"Underdog vs. Underdog"—the 2017 NFL Super Bowl matchup was truly fascinating.
It's worth noting that both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles had a chance to rewrite history and craft their own fairy tale ending. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
For the Chiefs, this marked their third trip to the Super Bowl after appearances in 1966 and 1969. Their only championship came in 1969. Now, after 47 years, they were back on the biggest stage, brimming with excitement.
For the Eagles, this was also their third Super Bowl appearance, after reaching the final in 1980 and 2004. They had yet to win a title, and this season appeared to be their best shot yet.
In the 50+ years of Super Bowl history, there were still 13 teams that had never claimed a title.
Among them, the Bills, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals, Titans, Chargers, and Bengals had all reached the Super Bowl but failed to win.
Then there were teams that had never even made it to the Super Bowl: the Browns, Lions, Jaguars, and Texans.
And finally—the Eagles.
This season, while the Eagles were certainly underdogs, they had a remarkable year. As the NFC's #1 seed with a 13-3 record and a dominating run into the Super Bowl, their performance couldn't be ignored.
Compared to the Chiefs' rollercoaster ride—a season of highs and lows, several moments on the brink of collapse, and a miraculous resurgence—the Eagles had more stability and control, giving them a slight edge heading into the championship.
Perhaps, the Eagles would finally break their championship drought.
Ultimately, no matter who won, it would be historic and a fitting end to a dramatic 2017 season.
Still, all of this speculation was just talk—true competition is decided on the field, not on paper.
No one had forgotten, nor should they, that in Week 2 of the regular season, the Chiefs—considered underdogs—shocked the Eagles. Who's to say Doug Pederson wouldn't once again falter against his mentor Andy Reid?
To truly know the answer, they'd have to take it to the field.
Naturally, some backed the Eagles, while others stood with the Chiefs.
This "Underdog vs. Underdog" clash was too close to call. On ESPN's "Inside the League," the ten analysts were evenly split, 5–5 in support of each team.
It was the most balanced pre-game split seen in years.
Among them, Lance superfan Lawson once again threw his full support behind the Chiefs. It was no surprise—he had backed the Chiefs faithfully all season, through good and bad, earning him the reputation of being Lance's discoverer.
But Lawson wasn't just a blind fan. His analysis was consistently rational and grounded.
Lawson believed the Chiefs had been forged through fire during the playoffs: surviving Derrick Henry's ground assault, weathering Tom Brady's aerial onslaught, and withstanding the Jaguars' top-tier defense. Each opponent was a test, and the Chiefs emerged stronger every time.
Step by step, they evolved.
By the time the Chiefs reached the Super Bowl, they were ready to face any challenge.
Lawson's theory, dubbed the "level-up journey" by fans, likened the Chiefs to a video game hero battling stronger and stronger bosses. If they won the Super Bowl, the season would become a tale of heroic growth and transformation.
At the core of this belief? Lance.
Lawson made no secret of his unwavering faith in the season's biggest revelation.
Not only fans, but even his fellow panelists acknowledged the strength of his argument. After the episode aired, his comments sparked lively discussion across social media.
And what of Lance-hater Bart?
Having accurately predicted the Chiefs' win last round (to his own horror), Bart found himself conflicted again.
Whether he guessed wrong or right, he was always annoyed.
So for the final game of the season, how did Bart decide?
"Philadelphia."
He swore it wasn't personal. Just objective analysis. Of course, he also admitted that seeing Lance win again would drive him crazy. The thought of the league worshipping Lance for an entire offseason gave him hives.
Still, Bart claimed it was logic, not emotion.
He broke down every matchup: KC offense vs. PHI defense, PHI offense vs. KC defense, special teams vs. special teams. Line by line.
His verdict: the Eagles had a slight edge, especially with Pederson's remarkable in-game coaching improvement throughout the playoffs.
Even Las Vegas agreed. Odds favored the Eagles, and as more public bets flooded in, the bookmakers adjusted accordingly.
From analysts to fans, the consensus was tilting slightly in Philly's favor.
Still close. But the scale had tipped, just a bit.
Of course, no show is complete without drama.
"…I don't see any way Kansas City wins."
Boom. Chaos.
As expected, Bart's hot take ignited a firestorm. No one stirred the pot like him, managing to enrage both Chiefs lovers and haters alike with a single sentence.
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Powerstones?
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