Eagles Will Win Super Bowl 57 With Relentless Pressure, Run-Heavy Attack

Super Bowl 57 promises to be one of the more exciting gridiron showdowns in recent memory.

The Eagles ran through everyone during the regular season by starting 8-0 and never really looking back en route to a 14-3 regular-season record. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are perennial Lombardi Trophy contenders, as Patrick Mahomes (the likely 2022 NFL MVP) was utterly fabulous during the regular season and playoffs. 

For this breakdown, we’ll focus on why the Eagles will win the Super Bowl, what the biggest threats to their chances are, and which players need to have a big day for them to come out on top. 

First, though, take a peek at our other Super Bowl content, like an X’s and O’s preview of the Eagles-Chiefs game itself, or other exciting pages such as our best Super Bowl player prop bets and the odds to win Super Bowl MVP.

Super Bowl 57 Odds

Odds as of February 6, 2023

As of Monday, the Eagles remain 1.5-point favorites. Our NFL line movement tracker has more detailed info, but Philly’s chalk status has been trending since the odds opened. The line opened as a pick’em before Kansas City took a 1-point edge, then a wave of bets on the Eagles pushed things back in Philadelphia’s favor.

Neither squad has been especially consistent ATS this year. Including playoffs, the Chiefs are 8-11 ATS, while the Eagles are 10-9 ATS. Still, I like Philly’s chances of covering, though the moneyline may be the better bet unless you’re really pressed for value. The Eagles laced the Giants (38-7, covered -8.0) and the 49ers (31-7, covered -3.0) as the offense and defense are clicking at the perfect time. 

Why The Eagles Will Win Super 57

Let’s start with the Eagles’ ravenous defense that amassed a franchise-record 70 sacks (two short of tying the all-time record) during the regular season. Philly has carried that violent energy into the postseason, racking up three sacks and three forced fumbles (all recovered by the defense) vs San Francisco in the NFC championship game. Mahomes was sacked three times and had one lost fumble in the AFC championship vs the Bengals, who have nowhere near the pass-rushing firepower the Eagles possess.

I also like Philly’s chances of winning ugly. The City of Brotherly Love knows a thing or two about toughness, and the Eagles’ gritty rushing attack can wear down KC’s defense. While the Eagles offense wasn’t spectacular vs the Niners, Philadelphia still managed 148 yards and four rushing touchdowns against the second-best run defense in football. If Jalen Hurts looks nervous on his first couple of passes, don’t sweat it. He can use his legs, and the Eagles can pivot to a punishing rushing attack to win this game.

The Biggest Threat To An Eagles Super Bowl Win

Game-wreckers make a massive difference in the playoffs, and the Chiefs have Chris Jones, one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL. That’s a huge problem for Philly. Not only can Jones blow up the run game with his reach and size, but he’s also a nightmare for quarterbacks – he went off in the AFC championship game for two sacks, three tackles for losses and five quarterback hits. 

While some folks laud the Eagles for having the best offensive line corps in football, the numbers this year say otherwise, as Philly allowed 44 sacks during the regular season, tied for tops in the NFL. Still, the right side of their line is strong, with center Jason Kelce and tackle Lane Johnson not allowing a single sack this season. The rest of the group will be tested, though. 

The Eagles defense will also need to be conscious of Mahomes’ big-play ability – his Chiefs led the NFL with 49 completed passes of 25 yards or more during the regular season – though Philly’s pass rush should neutralize some of Kansas City’s deep-ball magic.

Eagles Players Who Need A Big Game

Again, check out our best player prop bets for Super Bowl 57.

RB Miles Sanders – OVER/UNDER 59.5 Rushing Yards (-110)

I think the Eagles will try to move the ball quickly, meaning Sanders will get lots of touches up the gut, off the tackle and in the screen game (his total receiving yards are set at a very exploitable 5.5). Volume may be his best friend on Sunday.

The Eagles are a good team regardless of Sanders’ presence, but his squad was 8-2 ATS in games when the 25-year-old scored a touchdown. I love Sanders at -105 to score an anytime touchdown, and I expect if he has a big game, the Eagles will win Super Bowl 57. 

EDGE Haason Reddick – To Record a Sack (-180)

Reddick will be the best pure pass rusher on the field Sunday (Jones is a close second), and he’s very likely to record a sack during the Super Bowl. -180 is a bit chalky, so maybe you can toss it into a same-game parlay (with Sanders’ rushing/receiving yards, perhaps) to improve the value.

Odds aside, Reddick will be a huge X factor. He already has 3.5 sacks during these playoffs, including two vs the Niners in the NFC championship game, and could make Mahomes’ evening a living hell as he runs for his life.