Dustin Baker’s Super Bowl 57 Prediction
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles square off in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, the first league championship in Phoenix since February 1st, 2015, when the New England Patriots famously downed the Seattle Seahawks in the “one-yardline game.”
Philadelphia is favored by a point and a half, creating a possible forum for one of the most exciting Super Bowls ever. However, generally, when fans expect a slobberknocker, something happens, and one team runs away with the thing. We shall see.
Dustin Baker’s Super Bowl 57 Prediction
The game will be tight — how’s that for a bold prediction? — so let’s break it down.
Chiefs Defense Will Be the Story
You’re going to continue witnessing an evolving NFL trend. General managers will discover it’s unwise to pay a quarterback $40+ million per season, along with a $30+ million wide receiver. That leaves crumbs for “the other 51 guys.”
Somehow, the Chiefs thought ahead of the curve, trading Tyreek Hill and his chunky contract to the Miami Dolphins last offseason. Hill thrived in Miami — good for him. Meanwhile, the Chiefs became better and more well-rounded. The Chiefs front office gambling on Patrick Mahomes’ wherewithal to navigate the offensive ship sans Hill was brilliant. Kudos.
Accordingly, Kansas City built its defense with the “Hill money” and nabbed a fabulous draft class with George Karflaftis (EDGE), Trent McDuffie (CB), and Leo Chenal (LB). All three of those dudes contribute. The Chiefs defense will get props in Super Bowl LVII because, let’s face it, most of the planet just knows the Chiefs because of Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid.
The Chiefs defense will steal the show, and casual viewers will be surprised by it.
Will You Bet against Mahomes?
Why do this to yourself? Do you really want to wake up Monday morning, with money possibly on the line depending on your lifestyle, asking, “Why, again, did I bet against Patrick Mahomes?”
Ask yourself that question before Sunday night — and then place your bets or public prognostications.
We know Mahomes can lead a game-winning drive from 75 yards away with 150 seconds to go. We think Hurts can probably do it. Go with what you know here, and presume Mahomes will prevail. It’s like Michael Jordan in 1996 against Shawn Kemp or Gary Payton. Don’t be dumb and bet against the league’s best player.
Prediction
The game will entertain, rest assured. Neither team will find a pathway to blowout. An unsung fact about the last time the Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl? They got shellacked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — it just didn’t truly feel that way because everyone kept waiting for a Mahomes comeback. The comeback never happened.
Mahomes and Co. won’t lose two Super Bowls in a row. Not gonna happen. Kansas City’s defense will remain relatively sturdy, Mahomes will do Mahomes Things, and former Minnesota Viking Jerick McKinnon will score one or two touchdowns.
Chiefs over Eagles, 31-24
4 Vikings Got Richer on Thursday
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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