Super Bowl LIX Comparisons: Front Seven

Leading up to the Philadelphia Eagles rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans, Sports Talk Philly and Eagledelphia will compare the personnel of the two teams each day until gameday is here.

In this edition of our week-long comparison, we will look at the front seven that the Eagles and Chiefs will field for the big game.

Philadelphia DL/LB | Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter, Milton Williams, Nolan Smith Jr., Jordan Davis, Jalyx Hunt, Moro Ojomo, Thomas Booker IV, Bryce Huff, Zack Baun, Oren Burks, Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

The lone starter returning from last Super Bowl for the Birds is Josh Sweat. He had 41 tackles and eight sacks this season for another productive year but one without his involvement in any turnovers, something that could play into his free agency. Stepping up across from him is second-year man Nolan Smith, who appeared to break out midseason. He recorded 42 tackles and 6.5 sacks during the regular season, but has been a man on fire in the playoffs with 16 tackles and four sacks for the Birds the last few weeks. Rookie Jalyx Hunt has been getting more run as the rotational guy due to other injuries late in the season and had a rather impressive 21 tackles with 1.5 sacks to close the season. He’s continues that production with a sack and eight tackles in the postseason. 

Bryce Huff, probably the worst offseason addition by the Birds this year, had an injury but was generally unproductive this season. He managed just 2.5 sacks and 13 tackles in far more snaps than Hunt was allowed. Huff has essentially only played in the NFC Championship game during this playoff run, coming in with the backups. With Brandon Graham attempting a return, it seems increasingly likely Graham would see more snaps than Huff and the latter stays on the sideline.

On the inside, Jalen Carter is already a game wrecker who gets doubled or trippled on basically every play. He had 42 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six batted passes during the season despite that and has only picked up in the playoffs with another forced fumble, three passes defensed, two sacks, and nine tackles. His usual running mate is Milton Williams, who Fangio has wanted in his defense for years. Williams has had what most would consider a career year with five sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery from the inside (and sometimes outside if need be). Jordan Davis would be the other “starter” level player in the rotation. Despite playing more on rushing downs, he had 27 tackles and a sack with two defensed passes on the season (plus a fumble recovery). He’s also notched a batted pass and a sack in the playoff run here.

Moro Ojomo and Thomas Booker have been earning more snaps over the year, with the former getting far more. Booker, as a deep reserve, has 18 tackles and a sack on the year with Ojomo had 20 tackles and five QB hits before he registered five tackles and his first sack of the season during this playoff run.

Zack Baun is one of football’s biggest breakout stories. Largely an overlooked free agent, the Eagles got him on a steal of a deal and he’s racked up 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four defensed passes, an interception, five forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery as the team’s top linebacker, earning himself his first ever All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods. Nakobe Dean was the other lineback, but with him out Oren Burks has been the second linebacker for the last two games. Two and a half games certainly isn’t a large enough sample to accurately predict his play, but he’s been pretty good overall with a weakness in coverage. Over his last two and a half games (playoffs), he has 20 tackles, a sack, a defensed pass, and two forced fumbles.

Jerimiah Trotter is used primarily as a special teamer for now.

Kansas City DL/LB | George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Danna, Malik Herring, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Charles Omenihu, Joshua Uche, Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Cam Jones

George Karlaftis is the primary threat off the outside. He hasn’t been as explosive as last season, but he’s very productive nonetheless with 8 sacks and 35 tackles to go along with 5 batted passes. He’s been explosive in the playoffs with three sacks in two games, something to watch out for. Mike Danna is having a productive season once again, but also isn’t at the same level as last year (though it should be noted he did have an injury). With 3.5 sacks and 41 tackles on the season to go with two forced fumbles, he had solid production in the regular season and has contributed a sack and forced fumble in the playoff run.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah has been the team’s step-up option for the rotation with 2.5 sacks and 27 tackles to pair with his fumble recovery and forced fumble. Charles Omenihu didn’t play nearly as much in the regular season, but has forced a fumble this postseason and both he and Anudike-Uzomah have recorded a sack of the past few weeks. Malik Herrin and Joshua Uche played more at the beginning of the year but have been inactive as of late. 

Chris Jones has been a monster for the Chiefs for nine years and he can still wrap up well (37 tackles) but his sack numbers are the lowest of his career since his rookie year and he’s forced just one fumble. He still gets the attention and has a sack in the playoffs, but he hasn’t been as unstoppable as he once was. Tershawn Wharton, who has been in on the most explosive plays from the interior, has become a strong pass-rushing tackle, with 6.5 sacks this season to accompany his 29 tackles. He also had 2 defensed passes and a forced fumble before he recorded two sacks in the Chiefs two playoff games.

Derrick Nnadi has 13 tackles across the season, but doesn’t often play much more than around 10 snaps per game. Mike Pennel is the primary rotational guy up the middle and has three sacks, a forced fumble, and 25 tackles during the regular season, though he may be the only major rotational player for the Chiefs who doesn’t have a splash play in the playoffs yet.

Nick Bolton is effective all around at linebacker, making 106 tackles, six defensed passes, an interception, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and three sacks.  He’s a weapon the Chiefs like to use around the line of scrimmage often. Drue Tranquill has the next most tackles with 94. He has two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two defensed passes of his own. Leo Chenal has 60 tackles on the season with a sack, but has registered three defensed passes and three forced fumbles, making him a player to watch out for even as the backer with lower general numbers.

Cam Jones is used as special teams and a backup only.

Edge:

The stats come out about even on these guys. The production across the starters and rotational players for the defensive linemen are extremely similar. For that area, it really might just come down to whether or not the Eagles get back Brandon Graham and be effective could be the difference maker in that decision since the slight edge goes to the Eagles for having stronger depth in Thomas Booker and Bryce Huff; BG would make that a clear victory. Looking at linebackers, the Birds have the best one in Zack Baun. With Nakobe Dean in play, it’s possible you could say they have two of the three best linebackers set to appear in the game. His injury leaves an unproved Oren Burks in this defense, however, and you’re not likely to find anyone who’d take him over the three linebackers the Chiefs use in their defense, so they may not have the top guy, but their depth there wins them this match-up.