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By Steve Keating
PHOENIX (Reuters) – Two brothers and two Black quarterbacks will mark very completely different firsts on Sunday when the Nationwide Soccer League’s two finest groups, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, meet within the Tremendous Bowl.
Led by the wizardry of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was named the league’s most useful participant for a second time on Thursday, the Chiefs are again within the NFL championship recreation for the third time in 4 years and on the cusp of a dynasty.
The Eagles’ hopes of lifting the Lombardi trophy for the primary time since 2018 may even hinge significantly on the play of their younger quarterback Jalen Hurts and a menacing defence that led the league in sacks.
Because the NFL continues to wrestle with variety points, significantly among the many head teaching and entrance workplace ranks, the Tremendous Bowl will mark one other milestone as the primary with two Black quarterbacks.
“I give it some thought so much, the quarterbacks that got here earlier than me,” stated Mahomes. “It goes throughout all sports activities.
“If you concentrate on Jackie Robinson and those that broke the color barrier in baseball, I would not be standing right here right this moment if it wasn’t for them.
“I take into consideration that on a regular basis and to be fortunate sufficient to be on this place and to play in opposition to one other nice man like Jalen, it is going be a particular second.”
DUAL THREAT
Thirty-five years after Doug Williams turned the primary Black quarterback to start out the championship recreation, Mahomes and Hurts will take the baton however the match-up is greater than historic.
Hurts, in simply his third season, is forged from the mould of a traditional twin menace who can beat you throwing the ball and operating.
Mahomes, making his third Tremendous Bowl look in six seasons, led the league in passing with 5,250 yards and can even beat opponents with the run and outthink them, possessing a excessive soccer IQ and degree of creativity Picasso or Mozart would applaud.
Every crew could have a Professional-Bowl Kelce on the sector with tight finish Travis, the favorite goal for Mahomes, and Jason, the centre for Hurts, marking the primary time brothers could have gone in opposition to one another on the Tremendous Bowl.
The ‘Kelce Bowl’ is a much less vital second than having two Black quarterbacks however a enjoyable diversion, with the siblings’ mom Donna embracing the highlight.
She has been making the rounds in her mixture Eagles-Chiefs jersey, changing into the Tremendous Bowl’s superstar du jour.
GRUDGE MATCH
On the floor the sport has the makings of a juicy teaching grudge match, with Kansas Metropolis head coach Andy Reid main the Chiefs in opposition to the Eagles, who he took to the Tremendous Bowl in 2005 earlier than being fired following the 2012 season.
Reid was rapidly employed by the Chiefs, taking up from Romeo Crennel, and instantly cleaned home, together with not retaining assistant coach Nick Sirianni who’s now Philadelphia head coach.
Human assets departments might use the 2 as a case research on tips on how to sack staff with out too many exhausting emotions.
“He did not should convey me in to speak to me, to let me go, proper? However he did as a result of it looks like that is the kind of particular person he’s,” Sirianni instructed reporters.
“I used to be grateful for that, although you do not prefer it on the time. You do not like the truth that you are getting let go.”
There isn’t any want for an injection of manufactured hostilities right into a Tremendous Bowl that options two 16-3 groups in a contest filled with compelling match-ups, essentially the most intriguing being Mahomes in opposition to the Eagles defence.
A excessive ankle sprain that Mahomes sustained within the division remaining in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars now not seems a serious concern, which suggests extra complications for the Philadelphia move rush.
However the Eagles, who led the NFL in sacks, had been second in yards allowed per-game and third in takeaways, are higher outfitted than most to neutralise Kansas Metropolis’s explosive assault and maintain Mahomes from making Houdini like escapes.
“He (Mahomes) may be very particular,” stated Sirianni. “He does issues that you simply watch and also you simply type of shake your head.
“We’re going should be on (high of) it and have every thing we have to comprise him as a result of we all know how good a soccer participant he’s.”
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Phoenix. Extra reporting Liliana Salgado. Enhancing by Ken Ferris)