four. The Chiefs started a total of three rookies combined in their previous two Super Bowls.
Here are some Chiefs and Eagles, besides Mahomes and Eagles QB counterpart Jalen Hurts, who could make a real difference in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Coming off his best game in a Chiefs uniform, MVS averaged 19.3 yards on six receptions (eight targets) against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chiefs will need one of their wide receivers to have a big game.
Chiefs right tackle Andrew Wylie
Wylie will start in his second Super Bowl and the offensive line’s overall performance will be closely monitored by Chiefs followers. Wylie will see plenty of Haason Reddick, who has 3 1/2 sacks in two playoff games.
Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark
More playoff sacks for Clark? He’s had 2 1/2 in two games as he climbs the career list. His 13 1/2 sacks in the postseason overall rank third all-time; he needs just one more to tie Bruce Smith for second.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker
He been perfect in the postseason, making all 10 of his field-goal and extra-point attempts, and was clutch with the game-winner against the Bengals. He’s made his share of big kicks in the playoffs over his six-year career.
Eagles running back Miles Sanders
The Eagles’ running game has been unstoppable, and Sanders leads he way. He finished the regular season with 11 touchdowns and added a pair against the 49ers two weeks ago. He and Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton should be seeing much of each other in this one.
Eagles center Jason Kelce
He had to be talked into returning for another season, but the decision has paid off. Kelce will be part of the group looking to keep hard-charging Chris Jones, a potential game-wrecker, out of the Philly backfield.
Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox
Maddox could get the primary call defending Travis Kelce, perhaps the game’s best tight end. “He’s special,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said of Maddox. “He can play safety, he can play nickel.”
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott
The Eagles’ 25 field-goal attempts were the NFL’s second fewest, mainly because they’re among the most aggressive teams on fourth down. But when they kick it, Elliott is a good one: He’s missed just three times this season.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 8:00 AM.