There are 285 games in the National Football League (NFL) season and the first 284 are in the history books, leaving us with (arguably) the biggest single event in US sports with a massive global audience, the Super Bowl. Each team — 32 in total — plays 17 games over an 18-week span in the regular season, then 14 teams advance and play 12 postseason games to get us to where we are today.

So, after at least 17,040 minutes of football, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are poised to deliver 60 minutes (at least) of football to determine who will leave Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy. And, similar to last February, where the Chiefs faced a rematch against a very previous opponent (the San Francisco 49ers), who they also defeated in Super Bowl LIV (2020), they are again up against a more recent foe, who they had a matchup against in Super Bowl LVII (2023), where they also won, but this is a very different Philadelphia team from two years ago.

With the wins in 2023 and 2024 over the Eagles and 49ers, respectively, the Chiefs became just the eighth team in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Now, the Chiefs are in rare air, being the only one of those eight teams to return for the possibility of a three-peat. Every other team on the back-to-back list failed to reach the Super Bowl a third time after two wins, therefore the Chiefs have already made history.

In the major US sports leagues, a three-peat has been achieved five times in both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL), and four times in Major League Baseball (MLB), but the last US professional team to do it was the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers (2000/02) more than two decades ago, commanded by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant and coached by Phil Jackson. In total, only six US professional sports teams have completed a three-peat since 1980, a span of 45 years.

The stage is therefore set for a breathtaking Super Bowl rematch with everything to play for, including history and revenge. The American Football Conference (AFC) and two-time defending champion Chiefs face off against the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Eagles for the second time in three years in an expected dogfight.

Kansas City had their first 15-win regular season in franchise history, with one of the best defences in the NFL this year, paired with an offence that made very few mistakes, particularly in the latter half of the season. The Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the fifth time in the last six seasons under Head Coach Andy Reid and quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes, going 4-1 in that run, while the Eagles are 1-3 in their previous appearances in the big game.Their only win coming in 2018 against the New England Patriots, and their last loss was at the hands of these Chiefs.

Philadelphia won 12 of their final 13 games behind an improved defence and inexhaustible rushing offence, led by running back Saquon Barkley, who is looking to make his own mark in the annals of the NFL. Having narrowly missed out on Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards by just 101 yards, after sitting out the final game of the regular season, Barkley needs only 30 yards on Sunday to break Hall of Famer Terrell Davis’ combined rushing record (2,476) — regular and postseason — that was set in the 1998 campaign with the Denver Broncos. And, as an added incentive (as if being in the Super Bowl is not enough), Barkley will celebrate his 28th birthday this Sunday and one can assume no better gift than a championship trophy with which to celebrate.

On the subject of history, Tom Brady currently holds the record for the longest QB win streak in the NFL play-offs, with 10. The Patriots legend achieved the feat from 2001 to 2005, but there was a break in 2002 because New England didn’t make the play-offs that season. Mahomes is currently at nine-straight (unbroken) play-off wins after three in 2023, four in 2024, and two so far this year. A Super Bowl win on Sunday would see the Kansas City play caller draw level with the legend.

Not to be left out of the historical discussion, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce enters the weekend having made the most catches ever in the play-offs (174), bettering Hall of Famer Jerry Rice who had 151 in his career. Kelce currently stands second only to Rice in play-off receiving yards, with 2,039 compared to 2,245, and touchdown catches, with 20 compared to 22 — a mammoth offensive game could see him leapfrog Rice in the touchdown category. Kelce is also sitting on the cusp of history because if the Chiefs were the victors, he would be the first starting tight end to ever win four Super Bowls.

That said, the Kansas City offence finished with its worst ranking by yards in the Mahomes-era and failed to score more than 30 points in any game during the regular season. However, the effort was not lost on the stat sheet, finishing the regular season second in third-down conversion (48.5 per cent) and third in fourth-down conversion (70.6 per cent). The defensive unit, coordinated by Steve Spagnuolo, was one of the best in the league, finishing fourth in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. More importantly for this Sunday, they were especially stingy against the run, ranking eighth in fewest yards allowed.

Philadelphia had a pedestrian start to the season and entered their Week 5 bye at 2-2. Following that, the Eagles went on a 12-1 run to secure the NFC East title behind one of the best defences in the league and a top-tier offence. The Eagles went from 30th in points allowed last season to second this season with the No 1 ranked pass defence in the NFL, and their offensive line made way for Barkley to have the most productive season of his career, leading the league in rushing yards (2,005).

Most pundits predict a low-scoring slugfest that will be decided by a single score, maybe only three points. Philadelphia’s sights are set to avenge that 2023 Super Bowl loss, while Kansas City Chief focus since the win last February has been a three-peat — Philadelphia is the only thing standing in their path to history. Are you ready for the Super Bowl?

JustBet continues to offer attractive betting options on all popular sports and events (including virtual games) as soon as they become available. Please visit one of the over 130 locations (or visit www.supremegames.com/#/prelive) for details and place your bets on the prediction of your choice for maximum winnings…… Get in the GAME!

Super Bowl LIX Champion–February 9, 2025

Team Odds

Kansas City Chiefs 1.80

Philadelphia Eagles 1.95

Note: Odds are subject to change