If you had told me back in September that we’d be staring down a literal repeat of the 2023 title game, I probably would’ve laughed. It felt too scripted. Too "NFL-is-fixed" for the internet trolls. But here we are. The dust has finally settled on the conference championships, and the matchup is set: it’s the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
Honestly? It's kind of wild.
We’re heading to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. It’s the first time Big Easy has hosted since the regular season went to 17 games, and the energy is already bubbling over. You’ve got Patrick Mahomes chasing an almost mythical three-peat—something no team in the history of the Super Bowl era has ever actually done—and Jalen Hurts looking to settle a very personal score from two years ago.
Who is in the 2025 super bowl and how did they get here?
The path wasn't exactly a cakewalk for either side. If you watched the AFC Championship, you saw the Chiefs survive an absolute slugfest against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. It finished 32-29, a nail-biter that came down to Mahomes being, well, Mahomes. Even in a year where his stats were technically "down" (he actually missed the Pro Bowl for the first time as a starter), the guy just knows how to win.
On the other side, the Eagles didn't just win the NFC; they committed a crime on national television. They dismantled the Washington Commanders 55-23. Fifty-five points! That is a conference championship record. Saquon Barkley has been the X-factor all year, and seeing him finally reach the biggest stage after years of struggling in New York is one of those feel-good stories that sports writers live for.
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The Kansas City Chiefs: Chasing a Dynasty
The Chiefs are essentially the "final boss" of the NFL at this point.
- Patrick Mahomes (QB): He’s 7-0 in the divisional round and seemingly immortal in January.
- Travis Kelce (TE): Still the primary safety blanket, even with everyone saying he’s slowing down.
- Steve Spagnuolo’s Defense: This is the part people forget. Chris Jones and George Karlaftis are the real reason they’re back. They sacked C.J. Stroud eight times in the playoffs. Eight!
The Philadelphia Eagles: The Revenge Tour
Philly looks different than they did in 2023. They’re meaner. The addition of Saquon Barkley changed their entire offensive identity. It’s not just the Jalen Hurts show anymore.
- Jalen Hurts (QB): His passer rating jumped to 104.1 this year. He’s more efficient, less prone to those "hero ball" mistakes.
- The Secondary: Quinyon Mitchell, the standout rookie, has been a revelation. He’s the guy Mahomes will likely try to avoid.
- The Trenches: Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata are arguably the best tackle duo in the league. They have to keep Chris Jones out of the backfield, or it’s game over.
Breaking down the X-Factors
People keep asking who is in the 2025 super bowl like it’s just about the quarterbacks. It's not.
Look at the mid-season trades. The Chiefs snagged DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans, and while he hasn't put up 100-yard games every week, he’s the guy who catches the 3rd-and-8 pass that breaks a defense's heart. Then you have Xavier Worthy. The kid is fast—terrifyingly fast. If the Eagles' safeties, like Reed Blankenship, blink for even a second, Worthy is behind them for a 60-yard score.
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For Philly, it’s all about the ground game. If they can run the ball 35 times with Barkley and Hurts, they keep Mahomes on the sideline. That’s the only way to beat Kansas City. You don't out-shoot Patrick Mahomes; you just take away his gun.
The Kendrick Lamar Factor
It’s worth mentioning the halftime show because, let’s be real, half the people watching are there for the music. Kendrick Lamar is headlining. With SZA. In New Orleans. There was a ton of drama about Lil Wayne not getting the nod since it’s his hometown, but Kendrick is at the peak of his powers right now. Expect "Not Like Us" to be the anthem of the night.
Betting Odds and Early Predictions
Vegas originally opened with the Chiefs as a 1-point favorite, but it’s shifted. Some books have the Eagles as slight favorites now because of that 55-point explosion against Washington.
Current Spread: Chiefs -1.5 (varies by book)
Over/Under: 48.5
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Honestly, I think the "under" is the play here. Both these defenses are top-five units. Everyone expects a shootout because of the names under center, but Spagnuolo and Vic Fangio (Philly’s DC) are chess masters. It’s going to be a game of field position and who flinches first.
What you need to do before February 9
If you're planning on watching, don't wait until the weekend of to get your setup ready.
- Check your stream: The game is on NBC and Peacock. If you’re relying on a digital antenna, test it now. New Orleans signals can be tricky depending on where you are.
- Prop bets: Look at Saquon Barkley’s rushing yards. The Chiefs' rush defense is solid (ranked 8th), but Barkley is on a different planet right now.
- Food prep: It’s New Orleans. If you aren't making jambalaya or po' boys, you're doing it wrong.
This game is the culmination of a long, weird season. We saw the rise of Jayden Daniels in Washington and the collapse of the Cowboys, but in the end, the cream rose to the top. It’s the two best teams. No flukes. Just the Chiefs and the Eagles, one more time, for all the marbles.
Go ahead and lock in your watch party plans now because this is the kind of game people talk about for a decade. Whether Mahomes gets his third ring in a row or Hurts finally gets his revenge, history is happening in New Orleans.
Check the injury reports for Chris Jones and DeVonta Smith as we get closer to kickoff. Both stayed "limited" in practice late in the season, and their health could swing the entire spread by three points. Keep an eye on the official NFL active rosters, which will be finalized 90 minutes before the 6:30 PM ET kickoff.