The only Super Bowl LIX preview you need

Originally known as the “AFL​​–NFL World Championship Game,” the first iteration of the big show was held in 1967. Soon after, it became known as the Super Bowl, inspired by then–Kansas City owner Lamar Hunt’s children’s “Super Ball” toy. The more you know.

• Now with over 100M viewers tuning in from around the world, the Super Bowl has grown into a sports (and cultural) tradition like no other.

• Whether you’re in it for the food (an estimated 1.45B chicken wings will be consumed during this year’s game), the halftime show, the football, or all of the above, there’s truly something for everyone.

And when it comes to this year’s edition, there are plenty of storylines adding to the hype of this Super Bowl LVII (57) rematch. Kansas City is playing for history, with a chance of becoming the first team to ever win three straight Super Bowls. The legend only grows.

• As for the Eagles, they’re dressing for revenge after blowing a fourth-quarter lead to these very same Chiefs in the 2022 big game — and this time, they have a not-so-secret weapon in running back (RB) Saquon Barkley, who’s looked virtually unstoppable all season.

How they got here: Death, taxes, and Kansas City in the postseason. Today’s game marks KC’s fifth Super Bowl appearance in the last six years — but nothing came easy for the two-time defending champs this season. Whether it was “Tayvoodoo” or a little help from striped Lady Luck, Kansas City eked out victory after regular-season victory to claim the AFC’s top seed.

• That said, as is the KC way, they turned it on in the playoffs, topping the Houston Texans 23–14 in the Divisional Round before surviving the Buffalo Bills 32–29 in the AFC Championship.

Players to watch: Who else but Mahomes, aka the youngest QB to start five Super Bowls. Despite this season being a down year for “Playoff Patty,” he’s the definition of a difference maker, extending plays and pulling off miracles in the game’s biggest moments. It’s just that Mahomes magic.

• But don’t sleep on KC’s defense. Typically a weaker link during their dynastic run, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive tackle Chris Jones have transformed the D into a powerhouse that has the potential to disrupt the Eagles’ dynamic offense.

The bottom line: If there’s one thing we know about KC, it’s that this team plays their best football when it matters most. Just like his QB, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend tight end Travis Kelce knows how to make the whole place shimmer under the spotlight — expect this offense to show up and show out, even against a tough Eagles defense.

• The biggest question is whether KC’s stalwart D can stop Barkley — if their defense can’t limit his explosiveness, it might not matter how many points Mahomes’ offense puts up. Unstoppable force meet immovable object.

How they got here: The Eagles dominated much of the regular season due in large part to the aforementioned Barkley. And unlike last season, that trend continued into the playoffs with the Birds dismantling the Green Bay Packers 22–10 in the Wild Card Round before topping the LA Rams 28–22 in the Divisional Round.

• But the cherry on top of the postseason sundae was the NFC Championship game, where the Birds throttled their NFC East rival Washington Commanders 55–23, breaking the conference championship scoring record in the process. Casual.

Players to watch: It’s been the Barkley show all season, something QB Jalen Hurts and the Birds will want to double down on today. Barkley tallied 442 yards and five touchdowns through three postseason games, with three of those scores coming on runs longer than 60 yards — and he makes it look easy.

• But it’s not just the offense that packs a punch — this defense is one of the best in the league, giving up the fewest yards per game and the second-fewest points per game during the regular season. Brick wall, waterfall, this Philly squad has it all.

The bottom line: The perennial powerhouse Eagles have been a postseason staple, appearing in two of the last three NFC championship games. But it’s been nearly a decade since the Birds hoisted their only Lombardi, and Philly fans aren’t known for their patience.

• The Eagles certainly have the starpower to upend KC and avenge their Super Bowl LVII (57) loss, but can they stop the apparent inevitability of Mahomes and Kansas City?

There’s no time for bathroom breaks on Super Bowl Sunday because — along with the always entertaining (and expensive!) commercials — this year’s halftime show is shaping up to be an all-timer.

• The stars really are closer because Kendrick Lamar, fresh off his massive Grammys haul, is simply not like us. And with special guest SZA already confirmed, our expectations definitely aren’t humble.

• As for the pre-game performances, Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem, Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty will sing “America the Beautiful,” and Ledisi will perform the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

• The best part? All pre-game performers hail from Louisiana, a heartfelt nod to this year’s Super Bowl host, New Orleans. Music to our ears.