Three weeks ago, the National Football League had a playoff field of 14 teams, with two teams, the top seed in each conference, getting an opening week bye. Now, after playing a dozen postseason games, the top seed from both the National Football Conference and American Football Conference have advanced to Super Bowl LVII.
This is the 14th time since the NFL first implemented the playoff seeds based on regular season records in 1975, that two top seeds have met in the Super Bowl. In all, top seeds have dominated Super Bowl action, winning the game 25 times, a number that will shift up to 26 no matter who comes out on top in this year’s battle. Second seeds have won ten times, with fourth seeds taking home the Vince Lombardi Trophy six times. The remaining six Super Bowl winners were split equally between the third, fifth and sixth seeds, all winning the league’s final game twice.
The Philadelphia Eagles won the top seed in the NFC without ever giving up the top spot during the regular season. They were the last team in the league to fall from the unbeaten ranks and rolled to their two playoff wins by a combined 69-14 margin on points scored and allowed against the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers.
The Kansas City Chiefs had a more competitive run to gain the top seed in the AFC. And even with that, their best record was somewhat tainted by the league choosing not to complete the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills after the first quarter near tragedy of Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin suffering a cardiac arrest. I am in no way saying the game should have been played that night, but given the significance of the result for playoff seedings I would have thought playing the game the week after the completion of the regular season and moving the Wild Card, Divisional and Championship Games up one week with a single week between the Championship Games and Super Bowl would have been a better plan.
In fact, only because the Bills lost to the Bengals in the Divisional Round did the NFL avoid having the AFC Championship Game played on a neutral site. That was their decision when they decided not to complete the contest between Buffalo and Cincinnati where either of those teams could have earned the top seed in the conference given they had both beat the Chiefs in their regular season matchups.
From a fan perspective, buying season tickets has the added benefit of first crack at postseason ducats. Some buy the season tickets based on the prospect of their team gaining a home postseason game and having an opportunity to attend.
From a PR standpoint, the league dodged a bullet with the Bills loss and the Chiefs opportunity to host their fifth straight AFC Championship Game.
Okay, all that is behind us, and it is time to look forward to the big game which will be played in Arizona on February 12.
I know what side I like at first look, but this is a matchup and event that is best served with an open mind and evaluating all the factors both motivationally and physically as the Eagles and Chiefs head into their showdown.
It is the fifth Super Bowl appearance by the Chiefs, and they are looking for their third Roman numeral win. The Eagles won their first Super Bowl five years ago in their second ever appearance in the game. They upset the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII after losing to the Oakland Raiders to complete the 1980 season.
Kansas City lost to the Green Bay Packers in the first Super Bowl, before it was even billed by that name, and won Super Bowl IV over the Minnesota Vikings. They are now making their third appearance in the league’s final game in the past four seasons. They beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV and got upended by Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers two years ago.
Patrick Mahomes versus Jalen Hurts. Andy Reid up against Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni. The two teams with the most sacks in the league, and Philadelphia’s top ranked rushing offense against the Chiefs prolific passing attack.
It promises to be a good one.