Super Bowl Take Aways: Chiefs Offense vs the Eagles Defense

Super Bowl Chiefs vs The Eagles 

The Eagles Chiefs was a great matchup. It was close game and exciting to watch that could have gone either way. The Eagles got a few unlucky breaks and didn't get the ball back at the end of the game. But that being said, there were several key points that stood out when the Chiefs had the ball.

The Chiefs took advantage of the Eagles basic concepts and got a good read on them as the game went on.
Several things stick out in my mind as I review this game that played into Andy Reid's play calling and decision making. We saw a ton of cover 3 and single high coverages from the Eagles this game and we look a little closer at it below. 

1. When the Chiefs came out in 3 x1 the Eagles would primarily play 3 weak or strong depending on the splits. If it was wider splits they played 3 strong. If it was more condensed they played 3 weak which is what you saw most of. This took it's toll on them as late in the game they got caught in the coverage and gave up a huge 15 yard gain. 

Cover 3 

Chiefs hit the route over the middle.

3 weak was more in play in the game.

They seemed to run a choice coverage 3x1. Meaning depending on the splits they could go three weak or 3 strong. More condensed like below, you saw more 3 weak. 

See the safety playing the curl 3 weak. 

Example #2 late in the game. Andy runs the 2 out cuts because how the Eagles were playing it. Get #1 outside the flat defender as #2 and #1 wr split him. Easy read for Mahomes.

Nice route combination by the Chiefs.

Some clips of cover 3 weak

2. The Chiefs use of stack formations. The stack formations caused problems for the Eagles defense throughout the game as the Eagles consistently played man free or 3 carry (1 snap) against it. This was a problem especially when Kelce was on the outside. He caused issues throughout the day and it also contributed to the 2 touchdowns late in the game, both man concepts. One was man free and the other was man cover 0. The bottom line is Andy got into the situations he wanted as the coverage was basic throughout and exploited this coverage.

Example #1 1st touchdown

Nice job getting stack.

Eagles played it front back. The guy on the line took the back TE Kelce. The off CB took the point man.

Advantage Chiefs

Kelce runs a nice route and gets open.

Kelce wins the route gets on top for the touchdown.

Example #2 middle of the field

Man free coverage

Causes seperation for Kelce on the dig route. 

Again they play front back and Kelce wins the battle again, using his strength

The bunch and releases make it tough on the DB.

Kelce gets open over the middle.

Route concept #3

Smash route out of condensed

They get the corner route but for some reason the wr turns inside instead of out. Mahomes threw a great ball to where he thought the wr would be. 

Excellent route design but not a great routes.

WR has the cb beat in man free but doesnt turn outside on the post corner route. runs more of slot fade and t think Mahomes wanted the corner route.

3. Spying Mahomes:

The Eagles decision to not spy Mahomes led to several scrambles throughout the game. They chose to rush 4 rather than 3 and have a LB spy him all game.  When they did spy on a few snaps, they didn't do a very good job. I thought that was pivotal throughout the game as Mahomes can run at will. I thought a few spy situations could have been utilized to limit his ability to scramble as well as a little more 2 man may have benefitted them defensively. 

The Eagles tried to play some man free rat or cover 3 weak at times and that left much room for mahomes to scramble. 

They have no one spying Mahomes.

He made them pay on a few occasions.

Play #2, The Chiefs come out in 13 personnel, the Eagles go man free vs it. The Rb looks like he is releasing but blocks but the lb responsible for him leaves the middle of the field and it creates a void. 

RB starts to block and 43 has him so he trails him. He doesn't add in but stays towards the rb.

This decision was pivotal as it allowed Mahomes to scramble.

Good coverage downfield so Mahomes takes off with no spy in site

 

Mahomes takes off and because oI how they are playing it they allow a huge running lane. 

4. The game plan with the pass rush was vanilla, which with Mahomes you can understand. That being said, they were a top 5 pressure team all year while sending many 4 man pressures. In addition, the Chiefs offensive line was  tremendous. They ran 1 5 man pressure from a 4 hands look with  man free. They ran another 5 man lb pressure where the Chiefs ran the football.  They ran 3  penny front pressures man free inc  got pressure on 3 , but Mahomes just made a play on the 2nd and 3rd one with his legs. The last touchdown was a cover 0 pressure on the goal line in which they blew the coverage. 

 They weren't very aggressive and didn't cause much confusion for Mahomes. The Eagles chose to play it basic for. the most of the day. 

5. The Chiefs really hurt the Eagles in the 2nd half with the run game. They leaned on the Eagles and in traditional runs were 19 for 110 yards. Thats without Mahomes big scrambles. That is 5.7 yards per carry. The O Line was tremendous for the Chiefs.

In short yardage situations, the Chiefs had a good plan. They attacked the left side of the defense and was successful in their short yardage runs. Both Mc Kinnon and Pachecho did a good job running the football.  They really ran the ball well in the 2nd half which helped them win the Super Bowl. 

Overall, these were key contributors to the Chiefs win, as they took advantage of some things offensively throughout the day.