Some random Super Bowl notes designed to distract from the fact that the Steelers won’t play in one anytime soon:
• The Eagles are what the Steelers want to be but aren’t close to being: An outlier team that succeeds via running the ball, line play and physicality.
• Two Black quarterbacks and a white cornerback: This is the most diverse Super Bowl ever.
• It’s reported that Kenny Pickett demanded a trade when Philadelphia named Jalen Hurts their starter vs. Kansas City. Will Pickett refuse to dress as the backup?
• The best Super Bowl parties have a simple menu: Wings, nachos and beer. Anything else is overkill.
• The Eagles have 10 takeaways in three playoff games while committing zero turnovers. For those who think winning the turnover battle is be-all, end all.
• This Super Bowl doesn’t have the buzz expected for an elite matchup with history on the line. Too many might be buying into the crazed notion that the NFL wants Kansas City to win and the games are refereed accordingly.
• The Super Bowl could mark the grand finale for Philadelphia’s tush push. It makes no sense to ban a play because it’s unstoppable. But the NFL might.
• It’s stupid to bet against Patrick Mahomes. He has the same big-game aura that Tom Brady did. (But Brady did lose three Super Bowls.)
• Philadelphia needs to lead by more than one score with under two minutes left. That’s the only way to negate the Mahomes magic.
• I hate the term “dad bod.” But Mahomes has one. The normalcy of Mahomes’ look is both comforting and weird. Same with Ben Roethlisberger, who looked like a very good beer-league softball player.
• I’m making a fun wager: Philadelphia to win parlayed with Saquon Barkley getting MVP and rushing for over 110.5 yards. If the Eagles win, they will be propelled by Barkley. That bet provides value for money. (But bets with value that don’t win are just losing bets, and they keep your money.)
• If the Chiefs win, they challenge Brady’s New England teams as the top salary cap-era dynasty. But they’re not in a class with the Steelers of the ’70s, Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay in the ’60s, or Dallas in the early ’90s. (Neither were Brady’s Patriots.)
• I have zero interest in the halftime show. Let me know when they go back to classic rock, or Up with People, or a dog catching a frisbee.
• I have zero interest in Travis Kelce proposing to Taylor Swift after winning the Super Bowl. I’d rather see Swift cry on Kelce’s shoulder after an Eagles win.
• Pickett might get a Super Bowl ring. JuJu Smith-Schuster might get a second. They give the waterboy a ring, too.