The Kansas City Chiefs might be the favorites in Super Bowl LIX, but the Philadelphia Eagles have a secret weapon to shut down Patrick Mahomes: time. That’s right, the key to stopping the NFL’s most dynamic quarterback is to make him hold the ball for too long.
It sounds counterintuitive, but the numbers don’t lie. When Mahomes takes more than 3.3 seconds to throw, his record is a dismal 2-8. That’s because he’s at his best when he’s playing fast, making quick decisions, and getting the ball out of his hands.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers proved this in Super Bowl LV, Mahomes’ only Super Bowl loss. They pressured him relentlessly, forced him to hold the ball, and disrupted his rhythm. The result? A dominant Buccaneers victory.
The Eagles have the defensive firepower to replicate that strategy. They tied for second in sacks this postseason, and their defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, is a mastermind at disguising coverages and confusing quarterbacks.
But there’s a catch: Fangio has never beaten Mahomes. He’s 0-8 against the Chiefs’ superstar, and Mahomes has a knack for escaping pressure and making big plays even when the pocket collapses.
This Super Bowl matchup is shaping up to be a chess match between two brilliant coaches. Can Fangio finally outsmart Mahomes and lead the Eagles to an upset? Or will Mahomes once again prove that he’s unstoppable, no matter how much time he has to throw?
