The Chiefs’ offense will have to be sharp against a very good Eagles’ defense in Super Bowl LIX.

Philadelphia finished the regular season with the top ranked pass defense in the NFL, allowing just 174 yards per game. Rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have breathed new life in the Eagles’ secondary, while veteran CB Darius Slay and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson have played at a high level for a long time.

Kansas City’s passing offense struggled for much of the season, but came to life during the final few games as some key players returned from injury. The Chiefs scored their highest number of points of the year in the AFC Championship Game with 32 as quarterback Patrick Mahomes averaged 9.4 yards per completion.

When it comes to facing talented secondaries, Mahomes has never been intimidated, especially in the postseason. The NFL Network’s official X account revealed that Mahomes has thrived while playing against defenses that ranked first against the pass during the playoffs. 

Let’s take a look at Mahomes’s numbers in those three matchups.

Super Bowl LIV vs. San Francisco 49ers: 26/42, 286 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions
AFC divisional round vs. Buffalo Bills: 33/44, 378 yards, three touchdowns
Super Bowl LVII vs. Eagles: 21/27, 182 yards, three touchdowns

That is excellent production against teams who have consistently had very good pass defenses over the past several years. Mahomes put the offense on his back in each of those games and led the Chiefs to victory every time. Perhaps the most intriguing tidbit is that Mahomes’ lowest passing yardage total came against the Eagles.

It is important to note that Mahomes played on a bad ankle in that game. Despite being held under 200 yards, a 77 percent completion percentage and three TDs is very efficient. Mahomes will have his full complement of weapons as he takes on Philly’s pass defense yet again, with the opportunity to not only win his fourth career Super Bowl title, but fourth Super Bowl MVP.