The 2025 NFL season is shaping up for another Superbowl with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs once again as the teams to beat. In 2022, the matchup between these two teams made many fans wonder if history would repeat itself. As the season comes to an end, both teams are still proving if they remain top of their league.
In the NFC, the Eagles continued their authority defeating the Washington Commanders. Backed by a powerful roster that includes quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver A.J Brown, and a good defensive line. Their performance in the 24-25 season has been nothing but elite with Hurts leading the offense with calmness and precision. The Eagles, fresh off their NFC championship win, found themselves once again going to the Superbowl. Their offensive line, arguably one of the best in the league, provided Hurts with protection, allowing him to connect with playmakers like DeVonta Smith. As the NFC championship game approached teams like the Dallas Cowboys, and the San Francisco 49ers. But ultimately their defense, led by linebacker Hasson Reddick and Cornerback Darrius Slay helped shut down and neutralized the Commanders.
On the AFC side, the Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have continued to show why they are team to beat. Mahomes, despite his clever style of play, has been remarkably consistent throughout the 24-25 season. The Chiefs have a bragging offense with Travis Kelce still being one of the most popular wide receivers. As they faced off against tough competition from the Buffalo Bills and Cincinati Bengals. However, Mahomes ability to perform under pressure, along with clutch performances from players like running back Isaiah Pacheco, led the Chiefs to another Super Bowl.
“I mean, I don’t think they favor teams I just think since Patrick Mahomes is good and they favor him, which means I don’t think the season was rigged,” Samuel Butler, a freshman, said.
As the Eagles and the Chiefs prepare for the 2025 Superbowl, fans and audience are once again weighing in on the outcome though some are still reeling from the controversy about the 2022 matchup. That year many fans expressed frustration over what they thought, with some even thinking that the games this season were “rigged” to favor certain teams. Criticism surrounding officiating has only intensified in the years since, with many arguing that the NFL, like other major sport leagues, is influenced by factors such as cheating and viewership. Some fans believe that the league may intentionally push high profile teams like Eagles and Chiefs into the Superbowl to maximize exposure and probability.
Growing confusion about how often holding penalties is being called for slightest infractions. What once overlooked or considered incidental contact is now resulting in flags. Fans have also pointed out that these calls are becoming more frequent even though the season is coming to an end. This has disrupted the natural flow of games with stalling with trivial penalties.
“Refs do favor teams. If you look back on the punt that basically sealed the AFC championship with the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs you can see the refs didn’t call 3 blocks in the back call which would have penalized the Chiefs,” David Denny, a freshman said.
While these rumors continue to circulate, the 2025 Superbowl has provoked widespread excitement for its potential to be just as thrilling as the same Superbowl that happened in 2022. Both Eagles and Chiefs have proven they are worthy of being in a big game, and fans are eager to see which team will come out to the top. Whether or not the NFL is “rigged” or the refs made questionable calls, the action on the field will keep the fans entertained.
