Friday’s prop bet
A successful 2-point conversion: Yes (+350), no (-350).
Since the 2-point try was introduced to the NFL in 1994, there have been 11 successful 2-point conversions in Super Bowl history, but only three in the last eight years. During the regular season/playoffs, Philadelphia was 3 of 7 and Kansas City was 1 of 3 on 2-point tries. To take one step further, DraftKings has a prop bet on a 2-point conversion simply being attempted (Yes +150/No -115).
Matchup to watch
Eagles OLB Nolan Smith vs. Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor
Smith, a first-round pick by the Eagles in 2023, didn’t have a sack in the opening four games of the season, but in the last 15 games, he has 10½ sacks, including four in the playoffs. Listed at 6-foot-2, 238 pounds, Smith makes up for his lack of girth with explosiveness and agility to get around the edge. Taylor has a combined 31 penalties in the last two regular seasons and has been booked for seven sacks this year. Edge to Smith.
Numbers to know
30: Rushing yards needed by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to set the NFL’s single-season record. Including playoffs, Denver’s Terrell Davis rushed for 2,476 yards in 1998 and Barkley is at 2,447.
45: Drives of at least 10 plays by Kansas City’s offense, most in the NFL.
278.4: Yards allowed per game by the Eagles’ defense, best in the NFL.
Seen & heard
- Kansas City linebackers coach Brendan Daly is going for his seventh Super Bowl title − he has won three apiece with New England and the Chiefs. “I don’t think about the totality of it,” he said. “There will be a time down the road when I’ll reflect on it, but this week, you’re really focused on this moment and winning this game.”
- Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was in the Superdome 12 years ago running San Francisco’s defense in the Super Bowl loss to Baltimore. His memories? “Just that we didn’t win,” Fangio said. “We didn’t play good early (in the game). Got way behind. Had a chance to win at the end, but didn’t get it done.”
Staff roundtable
The NFLPA delivered its usual whine about opposing an 18-game season. What should the NFL owners give up to get an additional game?
Jay Skurski: Money is the obvious answer, but players will get more of that with an 18th game. What they should be asking for is an extra bye week. Start the season on Labor Day weekend, finish it on President’s Day Weekend. Relax restrictions on practice squad call-ups. Allow teams to call up more than two players for a game. That would give them greater flexibility when it comes to resting injured players. Demand that games are scheduled with adequate rest. Having teams play three times in 10 days is too much.
Katherine Fitzgerald: I’m on the NFLPA’s side here – seeing what players go through in the grind of a 17-game season is already so much. Eighteen games is a huge ask, and I think they need to be firm in their negotiations. An extra bye week feels like it should be a given. Owners also should budge on other health- and safety-related things. The turf-versus-grass debate is ongoing, and should be brought up. Pie-in-the-sky ask is to lobby for more expansive health care.
Ryan O’Halloran: The union always amuses me. Do they not understand that 90% of their players are rank-and-file members who would embrace an extra game check in about a nanosecond? The owners will have to provide some kind of incentive and here’s a big one – eliminate the franchise tag. That would allow players selected in rounds 2-7 to become unrestricted free agents after their fourth season and first-round picks after their fifth season. That would open the floodgates for players to cash in a year earlier than before.
− Ryan O’Halloran, News Sports Reporter
