Super Bowl

Graeme Langford
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in New Orleans

Image source, Getty Images

I got the chance to speak with four-time Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski this week as he will be part of the Fox TV team.

It is their turn to broadcast this year's Super Bowl and Gronkowski's former team-mate Tom Brady will be making his Super Bowl debut as a TV analyst with Fox.

On fellow tight end Travis Kelce, Gronkowski said: "He had 23 days off before going in to the Divisional game against the Houston Texans and he dominated. He's a little bit older (35) so that recovery's huge.

"Now he's just had another week off so I feel like he's going to be well rested, ready to roll and absolutely dominate once again.

"Those wheels will be turning, they're going to be fresh, and if you get a fresh Travis Kelce, he can do some serious damage to the defence."

Nesta McGregor
Sport Reporter in New Orleans

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The NFL is a league that prides itself on parity.

With the draft system and salary cap key to ensuring that's the case.

It's rare to see a team dominate for long periods like the Kansas City Chiefs are presently doing.

Walking around New Orleans speaking to fans - most neutrals are rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, just because.

Now as a child my mum used to say, "Let your brothers win sometimes otherwise the game will get boring."

However that doesn't really translate to professional sports and speaking to Chiefs owner Clark Hunt - they are happy to be 'the villains' and have no plans to stop winning.

"It just comes with the territory but we're going to keep giving it our best every year," he said.

"New Orleans is a very special place for our family and the organisation. It's where we won our very first Super Bowl (Super Bowl 4) in 1970.

"So for us to do it (a three-peat] in the city we won our first - would be so special."

Image source, BBC Sport

Some pre-game reading for you with Ben Collins' big Super Bowl preview from New Orleans:

"The confetti was still falling after the Kansas City Chiefs defended their NFL title when Patrick Mahomes turned to a team-mate.

"We're not done, dog," said the Chiefs quarterback. "I want three, no-one's ever got three. I want back to back to back."

A year later, they are on the brink of doing just that as Mahomes has led the Chiefs back to the NFL's championship game.

If they win in New Orleans on Sunday they will become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.

Their date with destiny is against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team they beat to begin their Super Bowl trilogy two years ago.

And some of the world's biggest celebrities are heading to arguably the greatest Super Bowl city - as well as Donald Trump, who will become the first sitting US president to attend America's biggest sport event."

Read the rest of the Super Bowl preview.

Image source, Getty Images

NFL analyst Jason Bell on how the Eagles win:

"You've got to dethrone Mahomes. Until somebody does that, you've got to back the Chiefs. Josh Allen went close but not close enough – and he's the MVP.

"You just have to look at what Mahomes does on third downs. They're crucial, so that's how you really assess a quarterback."

Paul Higham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, BBC Sport

Watch out for Mahomes the runner

The Eagles defence will be swarming all over Mahomes, but they have to be careful not to get too aggressive and allow him to wriggle free because he is a lethal scrambler in the play-offs.

Mahomes is not especially quick, but he is nimble, and what makes him dangerous is that on broken plays his telepathy with tight end Kelce is so good that defenders never know if he will attempt an ambitious throw or tuck and run.

He proved the difference against the Buffalo Bills, with two rushing touchdowns and ran for seven first downs in the play-offs to keep drives alive.

Although he threw three touchdowns against Philadelphia in their previous Super Bowl meeting, his late 26-yard scramble was crucial to the Chiefs winning - and that was on a bad ankle.

Image source, Getty Images

Washington Commanders defensive lineman Efe Obada gave BBC Sport his pre-game prediction.

"I think it's going to be a good game and I'll give you some key factors. I haven't seen the Chiefs blow out anybody all season. Unfortunately, I've witnessed first hand that the Eagles can blow out teams, so if the Chiefs can't contain Barkley, Hurts and the Eagles' receiving corps early, I think it's going to be very tough.

"Mahomes is obviously a magician who is able to win games, so can dig them out of that hole.

"It's going to be an interesting game. I think Barkley is going to be one of the deciding factors, but at this point, I think it's going to be very hard to bet against Mahomes, so it's 50-50."

Paul Higham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Can the Chiefs stop Barkley?

Star running back Barkley is just 30 yards short of the NFL record for a single season and is the big weapon for the Eagles. He can score from anywhere and is as dangerous in the fourth quarter as the first.

The Chiefs have not not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 18 games though, and if they can neutralise his threat they could be in business.

...but Hurts could steal the show

Of course, if the Chiefs put everything into stopping Barkley, that could allow Hurts the chance to reproduce his performance from his last Super Bowl - when he ran for 70 yards and three rushing touchdowns and threw for 304 yards and another score.

It was one of the greatest quarterback displays in Super Bowl history, but is largely forgotten thanks to his one key error and the result. With receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith truly elite, and Hurts a powerful runner, the Chiefs cannot afford to overlook him.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport NFL writer Paul Higham is expecting a big game from Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert

Dallas Goedert of the Eagles is an elite tight end, and the Chiefs have struggled to defend that position all season - giving up the most yards and third-most catches per game to tight ends this season.

Tight ends are a match-up nightmare as they are too quick for linebackers but too big and strong for defensive backs. Goedert has already shown that in the play-offs and leads the Eagles in catches, targets, receiving yards and big plays.

And once he gets the ball he is so hard to stop, as he has compiled 123 yards after the catch during this play-off run.

Ben Collins
BBC Sport Journalist

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The build-up to last year's Super Bowl was dominated by speculation over whether Taylor Swift would make it to Las Vegas in time as she was performing in Tokyo the night before. She did, to see Kansas City beat San Francisco in overtime.

This time there is little doubt over her presence, while former first lady Jill Biden – a lifelong Philly fan – is also expected to be there.

Swift was joined by Caitlin Clark for one of the Chiefs' play-off games, and the global music star watched Super Bowl 58 with Blake Lively and her boyfriend's brother Jason. He was wearing Kansas City dungarees that day, but this year he's backing his former team as his wife Kylie is a diehard Eagles fan.

Bradley Cooper and Rob McElhenney have watched games with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, while other Philly fans include Will Smith, Kevin Hart and Tina Fey.

Kansas City fans Sheryl Crow and Paul Rudd were at Super Bowl 58, while Brad Pitt and Jason Sudeikis are also Chiefs fans.

Other celebrities there last year included Elon Musk, Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Jay Z, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

Image source, Getty Images

The Kansas City Chiefs had a perfect attendance in practice for the third straight day.

The defending champions ran through a 70-minute practice on Friday that focused heavily on situational football.

The team will conduct a short walk-through practice on Saturday prior to taking a team photo.

"We're in a good spot," said head coach Andy Reid. "You've got to make sure you stay focused the next couple of days and keep getting yourself ready. We'll get a walk-through in tomorrow and then go play."

Image source, Getty Images

This year's Super Bowl is the 11th to be held in New Orleans, tying the record with Miami

It also extends the Superdome's record for hosting more Super Bowls than any other stadium, taking it to eight overall.

Tulane Stadium:

1970: Kansas City 23-7 Minnesota 7

1972: Dallas 24-3 Miami

1975: Pittsburgh 16-6 Minnesota

Superdome:

1978: Dallas 27-10 Denver

1981: Oakland 27-10 Philadelphia

1986: Chicago 46-10 New England

1990: San Francisco 55-10 Denver

1997: Green Bay 35-21 New England

2002: New England 20-17 St. Louis

2013: Baltimore 34-31 San Francisco

2025: Kansas City v Philadelphia

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 on Sunday.

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

Who will win the Super Bowl?

Watch this clip as Eagles fan Anthony and Chiefs fan Brad try to convince each other their team will win.

Image source, Reuters

The Philadelphia Eagles had their lightest practice of the week on Friday, although head coach Nick Sirianni said their one-hour workout was normal for a Friday.

"I thought the focus was there and the energy was there and the effort was there," he added.

Two players were limited in practice - guard Nick Gates (groin) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring).

Defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow) hopes to play in his third Super Bowl and was among nine others who were on the injury report but practiced in full.

Graham and CJ Uzomah (abdomen) are questionable to play. The Eagles have until 16:00 local time on Saturday to activate them from Injured Reserve in order for them to play.

The Eagles will close out their Super Bowl prep with more film study, a mock game and the team photo on Saturday.

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist in New Orleans

Image source, BBC Sport

Work has been going on at this New Orleans intersection since Monday and on Thursday it was revealed what it was all about.

ESPN has constructed a stage in the Warehouse/Arts District from which it is broadcasting preview shows for Sunday's Super Bowl.

It is in the middle of several bars and restaurants, with the Caesars casino as a backdrop.

And with out-of-towners having started flooding into the city since Thursday, it's started to get quite lively around the set.

That, of course, is exactly what they wanted as the excitement builds towards the big game in the Big Easy.

But don't let that cloud fool you, the temperature has crept up towards 30C towards the end of the week.

Super Bowl winner Martellus Bennett talks to BBC Sport about coping with winning and losing the big game

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The Kansas City Chiefs have been practising this week at Tulane's Yulman Stadium and there have been plenty of positive vibes around the place.

At one point on Thursday, while the starting offense was in a huddle, The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring started playing over the speakers.

As the song progressed, several players started singing along, yelling, "Whoa-oh!" in time with the song.

"They know that it's a privilege and an honour to be here, but at the same time they want to make sure they enjoy each day," coach Andy Reid said. "That's the thing you probably see. This group has kind of been that way the whole year; it's a unique group that way."

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is excited for first NFL game in Ireland, which will be held in Dublin later this year.