Super Bowl LIX Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Tag: Joshua Uche


9Feb 2025
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Super Bowl LIX Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Brandon Graham

CHIEFS PLAYERS FROM MICHIGAN: DE Mike Danna, OLB Josh Uche, WR Xavier Worthy*

The 15-2 Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills 30-21 and then got blown out by the Denver Broncos in the final week 38-0, but that was when the Chiefs didn’t care because they had their playoff spot locked up. Otherwise, it was a perfect but underwhelming season. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL – and his Super Bowl rings say he’s currently the best – but he finished 7th in passing yards (3,928), 9th in passing touchdowns (26), and 8th in QBR (67.7). Retread RB Kareem Hunt (200 carries, 728 yards, 7 TDs) led the team in rushing because Isiah Pacheco missed a big chunk of the year due to injury. Famed TE Travis Kelce grabbed 97 passes but for a mediocre 823 yards (8.5 yards/catch) and 3 touchdowns. Former Michigan commit Xavier Worthy, a 1st round pick wide receiver in 2024, caught 59 passes for 638 yards and 6 touchdowns, adding 20 carries for 104 yards and 2 scores. Former Michigan DE Mike Danna finished #4 on the team with 3.5 sacks, behind Purdue product George Karlaftis (8.0). Outside linebacker Josh Uche managed just 10 tackles across six games in his first season coming over from the Patriots.

EAGLES PLAYERS FROM MICHIGAN: DE Brandon Graham, OG Trevor Keegan, LB Ben VanSumeren*

Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts is more involved in the running game (150 carries, 630 yards, 14 TDs), but he has had a fairly efficient year throwing the football (68.7% completions, 2907 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs). The offense has really been powered by RB Saquon Barkley (345 yards, 2005 yards, 13 TD), who has had the most amazing season by an NFL running back in a long time – not just with yardage, but with explosive plays and highlight reel talent. The receiving group is led by WR A.J. Brown (67 catches, 1079 yards, 7 TDs) and WR Devonta Smith (68 catches, 833 yards, 8 TDs), with TE Dallas Goedert (42 catches, 496 yards, 2 TDs) also a valuable receiving target. Former Michigan DE Brandon Graham (20 tackles, 3.5 sacks) played in eleven games this season, but an upper body injury caused him to miss the remainder of the year; he has been activated since the NFC Championship game, so he may play in the Super Bowl, which will likely be the final game of his career as he trends toward retirement. Former Michigan LB Ben VanSumeren, who finished his career at Michigan State, has played in eleven games and made 3 tackles; he has also played a little bit of fullback as a blocker in short yardage situations.

*Worthy and VanSumeren both signed with Michigan out of high school. Worthy did not get through admissions and ended up at Texas, while VanSumeren transferred to play for MSU.

PREDICTION

I don’t want to pick against the best quarterback in the NFL. Mahomes always seems to make the plays – and some would say get the calls – when the game is on the line. But when I look at the rosters, I think Philadelphia has more talent. They have the best running back in the league, a great defensive line, two good receivers, a good tight end, and players up and down the roster from Georgia, along with high-level draft picks. The Chiefs of course have great players (Mahomes, Kelce, WR DeAndre Hopkins, DT Chris Jones, etc.), but top-to-bottom, I see more talent on the Eagles side. I’m excited to see what wrinkles Andy Reid has in store for the big game – he always has some fun play designs – but I think the Eagles’ defensive talent will make enough plays to eke out a win. I’m going with the Eagles, 24-20.

17Sep 2023
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Week 1

Aidan Hutchinson

NOTE: I thought I posted this in the middle of last week, but turns out I forgot to make it live. So now you get it on the morning of Week 2.

Detroit Lions defensive end Hutchinson made 3 tackles in a 21-20 win over the Chiefs, but he was constantly double-teamed. And in the NFL season debut on TV, the broadcasters constantly talked about how the Chiefs were “cheating” via false starts and illegal alignments to prevent Hutchinson from getting to Patrick Mahomes.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • LB Devin Bush, Jr. (Seattle Seahawks): Bush made 1 tackle in a 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. This was Bush’s debut with Seattle after being drafted by the Steelers.
  • DE Frank Clark (Denver Broncos): Clark made 2 tackles in a 17-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Clark is in his first season with the Broncos after coming over from the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • WR Nico Collins (Houston Texans): Collins made 6 catches for 80 yards and 1 touchdown in a 25-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
  • DE Mike Danna (Kansas City Chiefs): Danna made 6 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup in a 21-20 loss to the mighty Detroit Lions.
  • RB Chris Evans (Cincinnati Bengals): Evans had 2 carries for 12 yards in a 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
  • S Daxton Hill (Cincinnati Bengals): Hill made 6 tackles and his first career interception in a 24-3 loss to the Browns.
  • S Josh Metellus (Minnesota Vikings): Metellus made 6 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 20-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Metellus recently signed a 2-year, $13 million contract extension and is a captain for the Vikings.
  • K Jake Moody (San Francisco 49ers): Moody was 3/3 on extra points and 3/3 on field goals, including a long of 41 yards, in a 30-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • DT Mike Morris (Seattle Seahawks): Morris made 2 tackles in his NFL debut, a 30-13 loss to the Rams.
  • DE David Ojabo (Baltimore Ravens): Ojabo made 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble on former Ohio State quarterback Marcus Stroud in a 25-9 win over the Texans.
  • DE Kwity Paye (Indianapolis Colts): Paye made 3 tackles and 1 sack in a 31-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
  • WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (Cleveland Browns): Peoples-Jones made 1 catch for 12 yards and 3 punt returns for 15 yards in a 24-3 win over the Bengals.
  • S Jabrill Peppers (New England Patriots): Peppers made 6 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup in a 25-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • P Brad Robbins (Cincinnati Bengals): Robbins punted 10 times for 409 yards (40.9 yards/punt), including 2 inside the 20-yard line, during a 24-3 loss to the Browns.
  • CB Ambry Thomas (San Francisco 49ers): Thomas made 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 30-7 win over the Steelers.
  • CB D.J. Turner II (Cincinnati Bengals): Turner made 2 tackles in his NFL debut during a 24-3 loss to the Browns.
  • DE Josh Uche (New England Patriots): Uche made 1 tackle and 1 sack in a 25-20 loss to the Eagles.
2Dec 2022
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Tom Brady

Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady completed 29/43 passes for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 23-17 overtime loss to the Cleveland Browns.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Devin Bush, LB (Pittsburgh Steelers): Bush made 8 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 24-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
  • Frank Clark, DE (Kansas City Chiefs): Clark made 6 tackles in a 26-10 win over Los Angeles Rams.
  • Nico Collins, WR (Houston Texans): Collins made 6 catches for 44 yards in a 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
  • Josh Uche, OLB (New England Patriots): Uche made 1 sack in a 33-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Chris Wormley, DT (Pittsburgh Steelers): Wormley made 2 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in the 24-17 win over the Colts.
8Nov 2022
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Aidan Hutchinson

Aidan Hutchinson

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson made 2 tackles in a 15-9 win over the Green Bay Packers, but his biggest play was an interception of Aaron Rodgers at the goal line, preventing a touchdown pass to eligible tackle David Bakhtiari.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Tom Brady, QB (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Brady completed 36/58 passes for 280 yards and 1 touchdown in a 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
  • Hassan Haskins, RB (Tennessee Titans): Haskins had 1 carry for 5 yards, 1 catch for 2 yards, 4 kickoff returns for 72 yards, and 4 tackles on special teams in a 20-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Kwity Paye, DE (Indianapolis Colts): Paye made 8 tackles, 1 sack, and 5 quarterback hurries in a 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
  • Josh Uche, OLB (New England Patriots): Uche made 6 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 quarterback hurries in a 26-3 win over the Colts.

MISCELLANEY

  • Green Bay Packers OLB Rashan Gary tore his ACL against the Lions and will miss the remainder of the season. He made 32 tackles and 6 sacks this season before the injury.
22Sep 2021
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Tom Brady

Tom Brady

He just can’t stop being awesome. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady completed 24/36 passes for 276 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 48-25 win over the Falcons.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • RB Chris Evans (Bengals): Evans caught 1 pass for 14 yards in a 20-17 loss to the Bears.
  • DE Kwity Paye (Colts): Paye made 5 tackles in a 27-24 loss to the Rams.
  • WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (Browns): Peoples-Jones made 1 catch for 14 yards in a 31-21 win over the Texans.
  • S Jabrill Peppers (Giants): Peppers made 6 tackles and returned 2 punts for 8 yards in a 30-29 loss to the Washington Football Team.
  • OG Jon Runyan, Jr. (Packers): Runyan made his first career start in a 35-17 win over the Lions.
  • OLB Josh Uche (Patriots): Uche made 3 tackles and 2 sacks in a 25-6 win over the Jets.