I went hunting deep in the numbers ahead of Super Bowl LVII so you don't have to.
When we undertook this exercise of uncovering statistical storylines ahead of the big game a year ago, we highlighted both teams' overreliance on early-down running, which ended up being a key factor in the game. The Los Angeles Rams' meager 1.8 yards per designed run (and minus-0.33 EPA per play) on early downs nearly cost them the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals.
For this game, which will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox)? We're looking at the highest quality matchup possible in the trenches, a Jalen Hurts weakness that the Kansas City Chiefs' defense could exploit, how Kansas City's defensive scheme matches up with the Philadelphia Eagles' go-ball threats and how heavily each team relies on its quarterback. We're relying on data from a mix of sources that includes NFL Next Gen Stats, ESPN internal metrics using Next Gen Stats data and ESPN's video tracking data.
Let's dive in.
