In a game with so much Super Bowl history on the line, the Chiefs and Eagles aren’t just full of star players, they have quality depth. Some of those players have the ability and opportunity to emerge into the spotlight. Get to know who are some of the big game’s X-factors.
Super Bowl 59 features a litany of big names and stars.
From Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts to Travis Kelce and Saquon Barkley to A.J. Brown and Chris Jones and more, this Kansas City Chiefs versus Philadelphia Eagles rematch from two years ago in football’s biggest game won’t suffer from a lack of important players.
While all of them will play major roles in the game’s outcome, they won’t be the only key players on the field. Look to the shadows for the potential of Super Bowl X-factors.
A breakout performance in the final game of the NFL season can turn a relatively lesser-known player into a household name overnight. Players like wide receiver Santonio Holmes and running back James White did it in their respective championship wins for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 43 and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51.
Despite a few returning players from the last time the Chiefs and Eagles met in the Super Bowl, there are a lot of new faces primed to make an impact this time around.
Here are five of those Super Bowl X-factors to keep a close eye on Sunday night in New Orleans:
Eagles Tight End Dallas Goedert
Goedert is well known among diehard NFL fans and fantasy football players, but his place among the sport’s elite tight ends has been mitigated by injuries over the past two seasons. However, he’s excelled this season and should be a big target for Hurts when and if his top pass catchers, Brown and DeVonta Smith, are covered by defenders.
Goedert, a seventh-year pro, missed seven regular-season games due to hamstring and knee injuries, but he’s returned for the postseason and caught 15 of 18 targets for 188 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ three wins.
His advanced metrics are terrific, too, as he ranks first in burn yards per route (2.9), third in burn yards per target (11.32) target (11.32), second in open percentage (88.6) and seventh in burn percentage (64.3) among tight ends with at least 70 targets (including the playoffs).
Goedert excels at getting open in the playoffs, with his 88.9% open rate ranking third among tight ends with at least seven targets.
With the Chiefs likely to key in on Brown and Smith on the outside and Barkley coming out of the backfield, Goedert should play a sizable role in what offensive coordinator Kellen Moore wants his unit to do in this game.
Chiefs Defensive End George Karlaftis
Like in the 2023 postseason, Karlaftis has been one of the better edge rushers. He dominated in the divisional round with 3.0 sacks against the Houston Texans.
Karlaftis also was consistently good throughout the regular season, finishing with 8.0 sacks. Including the playoffs, he leads the NFL in pass-rush snaps (420) and ranks sixth in pressures (74), second in knockdowns (31) and tied for 11th in adjusted sacks (13).
With Jones in the middle and Mike Danna on the other side of the defensive line, Karlaftis will play an integral role in thwarting Hurts’ playmaking ability. It could all lead to the Chiefs becoming Super Bowl champions for a record third consecutive season.
Eagles Defensive Tackle Milton Williams
Williams’ potential star power is buried behind bigger names on the Eagles’ defensive line – former first-rounders Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis – so he’s a sure-fire Super Bowl X-factor who’s been a great ancillary piece to coach Vic Fangio’s front four.
Including the playoffs, his 20.4% pressure rate ranks seventh among defensive tackles with at least 250 pass-rush snaps and his adjusted sack rate of 4.7% ranks third – meaning when he pressures the quarterback, his team ends up getting the sack.
The 2021 third-round pick has seen consistent action in the past, but this season, Williams has emerged even more with seven starts and a career-best 5.0 sacks.
With the Chiefs focused on stopping Carter and Davis up front and linebackers Nolan Smith and Zach Baun at the next level, this Super Bowl X-factor has the opportunity to seize some moments in a game that will be decided by the slimmest of margins.
Chiefs Wide Receiver Hollywood Brown
A first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Brown had his first 1,000-yard season in 2021 before being traded for the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 and joining the Chiefs this offseason on a one-year prove-it deal. A serious shoulder injury in the preseason appeared to end his season, but he returned and played in Weeks 16 and 17.
Brown’s presence doesn’t suddenly turn the Chiefs passing attack into the old Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” but his fresh legs will be important on a tired offense. Mahomes’ top-three targets – Kelce, Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins – have combined for 2,230 offensive snaps this season.
Brown’s 2024 stats are sparse and unimpressive – nine receptions for 91 yards in two games. His 63.6% burn rate and 9.6 burn yards per target are right around the league average. However, his 81.8% open rate on 22 targets is a good starting point, and it ranks 18th among receivers with that same floor.
With so much focus on the aforementioned trio of pass catchers, Mahomes could look to Brown as a viable target in the middle of the field. Brown’s 9.5 yardage depth is slightly above Worthy’s and Kelce’s, and he caught three of his five receptions for 35 yards in the AFC championship game.
Brown has the history and experience to play a pivotal role in Super Bowl 59 if called upon, and his performance could turn around what once looked like a promising career.
Chiefs Cornerback Jaylen Watson
Trent McDuffie is the Chiefs’ No. 1 cornerback, but Watson will be tasked with locking down either Brown or Smith. He missed the final 11 regular-season games after he suffered a broken fibula and tibia in Week 7, but returned for the divisional round against the Houston Texans.
Watson was solid in limited time this season, with his 42.9% burn rate ranking 25th among 113 cornerbacks with at least 200 pass coverage snaps. While Watson hasn’t seen too much attention this postseason with just three targets on 43 pass coverage snaps, he’s made the most of his opportunities with a 33.0% burn-allowed rate.
Hurts doesn’t necessarily focus his attention squarely on one target in any given game, as Brown and Goedert have 18 targets each and Smith 16 in the playoffs. Having flexibility in the secondary will be key for the Chiefs’ defensive success.
A lot hinges on Watson’s ability to play well in critical situations when McDuffie is otherwise occupied, while KC defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have his hands full incorporating coverages that confuse Hurts and thwart Philadelphia’s passing game.
Watson has a lot of postseason game experience for such a young player (nine appearances in his first three seasons). That’s good for his confidence in critical moments, but this is the first time he’s been called upon to play a bigger role. He’s typically played as an auxiliary cornerback behind McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed.
This game is Watson’s moment to step into the spotlight, be a Super Bowl X-factor and prove he’s the true No. 2 cornerback for the Chiefs.
Enjoy this? You can also follow our social accounts over on X, Threads, Bluesky and Facebook.
