Road to Super Bowl LIX: How the Philadelphia Eagles set up Kansas City Chiefs clash

For the second time in three years, the Philadelphia Eagles have made it all the way to the Super Bowl, and just like last time, they must get past the Kansas City Chiefs if they are to win their second Vince Lombardi in team history. 

The Eagles came up short 38-35 two years ago in Arizona and looked well place to return to the Super Bowl a year ago, but a late-season collapse saw them go one-and-done in the playoffs. 

As Nick Sirianni and company continue their preparations for Super Bowl LIX, DAZN News takes a look at how they made it to the big game this year. 

Offseason changes

The Eagles made two key decisions in January 2024 that have proved to be vital in getting the team back to the Super Bowl. 

Defensive coordinator Sean Desai and his offensive counterpart Brian Johnson were fired within 24 hours of each other to be replaced by Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore respectively, with the new duo playing a key role in defining the team’s identity on both sides of the ball this year. 

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Free agency followed and, again, the Eagles got the big decisions right. The signing of Saquon Barkley will go down as one of the best free agent acquisitions in recent years for any NFL team, while linebacker Zack Baun proved to be an inspired bargain addition. 

Bryce Huff was the team’s biggest free-agent addition, but injuries and inconsistent play mean that was one Eagles off-season gamble that didn’t pay off. 

When the draft came around in April, the Eagles took cornerbacks with their first two picks, adding Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to their roster, with players going on to enjoy excellent rookie seasons. 

An inconsistent start to the regular season

The Eagles began the regular season in Sao Paulo, when they beat the Green Bay Packers 34-29 in the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil. A late Atlanta comeback handed the Eagles a disappointing defeat in their first home game of the season, with Siranni’s side then pipping the Saints in New Orleans 15-12 the following week. 

Philadelphia would then go into their bye week at 2-2 after suffering a 33-16 defeat to Tampa Bay, with the team not yet clicking. 

WATCH: Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX for 0.99p (check price in your country here).

Ten-in-a-row

The bye appeared to come at the perfect time for the Eagles, as they would then go on a ten-match winning streak that saw them take control of the NFC East. 

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Notable wins included a 28-3 over the New York Giants, where Barkley rushed for 176 yards against his former side and a 34-6 win at the home of their divisional rivals the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10

Barkley put in another dominant display in a 37-20 Week 12 win over the LA Rams as he scrambled for a franchise record 255 yards, while another Super Bowl contender was put to the sword the following week, when the Eagles won 24-19 in Baltimore.

The Eagles squandered the chance to secure the NFC East title in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders, only to lose a thriller 36-33 in a match which saw Jalen Hurts forced off injured in the first half. 

Another win over the Cowboys a week later sealed the NFC East title, while Barkley crossed the 2,000-yard mark ahead of a regular season closing win over the Giants, which several starters sat out.

• Read next | Saquon Barkley vs. Kansas City Chiefs' run defense and Kareem Hunt vs. Philadelphia Eagles’ run defense: Who has the edge in Super Bowl LIX?

Eagles rushing attack powers playoff victories

First up in the playoffs was a clash against the seventh-seed Green Bay Packers, with Quinyon Mitchell’s late interception of Jordan Love sealing a hard-fought 22-10 win. 

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The Eagles rushing attack then took centre stage against the Rams in the Divisional Round, with Barkley topping 200 yards on the ground, while Hurts scored a 44-yard touchdown run on their opening drive. They were made to work again, but a 28-22 win was secured when Jalen Carter sacked Matthew Stafford on a crucial fourth quarter fourth down.

Divisional rivals Washington awaited in the NFC Championship game and after two tense affairs, the Eagles turned on the style, downing the Commanders 55-23, with Barkley and Hurts scoring three rushing touchdowns each to set up the Eagles’ fifth trip to the Super Bowl. 

• Read next | The most unstoppable play in the NFL

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