Kansas City and Philadelphia opinion writers gear up for a Super Bowl showdown
Stay tuned for our lively debate on football, culture, Taylor Swift, and more.

Hello, football fans, and welcome to the exciting weeks leading up to the Super Bowl! As we all get ready for the big game, many of us are busy prepping our game-day outfits, planning our food spreads, and carefully weighing invitations to multiple Super Bowl parties. But before we dive into the festivities, we (opinion editors at The Inquirer and the Kansas City Star) are preparing for a different kind of showdown: a battle of words and ideas.
As passionate football fans and seasoned editorial voices, we’re assembling our teams to go head-to-head in a debate that will tackle some of the most important — and some of the most fun — questions leading up to Super Bowl Sunday.
When it comes to football, we know both Philadelphia and Kansas City, Mo., are home to some of the best teams in the league, and this year is no exception. And beyond the field, both cities also boast thriving newspapers and opinion sections that are brimming with fresh perspectives and the kind of banter that makes for the perfect buildup to a major championship game.
Next week, our respective teams of writers will go toe to toe in the pages of this section to tackle some of the most fundamental questions surrounding this Super Bowl matchup. Who has the better quarterback? Is Patrick Mahomes’ magic more potent than Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat dominance?
But it’s not just about the game on the field — we’ll also dive into the heart of each city’s identity. Which city takes the crown when it comes to food: Kansas City’s legendary barbecue, or Philly’s cheesesteaks? And what about the fans? Whose supporters are more passionate, louder, and more devoted? And, of course, if we absolutely have to talk about Taylor Swift and her allegiances … well, let’s do it! Does her love story with Travis Kelce give Kansas City the edge, or will her heart lean toward her roots in the City of Brotherly Love? Or are we all just sick of seeing her reactions on the jumbotron?
There’s also the tale of the underdog — both teams have had their fair share of trials and triumphs to get to this point. Who has the more compelling underdog story this season? And at the end of the day, what do these football teams mean to each city? How do the players represent the values, culture, and dreams of their respective communities?
But here’s the thing — while we’ve got a lot of ideas lined up, we know there’s always room for more. This isn’t just about us going back and forth in the pages of the paper. We want to hear from you. What do you want to see covered in the lead-up to the Super Bowl? What are the burning questions you’re dying to have answered? Whether it’s about the game itself, the stories behind the players, or the cultural significance of these teams in their cities, we’re all ears. After all, this is your Super Bowl, too, and we’re just here to spark the conversation.
So, what are your burning questions? Let us know by filling out the form at tinyurl.com/starinquirer, and get ready for a week of intense debates, lively commentary, and plenty of surprises as we count down to the biggest game of the year.
Yvette Walker is the vice president/editorial page editor of the Kansas City Star. Devi Lockwood is the commentary and ideas editor of the Opinion section of The Inquirer.