The Day After the Day After: The Eagles win Tremendous Bowl LIX, however some Houston Texans concerns

The Day After the Day After…when the uncooked, speedy feelings from the aftermath of a recreation diminish into the realm of readability and the proverbial (or literal) hangover not haunts the thoughts. With that, a evaluation of the Tremendous Bowl:

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It’s Over: This coming weekend is the primary stretch of time since early August the place we don’t have the NFL to distract us from our present annoying existence by giving us different annoying issues to contemplate. In a Tremendous Bowl that didn’t precisely enthrall the non-playing fanbases, the Eagles issued a-Nineteen Eighties fashion NFC beatdown of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the place the ultimate rating (40-22) doesn’t replicate the Eagles’ domination. Jalen Hurts moved the offense, and the Eagles defensive entrance terrorized Patrick Mahomes. Even the Buddy Ryan D-lines of the late Nineteen Eighties with Reggie White and Jerome Brown by no means brutalized an offensive line just like the 2024-25 Eagles did. Six sacks, much more QB hits, and Mahomes had flashbacks to Tremendous Bowl LV. The sport was 34-0 within the third earlier than the Chiefs gained some rubbish time stats.

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Included in that drama, the Houston Texans: Oh sure, the Texans. They did handle to get these offensive coordinator/offensive line coach slots stuffed. Sadly, the payoff is over half a 12 months away. Till then, loads of personnel considerations stay. The Texans discover themselves anyplace between cap house of simply $2M to over the cap by ~$1M. They’ve some vital choices to make with gamers like Darnel Autry, who appear to be clear cap cuts. Would Houston even take into account a transfer like buying and selling Laremy Tunsil (presently carrying the most important cap hit on the group at ~$26M)? The offensive line, particularly the inside, is begging for extra reinforcements. Can Caserio get that in free company? Do guys like Metchie and Hutchinson get traded? Does Houston see what it may possibly get from first spherical bust Kenyon Inexperienced within the commerce market? What of security? Might Houston attempt to carry again Stephon Diggs? Oh, and what strikes do division rivals just like the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars make? Can they really make the AFC South extra than simply the Texans’ warm-up act for the playoffs?

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A key lesson for the Texans from the Philadelphia Eagles…Line Play Issues a Nice Deal: On the threat of coach-speak, this recreation was gained on the road of scrimmage. The Eagles’ defensive entrance owned the Chiefs, however the Eagles’ Oline greater than held their very own in opposition to the vaunted Spagnuolo protection. For Houston, no less than there are some components from the Eagles in place. The defensive ends pairing of Anderson and Hunter can match the Eagles’ edge rushers. Nonetheless, the Texans ought to take into account upgrading the defensive inside. Enhancements on the O-line take precedence, however Houston is in place to own a defensive entrance each bit as robust because the Eagles with some key provides.

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FUN WITH NUMBERS:

2-1: The Eagles’ File When Tom Brady Is Concerned With Their Tremendous Bowl Appearances. Dare we are saying that Tom Brady is the great luck allure for the Eagles? Brady bought over on the Eagles in Tremendous Bowl XXXIX, however since then, when the Eagles and Brady share the identical area in a big trend, the Eagles are 2-0. First off, Tremendous Bowl LII, the place Brady’s nice weak point as a receiver was uncovered, by no means thoughts Brady set information in his main throwing operate. Then, with Brady the lead analyst for Tremendous Bowl LIX, the Eagles blasted the Chiefs.

19: Common margin of victory by successful groups in Tremendous Bowls performed within the Superdome. Tremendous Bowl LIX was the eighth Tremendous Bowl performed in that stadium. Most of them are usually decisive blowouts. At one level, the Eagles led 40-6, and it wasn’t out of the realm of risk that the Eagles may make a run on the largest margin of victory (45), set in Tremendous Bowl XXIV (additionally right here), when the San Francisco 49ers bested the Denver Broncos 55-10. Some Chiefs’ rubbish time magic ended that risk, however the 40-22 thrashing was inside the averages of Superdome Tremendous Bowls (36-17 is the common). Take away the walk-off Patriots win in Tremendous Bowl XXXVI and the “power outage” recreation of Tremendous Bowl XLVII, and the margin jumps to 24 factors (38-14). New Orleans: enjoyable city to host Tremendous Sunday, however the on-field product doesn’t prove that nice.

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GAME BALLS:

Eagles Defensive Line: Certain, Hurts bought the MVP, and he did play a powerful recreation, however a number of Eagles’ defensive linemen deserved to win it. Tremendous Bowl XII noticed DLs Randy White and Harvey Martin share MVP and Tremendous Bowl XX gave the MVP honors to Richard Dent, whilst different Bears’ defenders may have taken that honor. Probably, if the followers didn’t vote on the award, nevertheless it went again to these on the recreation, an Eagles’ defender most likely will get the nod.

RB Saquon Barkley: His total numbers don’t shout nice play. Nonetheless, he did set the NFL report for many total yards dashing in a season. His 57 yards on 25 carries weren’t nice, however he lead the Eagles with six receptions (40 yards) and make some vital go blocks . But, the largest function he performed was as decoy, alongside Hurts and the receivers to maneuver the ball. The final time a operating again performed such a big function as decoy was when the nice Walter Payton did so in opposition to New England in Tremendous Bowl XX. Hopefully, Barkley didn’t pout when he bought shutout of the top zone.

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SHOULD BE FORCED TO BABYSIT DRUNK EAGLES FANS UNTIL THE DRAFT:

KC OC Matt Nagy: Maybe misplaced in all the Chiefs’ plotlines is that the offense by no means actually bought on observe. Mahomes didn’t make the Professional Bowl, and KC simply couldn’t put up the factors. Then, within the Tremendous Bowl, when the Chiefs had a bye and got here off their finest offensive output of the 12 months within the AFC Title Sport, the offense did NOTHING. No operating recreation (24 yards on 7 carries by operating backs). Halfway by the third quarter, Mahomes was 8/16 for 52 yards and two INTs. All of this with no blocking. Nagy might survive till subsequent season, however he’s going to be beneath a serious microscope, particularly if the Chiefs can’t get going.

Warmth President Pat Riley Odd {that a} basketball government finally ends up right here, however this hasn’t been a terrific week for the NBA legend. He misplaced his standoff with Jimmy Butler, buying and selling him to the Golden State Warriors for a depressed worth, ending a saga that didn’t replicate nicely on Riley. Then, with the outcome Sunday, he misplaced cash, since he trademarked “Three-peat” again when he ran the “Showtime” Lakers within the Nineteen Eighties.

With that, we bid adieu to the 2024-25 season. Subsequent up, the web insanity that’s the offseason, free company and the draft. The brand new NFL 12 months kicks off in March. See you round then.