"The Rematch" by Lottie Macgregor

Super Bowl LIX. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are up against each other for the second time in three years. These teams share some history that makes it even more of a big deal. Andy Reid, head coach of the Chiefs, was hired in 2013 and since has “revived” the team and led them to multiple Super Bowl berths. This year, the Chiefs have the opportunity of what everyone is calling a ‘3-peat”, meaning they could be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row. 

In 2012, Andy Reid was fired from the Philadelphia Eagles after fourteen seasons. As you can imagine, this is something Chiefs fans will always remind a die-hard Eagles fan of. The Eagles, on the other hand, lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, with a final score of 38-35. Their last win was Super Bowl LII in 2018 against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The Eagles have a relatively young team. Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith who are both 26 years old are going up against Patrick Mahomes who’s 29 and Travis Kelce who’s 35. Despite the experience and wins the Chiefs hold over the Eagles, Philadelphia is not scared to show their pride in their team and what they can accomplish. 

This has been one big year for the Eagles. They pulled off a free-agent signing with the New York Giants’ to gain a player who has given Philadelphia what they needed. Saquon Barkley, the 27-year-old running back rushed for 2,005 yards in the regular season. Saquon has gifted the NFL. Whether it be an Eagles fan jumping out of their seat watching him run for 70 yards in the first drive, or someone simply trying to put up fantasy points, he is always getting the job done. 

On the other hand, Kansas City has gained a huge amount of fans ever since the superstar Taylor Swift started dating tight end, Travis Kelce. It was recorded that views of Chiefs games went up 9-15% when Taylor Swift was in attendance. This whole situation has put some people on edge, but when the camera is always pointing towards Taylor Swift in her box seats, there really is no way to avoid it. 

Both these teams have the stats to make this game interesting. In the AFC championship, the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29. On the other side of the league, in the NFC, the Eagles put up 55 points against the Washington Commanders with a final score of 23-55. Now, the Lombardi Trophy is on the line for these two teams, which will be given to the champions on February 9, 2025. 

The stats speak for themselves, but what do JHHS students and teachers think about this Super Bowl? 

“Chiefs are winning because it’s in the script. If the Chiefs win the Super Bowl and Travis Kelce proposes to Taylor Swift, the NFL will become more popular and make more money. It’s all a setup”.

-Period 3 culinary class

“I look forward to the opportunity for my beloved Chiefs to make NFL history by becoming the first team to 3-peat and crush the competition from the disgusting community of Philadelphia and their rude fans”

-Stines

“Saquon deserves this win more than anyone. It’s the year of the birds. Go Birds.”

-Sayre Jorgensen and Lottie MacGregor

Even with these fans being 1,069 miles from Kansas City and 2,134 miles away from Philadelphia, they show their pride around the school halls. Sunday night at approximately eight pm is going to make or break the spirits of these fans. Stines may want to rip down his unnecessarily large cutout of Patrick Mahomes or Sayre may just avoid the history hall for a while so she doesn’t have to face him and his comments about the rude fans of Philadelphia. I am fully aware this isn’t the Super Bowl match-up many were hoping for, but as always, Go birds!