Super Weekend

02/07/2025

By: Jeff Yoder

Happy Super Bowl Weekend!

Bills QB Josh Allen won the NFL MVP last night. We’ll run through all the award winners before previewing the biggest game in American sports. Football season nears its inevitable end, so we’re doubling today’s editions. We’ll give you the quick facts for both teams in Super Bowl LIX before a second edition hits your inbox at lunch. Don’t miss it!

The Super Bowl Underdogs (Coming Soon)

Check your inbox at lunch (Noon ET) for the special edition.

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NFL HONORS

Josh Allen Wins MVP

Bills QB Josh Allen Wins 1st NFL MVP Award in Narrow Vote

The NFL Honors delivered the AP awards for the 2024 season last night in New Orleans, and it was a debate-worthy MVP race that came down to the wire. Bills QB Josh Allen won his first MVP over Ravens QB Lamar Jackson by one of the closest vote tallies in recent history. Allen (383 pts) and Jackson (362 pts) were the only players to garner first-place votes. Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (120 pts) finished 3rd, and Bengals QB Joe Burrow (82 pts) finished 4th.

NFL Honors

MVP: QB Josh Allen (BUF)

OPOY: RB Saquon Barkley (PHI)

DPOY: CB Pat Surtain II (DEN)

Offensive Rookie: QB Jayden Daniels (WSH)

Defensive Rookie: EDGE Jared Verse (LAR)

Comeback Player: QB Joe Burrow (CIN)

Coach of the Year: Kevin O’Connell (MIN)

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

Arik Armstead (JAX)

2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates & Sterling Sharpe

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SBLIX

The Chiefs: History in the Making

A 3-Peat Has Never Been Done, But Andy Reid & Patrick Mahomes Are Already Legends

It started in 2018. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid saw something in rookie QB Patrick Mahomes that made him trade away QB Alex Smith. From 2019 to 2024, that Mahomes-Reid duo has went to four Super Bowls and won three (3-1). With Sunday’s big game, it’ll be five appearances in six years and a shot at the NFL’s first-ever three-peat. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick never did that. Big Red’s 301 wins ranks 4th all-time, and a fourth ring would tie him with Chuck Noll (4) for the second-most rings behind only Belichick.

Keys to Victory: Ball & Clock Control

The Chiefs won nine games this season by one score. They don’t blow teams out, but they’re clutch beyond measure in close games. Control the clock, finish drives, and don’t turn the ball over. Philly is +10 in the turnover battle during this year’s playoffs. Kansas City is -1. If the Chiefs don’t turn it over and the game is close in the 4th quarter, advantage Chiefs.

Chiefs Super Bowl History

Appearance: 7th (Record: 4-2)

Last SB Win: 2024 (Beat 49ers, 25-22, OT)

— Patrick Mahomes can become the first quarterback to win four Super Bowls before the age of 30, on top of completing the first three-peat in NFL history. A Super Bowl MVP would also be his fourth, breaking a tie with Joe Montana and trailing only Tom Brady (5).

— Travis Kelce has a chance to get closer to Jerry Rice in NFL playoff history. He already holds the record for most playoff receptions (174) over Rice (151). Kelce (1,903 yards, 20 TDs) needs 342 yards and two touchdowns to catch Rice (2,245 yards, 22 TDs) in the playoff record books.

— All Chiefs Players can do something remarkable as a full-team unit. Only six teams have ever won the Super Bowl without a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver.

Additional Storylines

Sportico: Chiefs-Refs Conspiracy Theory is Just That: Conspiracy

ESPN: Biggest Super Bowl Questions for Chiefs: Can They Stop the Tush Push?

NY Times: Inside the Mind of Travis Kelce: ‘He’s Always in His Own Zone’

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SBLIX

The Eagles: Back for Revenge

The Heartbreaking Loss in Super Bowl 57 Led the Eagles Back to Old School Football

The last and only time the Eagles won the Super Bowl was SB 52 (2018). Later that year, Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs starter, and few teams have gotten a seat at the head table during these past six years. Philly came close in 2023 when they lost to the Chiefs (38-35) in an all-time classic. The way that game ended — with a third-down holding call and a clock-it field goal — robbed the Eagles (and fans) of a potentially epic finish. Since that game, Philly added RB Saquon Barkley and retooled the defense with slam-dunk draft picks in a return to old school football — run the ball and play defense.

Keys to Victory: Turf Saquon & Pressure

Saquon Barkley has been untouchable on turf this season, and the Eagles are 5-0 on turf fields thanks to their speed across the roster. Defensively, how much pressure can the Eagles get on Mahomes without blitzing? They rush four — and do it well — allowing the secondary to stay home. If Philly can pester Mahomes with just four down lineman, and Saquon hits 1-2 home runs, advantage Birds.

Eagles Super Bowl Notes

Appearance: 5th (Record: 1-3)

Last SB Win: 2017 (Beat Patriots, 41-33)

— QB Jalen Hurts is the first quarterback since John Elway (1998) to lose his Super Bowl debut (2023) and get back to the big game. A string of 19 straight QBs have failed to return after losing their first Super Bowl. Only Len Dawson, Bob Griese and Elway got revenge.

— RB Saquon Barkley needs just 30 yards to break the NFL’s full-season rushing record (including playoffs) held by Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,476 yards). Barkley has 2,447 rushing yards. He’s averaging 6.7 yards per carry in the playoffs.

— WR Devonta Smith can become the fourth player in NFL history to complete the triple crown of football accolades — Heisman Trophy, CFB National Championship and Super Bowl. Only Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Tony Dorsett and Charles Woodson have won all three.

Additional Storylines

NBC Sports: Why It’s Not Too Early for Jalen Hurts Hall of Fame Conversation

FOX Sports: The Path to Stopping the 3-Peat: 5 Keys to Eagles Victory

ESPN: Saquon Barkley Hopes to Celebrate 28th Birthday With Super Bowl Confetti

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SBLIX

SBLIX Fun Reads (Top 10 Lists)

The 10 Best Plays in Super Bowl History

John Elway’s leap. Joe Montana’s game-winner. James Harrison’s house call. David Tyree’s helmet catch. These are the plays that changed the course of history. (CBS Sports)

The 10 Best Super Bowl Commercials

With well over 100 million people watching the big game each year, companies have tried to bring their A-game for commercials. These are the best ads over the years. (FOX Sports)

The 10 Most-Watched Halftime Shows

Halftime entertainment for the Super Bowl has become a pop culture phenomenon. From Michael Jackson to Madonna, these are the most-watched performances. (FOS)

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NEWS

Ippei Mizuhara Sentenced to 57 Months for Stealing Money From Shohei Ohtani (AP)

Mike Woodson Set to Leave Indiana After Basketball Season (ESPN)

Ohio State & Head Coach Ryan Day Agree to 7-Year Extension (SI)

NBA Unveils Uniforms & Court Design for 2025 All-Star Game (B/R)

Formers Vikings GM Rick Spielman Joining Jets’ Front Office (ESPN)

Chicago Bears Matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey Dies at 102 (USA Today)

NCAA Vows to Comply With President Trump’s Executive Order Banning Transgender Athletes (Yahoo! Sports)

NBA Trade Deadline

Clippers Land Bogdan Bogdanovic in Trade With Hawks (SI)

Hornets Acquire Jusuf Nurkic From Suns (ESPN)