Jalen Hurts (left) and Patrick Mahomes lead the hype for a new definition of the American football league. (AFP)
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs meet in the Super Bowl this Sunday (8:30 p.m.) with all eyes on their young quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, the current great star of the NFL.
The betting market has been changing slightly as kickoff time approaches in Glendale, Arizona.
The eaglesthe best team of the season, remained favorites but the chiefs of Mahomeswinner this week of the MVP of the year award, closed the gap.
On paper, the statistics point to one of the super bowl Closest in recent times: both teams have an identical record of 16 wins and 3 losses this season and, even more surprising, have scored exactly the same number of points: 546.
Despite steep ticket prices and Phoenix-area hotels, bars, and restaurants they were filled with supporters of Eagles and Chiefswho were joined by many wearing jerseys from other franchises, to enjoy the great spectacle of American sports, which will feature Rihanna’s return to the stage for the halftime show.
Workers and broadcast crews at 63,000-capacity State Farm Field were making final preparations, while those interested in buying last-minute tickets were being asked for at least $4,000 for the cheapest seats still available.
The injury factor
Among many other attractions of the Super Bowl 57 edition, Mahomes and hurts they will become the youngest quarterbacks to face each other for the NFL title and also the first pair of black quarterbacks to play in this final.
Mahomes, 27, was recognized this week with his second MVP award and Hurts, 24, dispelled all doubts this season, establishing himself as one of the elite quarterbacks.
The physical state of the two Texan quarterbacks can be an important factor in the result, since both have dragged physical problems in these playoffs.
Mahomes injured his right ankle in the postseason opener but stayed on the field even with a limp to lead the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl in the last four years, after the 2019 win over the San Francisco 49ers and the defeat a year later against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of Tom Brady.
A second ring on Sunday would cement Mahomes as the heir to the recently retired Brady, the only two quarterbacks to play in three Super Bowls in their first five seasons as league starters.
Hurts, for his part, has also had shoulder problems that could have influenced his lesser role in the playoffs compared to the regular season.
The ‘quarterback’, a double threat both in the pass and in the run, hopes to be decisive on Sunday to give the Eagles the second title in their history after the 2017 campaign against the New England Patriots that Brady then commanded.
If Mahomes will have his eternal partner next to him travis kelceone of the best ‘tight ends’ in history, Hurts will have two explosive receivers at his disposal in AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith.
More than 100 million American fans are expected to follow the Super Bowl this yeara game that monopolizes 30 of the 32 most watched broadcasts in the country’s television history.
