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The Chiefs are aware of a ‘fully loaded’ Eagles team ahead of Super Bowl LIX

Kansas City’s Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Trent McDuffie discussed their opponents Thursday.

Andy Reid coaching the Kansas City Chiefs against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023.
Andy Reid coaching the Kansas City Chiefs against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

The stage is set for Super Bowl LIX as the Eagles prepare to compete against the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of the Super Bowl in 2023. But there’s one glaring difference this time around: Saquon Barkley.

In his first year with the Eagles, the three-time Pro Bowl running back became the ninth player to log at least 2,000 rushing yards in a season, and has added 442 rushing yards and five touchdowns in three postseason games. Chiefs coach Andy Reid understands the impact Barkley has on his team.

“He’s a great player, a potential future Hall of Famer,” Reid said Thursday. “He was tremendous in New York, and he had a great year this year with the Eagles. He’s helped them especially in the rush game, but he can catch the ball. And they have a quarterback that can throw the ball and two wide receivers out there that are tremendous and a couple tight ends, too. So they’re fully loaded on the offensive side. But, to answer your question, he’s been a great addition to them.”

The Eagles are coming off a dominant 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders in which Jalen Hurts threw for 246 yards and a touchdown and rushed for three more. Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie said he is aware of the dangers of competing against the dual-threat quarterback.

“I think over the whole season — yeah, you can say his stats weren’t that great, but I think he was still a really good quarterback,” McDuffie told reporters. “The supporting cast he has, as far as O-line, running back, and receivers around him, allows him to play more freely. And I think over these past few games, he’s really been able to trust his guys out there, trust in his fee scrambling, and also just trust in his arm and trust in his receivers.”

That supporting cast includes receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

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“A.J. Brown is a big, physical receiver who can really make all the catches,” McDuffie said. “He does the dirty work, definitely a deep-shot guy that Jalen trusts. So you’ve got to be physical, you’ve got to be on your P’s and Q’s, and you’ve got to know what routes he likes. And then you’ve got DeVonta Smith, who you know is dynamic, can stretch the field, who is fast, who won the Heisman in college. So, a lot of respect to those two dudes, and I think the defensive back room understands the challenge.”

In Super Bowl LVII, a 38-35 Chiefs win, Brown finished with six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown — including a stunning play against the then-rookie McDuffie for a 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter. McDuffie is looking forward to a rematch against Brown in New Orleans.

“I remember walking off that field with mixed emotions, you know,” McDuffie said. “As a whole defense, we were really excited that we won, but we still thought that we didn’t play our best game in that last Super Bowl. So going into this Super Bowl, there’s definitely a challenge … [in] going out there and having a better showing.”

In that last Super Bowl meeting, the Chiefs defense allowed 35 points and 417 yards as Hurts passed for 304 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 70 yards and three more scores. But despite the Birds’ efforts, they fell short.

Now the Chiefs are on the verge of making history. They’re trying to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. With a victory against the Eagles, quarterback Patrick Mahomes would join a short list of athletes to achieve a three-peat, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Derek Jeter.

“I think you always want to leave a legacy and kind of make your imprint on history, but more than anything, you just want to accomplish a goal that you have with your teammates,” Mahomes said. “When you started saying your goal is to win a Super Bowl, we know it’s a hard process. We know it’s a hard week in and week out. But I’m proud of how our guys have [gone] about that process. We know it’s not going to be easy. This team we’re playing is a really good football team.”