As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their Super Bowl LIX showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, one question looms large: How do they stop Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ dynamic offense?
Hurts, known for his dual-threat ability, has been the driving force behind Philadelphia’s success. With a strong arm, quick decision-making, and elite rushing ability, he poses a unique challenge for Kansas City’s defense. Adding to the threat, the Eagles’ offense is loaded with playmakers, including star receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, along with newly acquired running back Saquon Barkley.
The Chiefs’ Defensive Game Plan
To contain Hurts and the Eagles, Kansas City must execute a disciplined and aggressive defensive strategy. Here’s the blueprint:
Pressure Without Overcommitting – Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo must deploy a pass rush that disrupts Hurts without allowing him to escape the pocket. Chris Jones and George Karlaftis will need to collapse the pocket while maintaining their rush lanes.
Spy Hurts with an Athletic Defender – Assigning a linebacker or safety—such as Nick Bolton—to shadow Hurts will limit his ability to extend plays with his legs. Hurts is most dangerous when scrambling for big gains or buying time for his receivers downfield.
Lock Down the Perimeter – The Chiefs’ secondary, led by Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed, must be physical at the line of scrimmage to disrupt Brown and Smith’s routes. Limiting their separation time gives the pass rush a better chance to reach Hurts.
Stop the Run Game Early – Philadelphia thrives on a balanced attack, and Barkley adds another dangerous dimension. Kansas City’s front seven must control the line of scrimmage and force the Eagles into third-and-long situations.
Disguise Coverages – Hurts has shown improvement in reading defenses, but Spagnuolo’s creative blitz packages and disguised coverages could bait him into mistakes. Expect the Chiefs to mix zone and man coverage while occasionally sending extra pressure from unexpected angles.
The Bottom Line
Stopping the Eagles’ offense is no small task, but the Chiefs have the personnel and coaching to make it happen. If they can pressure Hurts, limit explosive plays, and force turnovers, Kansas City will have a strong chance to cap off their historic season with a three-peat.
Will the Chiefs’ defense rise to the occasion, or will Hurts and the Eagles break through? The answer awaits on Super Bowl Sunday.
