Super Bowl LIX predictions: Picking winner, MVP, more
Super Bowl LIX kicks off Sunday and our football editors have submitted their predictions for the heavyweight matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Super Bowl LIX winner
The final tallies are seven selections each for the Chiefs and Eagles. Kansas City has the edge in experience, reaching its third consecutive Super Bowl while vying to be the first team to win three Lombardi Trophies in a row. However, Philadelphia has looked strong all postseason and captured the NFC championship with a dominant 32-point victory over the Washington Commanders.
Leading passer
It's not surprising to see Mahomes dominate the leading passer category. The Eagles finished the regular season with the league's 29th-ranked passing attack, averaging just 187.9 yards per game while leaning on their elite run game. Kansas City finished 14th with 222.4 passing yards per contest.
Leading receiver
Goedert might have the best argument of any receiver to lead this category. The tight end is tops among all remaining pass-catchers with 188 receiving yards this postseason. Kelce (136) and Worthy (130) round out the top three. Brown (120) has the lowest total among our selections heading into the title game.
Leading rusher
This wasn't difficult to see coming. Barkley captured NFL Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for more than 2,000 yards. Chiefs running backs Kareem Hunt (728) and Isiah Pacheco (310) narrowly combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards in comparison.
Best defensive performance
Our best defender selections are somewhat varied, but eight of our editors see an interior defensive lineman having the top performance on that side of the ball. Jones, Carter, and Baun are the only players to receive more than one vote in this category.
Super Bowl LIX MVP
Plenty of offensive players are represented, but don't sleep on the few defenders who garnered votes. Iconic defensive performances have defined multiple Super Bowls, though you have to go back to Super Bowl 50 for the last defensive MVP nod (Von Miller of the Denver Broncos). Dixon notably has the Chiefs winning the game, but Barkley being honored as the game's best player.
Most likely to score a TD
It's safe to say our editors expect the Eagles to punch in at least one touchdown with almost everyone giving the nod to Barkley or Hurts. The latter recorded three rushing scores the last time Philadelphia played Kansas City in the Super Bowl, but Barkley adds another elite threat to find the end zone. No active pass-catchers have recorded more than one receiving score this postseason.
Unsung hero
Defenders, defensive coordinators, and offensive linemen make up the bulk of these picks with Watson and Gray the only offensive players to earn nods. Coordinators Spagnuolo, Fangio, and Nagy are likely to play large roles in the result of the game, for better or worse, for their respective sides.
Bold predictions
A potential walk-off field goal miss, season-worst games from elite players, and Super Bowl records would provide plenty of drama to the final contest of the campaign. Two selections are likely to invoke some Super Bowl nostalgia: Philly clinching the Lombardi Trophy with a clutch strip sack and a quarterback catching a trick-play touchdown.