Image source, Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is using the pain of losing the Super Bowl two seasons ago to the Kansas City Chiefs as motivation this week as he prepares his team for Sunday's rematch.

The Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 in the Super Bowl in February 2023 and Sirianni say his team, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, probably wouldn't be here without the pain of that defeat.

"Adversity does something to you. If you embrace adversity it can shape you to who you are," Sirianni said. "Obviously that's been the case with Jalen and through his career. This game is not easy. This game has it's ups and downs.

"Nobody in the NFL pitches a perfect game. That doesn't exist in the NFL. You're going to have bad plays. You're going to have good plays. It's about focusing on the next.

"Going back to the 2023 season, we're grateful for that. We're thankful for that. As bad as it [stunk], I'm grateful for that."

See what all the big names from the Chiefs and Eagles had to say at the mass media night at the start of Super Bowl week.

Image source, BBC Sport

Eagles fan Larry is here with his family. He's been to some top events in the US, but the Super Bowl hits different though.

"I can't explain it," he said. "I've been to the Kentucky Derby, all that kind of stuff. This is wilder, it's just amazing.

"I just feel good, I'm happy to be here with my family. I mean, I'm 85, how many more Super Bowls am I going to go to? So this is it baby."

Taylor Swift has been spotted inside the stadium!

The official NFL X account has shared a short video of the singer arriving alongside American rapper Ice Spice.

Image source, NFL

Image source, BBC Sport

Kansas City Chiefs fans Bailey, Cassie and Leah paid $3,200 for their tickets and feel blessed they get to watch this Chiefs team make history.

"It's been a weekend to remember, New Orleans has been a party from sun up to sun down," Cassie said.

"Some of our family lived their whole lives rooting for the Chiefs and never got this opportunity so we just feel blessed we've got this opportunity and we're soaking it all in.

On whether Taylor Swift will get an engagement ring from Travis Kelce if the Chiefs win, Cassie added: "I think she's going to come out at half-time with Kendrick and show us that she already has one!"

Travis Kelce was asked a lot about Taylor Swift this week, obviously! And what came across most was his respect for her work ethic, which he's trying to emulate in his NFL career.

Image source, BBC Sport

A bespoke menu has been created for fans at today's game, influenced by the Cajun and Creole cuisine to be found in New Orleans. About 70,000 spectators need to be fed so a LOT has been produced for them to tuck in to:

• 5,000+ alligator sausages (yes, really!!)
• 6,500+ pounds (almost three tons) of shrimp just for po'boy sandwiches
• 50,000+ locally-sourced baguettes (from the Leidenheimer bakery, a New Orleans institution… it's not a real po'boy unless it's on Leidenheimer bread)
• 5,000+ slices of pizza
• 7,000+ hot dogs
• 50,000+ cocktails
• 150,000+ nacho chips
• 700,000+ ounces of beer expected to be served
• A half-ton (800 lbs) of soft-shell crab
• 1.3 tons of short ribs
• 12,000 locally-sourced oysters

Katie Smith
BBC Radio 5 Live in New Orleans

It's starting to get busy outside the Superdome with fans flooding in. The atmosphere is great, with barbecue stalls set up on the side of the road and music blaring from the street corners.

The police presence is also very noticeable, some of the fans I spoke to say it is making them feel very safe and it's enhanced the atmosphere around the game.

Image source, BBC Sport

Saquon Barkley has been a monster for the Eagles this season, so stopping him will be the cornerstone of Kansas City's game plan.

They've not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 18 games though so have the right stuff defensively, but Barkley has been a different animal this season.

Stop Barkley though, and that puts a lot of pressure on Jalen Hurts to win it with his arm, and that's the plan.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Travis Kelce knows New Orleans well, a little too well, and in fact his career almost ended in the Big Easy before it even started.

That's because he partied too hard down Bourbon Street ahead of a college game, failed a drugs test afterwards and lost his place on the team.

His brother Jason saved the day, eventually, but his record career with the Chiefs, three Super Bowl wins and of course relationship with Taylor Swift may never have happened.

"I owe New Orleans one," Kelce said.

Read more about the Kelce story

Image source, Getty Images

Everyone knows how good Saquon Barkley is.

Touchdown runs of 60, 62 and 78 yards in the play-offs showcased his game-breaking abilities.

The Eagles need him to let rip if they're going to win.

But then in the Super Bowl last season, the Chiefs held Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers - a star running back of similar ilk - to just 80 yards and no touchdowns.

Can they do likewise to Barkley?

After six seasons with the New York Giants, former second overall draft pick Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles on a three-year, $38m (£30.6m) deal. Has he been worth the money?

Emphatically yes.

He became just the ninth man to rush for more than 2,000 yards, finishing the regular season with 2,005 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns. He also had a further 278 receiving yards and two scores, adding 442 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the play-offs.

Barkley will no doubt break two more records in the Super Bowl. With 2,447 on the ground, he needs 30 rushing yards to surpass the great Terrell Davis for the most in a season, including the play-offs.

At 2,760 total yards he's just two behind Davis' current total benchmark.

Craving more Barkley stats? Check out the full piece

Image source, BBC SPORT

Here's what our columnist Phoebe Schecter had to say about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who she thinks will be the key player tonight.

"I would say that the NFC Championship game was the best version that we have seen of Hurts. He and Barkley had three rushing touchdowns each, and Hurts had a touchdown pass too.

"But I think this is a huge game for him because if you look at the one person who has the most pressure on them, it is Hurts. It isn't Barkley, it isn't the Eagles' offensive line - those guys have been terrific - and they've got the number one defence.

"The Chiefs don't have stress on them because if they don't win, well they've gotten to the Super Bowl five times [in six years]. I think Hurts is going to bear the brunt of it. He's the guy that is going to be the reason why the Eagles win or lose."

Read Phoebe Schecter's full Super Bowl preview column

After an amazing first season in Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley could win his first Super Bowl today on what is also his 28th birthday.

What a present that would be.

Who will add their name to the list tonight?

Taylor Swift's father is a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, could that be awkward today? Travis Kelce says he will talk to his possible father-in-law - who has been spotted at Chiefs games with his daughter.

The Super Bowl and New Orleans are a match made in heaven, and here's why...

The Kansas City Chiefs have been inevitable this season.

Fifteen wins snagged them top spot in the AFC and a bye through the first round of the play-offs. They followed that by edging out the Houston Texans the Buffalo Bills (again) in the Championship Game.

Nobody does clutch better than Patrick Mahomes and company.

After a 2-2 start before their bye, the Philadelphia Eagles were flying for the rest of the regular season, winning the NFC East and gaining the second seed for the play-offs with their 14-3 record.

In the play-offs, they rattled through the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams before demolishing their NFC East rivals Washington Commanders in the Championship game.

Joining Trump on his trip to the Super Bowl will be his children Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and her son.

The US President has been pictured waving to crowds inside the Ceaser's Superdome and posing for pictures with groups of people.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters