Instincts Will Decide Pass Catcher Matchups In Super Bowl LVII

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In Super Bowl LVII, the world will get to watch some of the best pass catchers in the NFL. Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs is arguably the best tight end in the league. As for the Philadelphia Eagles, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith combine to form one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. Overall, the athleticism, occasional physicality and quickness of these pass catchers are highly impressive. The instincts of each group may be the most impactful, when it comes to winning Super Bowl LVII, however.

Each of the Chiefs and the Eagles make it look all too easy with the passing game at times. The amount of times that Kelce, Brown or Smith are wide open happens more often than you would expect. Interestingly, all of these top pass catchers win with different styles. The same could be said about some of the depth pass catchers taking part in Super Bowl LVII.

How will the instincts of these specific pass catcher and defensive back matchups determine the Super Bowl LVII winner? Plus, what advantages does each team possibly have on offense through the air? Let’s kick it off.

Winning In Tight Areas

Winning pass catching battles in tight areas is easier said than done. But in Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs or the Eagles could truly make this look easier than most would anticipate. The little details that these groups excel at is almost second nature for some of these receivers.

On the Kansas City side, Kelce is tremendous at understanding leverage and just taking what the defensive back is offering him. It is rare to see a tight end add the wiggle that he is does at the top of route stems. Mainly, his ability to flip his hips and feet in tight areas can lead to a plethora of yards after the catch. Additionally, the Chiefs tight end is impeccable with the timing of his hands and jumps in contested catch situations.

On the Philadelphia side, the duo of Brown and Smith are simply sneaky with their pass catching techniques in tight areas. The finer details that they exude truly leads to guessing from certain defensive backs. Brown and Smith do a great job of flashing their hands at the last possible second. As a result, opposing defenders are unaware of where the ball is and when they need to look to find it. Brown will also attack the football in somewhat of a patient style, letting his arms guide how he decides to adjust to the football. Finally, Smith can play bigger than his size, as the Alabama product utilizes his abundant catch radius to make any 50-50 battle sway in his favor.

Attacking In Space

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As you move to the depth pass catchers of each team in Super Bowl LVII, there is still a blend of smarts and instincts that stand out. This is something that was previously missing, not all too long ago, for both Kansas City and Philadelphia. In turn, the Chiefs and the Eagles have become more complete as passing attacks. That helps to make the jobs of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts that much easier.

Both teams can kill secondaries by attacking them in space and forcing them to make tackles. Yet, it is more than just relying on speed and ample cushion to hit on explosive plays, like the Chiefs and Eagles did in the past. Now, it is much more efficient for each pass catching group when working down the field.

From Kansas City’s perspective, the Chiefs have brought in names like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney to help extend drives in simpler ways. This trio has a great understanding of body positioning, controlling their tempo during routes and finding the sticks when necessary. Meanwhile, the Eagles have trust in Dallas Goedert, Quez Watkins and Zach Pascal to create their own space. That group can fill any role that Philadelphia needs. Most of all, that Philadelphia trio is incredibly stout at extending their quarterback’s throwing window.

Combating With Length And Physicality

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To counteract these dominant pass catchers, each of the Chiefs and the Eagles can rely on physicality or length in Super Bowl LVII. Certainly, both Kansas City and Philadelphia can also win with their reactive quickness and athletic ability at defensive back. The disruption that each secondary can create is flying under the radar, though.

What is amazing about this for Kansas City, is that the Chiefs are largely relying on youth to shut down the passing game. Names like Justin Reid, Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams are not afraid to stick their face into the grill of the opposing pass catchers. We have seen them throw wide receivers off track during their routes. To boot, the Chiefs have seen this group grow, in terms of being better timed at the catch point.

The Eagles are more of a veteran-led defensive back group. In Super Bowl LVII, the group of Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox and CJ Gardner-Johnson will look to frustrate opponents, once again. This Philadelphia secondary just knows how to impose their will, while still remaining under control.

Can either pass catching group find tricks to reverse that frustration in Super Bowl LVII? Time will tell if both receiving corps can settle in and find comfort by outsmarting the defensive backs.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs Super Bowl LVII articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.