Ground Control

[time2rock]

Ground Control

Posted: February 3rd, 2025 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

The Eagles have played in four Super Bowls and they have a record of 1-3 in those games. The Eagles lost the rushing battle in three of those games, all of them were losses. This isn’t to say the team that runs for the most yards is guaranteed to win, but it sure helps.

If you think back to SB LVII, the ground game was the difference. The Eagles rushed for 115 yards, but 70 of that was Jalen Hurts. Miles Sanders had a nightmare game, running for just 16 yards on 7 carries. The Chiefs ran for 158 yards and averaged just over 6 yards per carry. They were the more physical team and they won the line of scrimmage.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that this is a different team. The 2022 Eagles were 16th in run defense. The 2024 Eagles finished 10th in run defense. The 2022 team allowed 4.6 yards per carry. The current team allowed 4.3 yards per carry. You have to factor in that the defense struggled against the run early on before Cooper DeJean got on the field and the overall unit was adjusting to the new scheme/coach.

The Chiefs finished 22nd in the league in rushing. They were 29th in yards per carry. This isn’t a great run game. Injuries played a big part in that so the overall numbers are a bit misleading. Still, the Chiefs only ran for 50 yards against Houston before going for 135 in the win over Buffalo. KC will not have an easy time running on the Eagles defense.

As for the Eagles offense, they just set a franchise record for rushing yards. Saquon Barkley is having one of the best seasons ever by a RB. He ran for more than 2,000 yards in the regular season and is averaging almost 150 yards per game in the postseason. Barkley is healthy. Jalen Hurts is healthy. The OL is pretty healthy. The run game should be ready to go on Sunday.

The Chiefs played the run well for most of the year, but they have struggled recently. They have given up 139 or more yards in 5 of their last 6 games. Buffalo might have beaten KC if they didn’t get away from running the ball. The Eagles should be able to run the ball. The question will be whether the Chiefs try to load the box and risk giving up big plays or stay back and risk giving up 5 to 6 yard gains.

If the Eagles win the ground game, it will help their chances of winning the overall game.

*****

The Chiefs don’t have to run to win. They have that Mahomes guy, who is kinda decent. The Eagles have the best pass defense in the league so throwing the ball on them won’t be easy.

KC loves to throw short. Even that will be a big challenge.

The Eagles keep things in front of them and then attack. Quickly. And they fly to the ball as a group. You don’t see a lot of tackles with only one defender. Eagles defenders hustle to the ball. That cuts down on missed tackles.

By playing a lot of zone and keeping multiple defenders back, the Eagles take away deep throws. That forces offenses to throw short. The Eagles know that is likely to happen and they play accordingly.

Stylistically this matchup is better for the Eagles than the previous SB meeting.

The 2022 team lived and died with pressure. This group plays good defense regardless. The defense becomes overwhelming when they are able to get to the QB.

*****

The Eagles seem to have the right mindset this time around. They aren’t just happy to be in the Super Bowl.

Getting there is good. Winning is legendary.

Stay hungry.

http://igglesblitz.com/2025/02/ground-control/

[PoconoDon]

There's only one goal, one focus, one acceptable out come for the Eagles...

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