America watches big game for many reasons

By David Mullen

There is a big game scheduled on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

It is possible that many Americans don’t even know the specifics of the game. But they know that they must stock up on beer, chips and avocados from Mexico because the “big game” is about to be played. “Big game” is what marketers — unwilling to pay the NFL promotional rights fees for use of its trademarked name — call the Super Bowl.

As a point of clarification, the “Big Game” has been played between California and Stanford since 1892, or 74 years before the league felt their NFL Championship was not only a “big game,” it was “super.” 

When the NFL thought they could also trademark “Big Game,” they tried to run a counter play against the universities. 

In football terms, it was a mismatch. NFL players may come out of the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama, but prominent attorneys come out of Stanford Law School and Berkeley School of Law. 

Fans may know that it is the first time that two African Americans quarterbacks will start a Super Bowl game. They may recognize Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who also coached the Eagles in the 2005 Super Bowl. They may know that it is the first time that brothers — KC’s Travis and Philly’s Jason Kelce — will start a Super Bowl as opponents. Mother Donna will root for both sides, although All-Pro TE Travis tries to say that, “Mom always liked Jason best,” which is a page out of the Tommy Smothers playbook.

Super Bowl watchers may know that the 30-second TV commercial that they just criticized or didn’t understand cost $7 million to run. That is before production and talent costs. This year’s commercials feature Bryan Cranston, Brie Larson, Kevin Bacon, Danny McBride, Jon Hamm, Alicia Silverstone, Brian Cox, Ben Stiller, Serena Williams, Melissa McCarthy, Adam Driver, Missy Elliot, Jack Harlow, Maya Rudolph, Paul Rudd, Steve Martin and Pete Davidson, and they don’t come cheap. Except for Davidson.

Viewers might concentrate more on their part of the estimated $16 billion in legal and illegal betting placed on the game. One in five Americans will place a bet. Arizona is the first state to host a Super Bowl where sports betting is legal. Remember, every dollar bet in Texas is illegal, and they’re coming for your squares.

All the side stories are just the appetizers to what should be a plentiful portion of pigskin. The Eagles are 1.5-point favorites, and the over/under line (total points) opened at 49.5 and currently sits at 51, according to Caesar’s Sports Book. Las Vegas oddsmakers expect a close, high scoring game. That’s what fans hope for as well. Both Kansas City and Philadelphia entered the playoffs as their respective leagues’ No. 1 seeds. Both teams go into the Super Bowl with 16-3 records, counting their two postseason wins. Both teams play in outdoor stadiums, and the Super Bowl will be played indoors. In five road games in domes, each team was 4-1. In common opponents, the Eagles were 6-0, and the Chiefs were 6-1 counting wins in the regular season and AFC Divisional playoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars. There are no hidden trends.  

The Chiefs and the Eagles are led by mobile, innovative quarterbacks with precision passing abilities. The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes has the advantage of experience, having played in two Super Bowls. He is 1-1 with an MVP award in Super Bowl LIV. This is the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts’ first Super Bowl.

Mahomes has been nursing a high ankle sprain, which could prove critical in facing an impressive Eagles’ defensive front. If Mahomes is healthy and uses his agility to neutralize the Eagles’ pass rush, the Chiefs will be explosive. Expect, at least in the early going, Mahomes to throw short passes to Isiah Pacheco, medium range passes to Travis Kelce and hand the ball to RB Jerick McKinnon. 

Coach Reid and his assistants are masters at exploiting defenses, although Philadelphia has few weaknesses. The Chiefs led the NFL in yards per pass attempt. The Philadelphia defense led the NFL in fewest yards allowed per pass attempt. If the Eagles defense frustrates Mahomes early, Philadelphia has accomplished its goal, and Hurts and the offense can execute a grinding running game. 

When they rushed for more than 100 yards per game this season, Philadelphia was 14-0. 

Like Mahomes, Hurts has had an extra week to allow an injured throwing shoulder to heal. The setback forced Hurts to miss two late season games. Philadelphia lost both. By relying on their running game, the 24-year-old Hurts can pick the right times to display his talents. Forcing Hurts to throw often will lead to mistakes, which Kansas City is counting on. 

Not much is known about Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni. In his second year leading the Eagles, the team improved in the regular season by five games. Just 41, Sirianni coached at Kansas City in various offensive positions from 2009-2012. He moved to the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers when Reid took over the Chiefs in 2013.

Sirianni has instilled confidence in the Eagles. Philadelphia hired a coach that represents the city’s gritty, no-nonsense image. Less verbose than previous Eagles teams, Philly does their talking through their rugged, blue-collar play. They have embraced a “team-first” philosophy, one that the Dallas Cowboys could learn from.

In reaching the Super Bowl, Philadelphia destroyed the New York Giants and an ailing San Francisco 49ers team by a combined 55 points. Expect the Eagles to soar, beating the Chiefs 34-24.  If fans are turning in to see “The Big Game in Glendale” or “The February 12th Game” or the “Championship between Kansas City and Philadelphia,” that’s OK by NFL trademark restrictions. By any other name, it’s the Super Bowl, and the two best teams in pro football are playing. 

The matchup is living up to the hype.