Patrick Mahomes can lead Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl immortality with victory over Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles

Season finales in all the best television shows always have a shocking twist which leave fans reeling as their jaws hit the front-room floor. But there a chance the last game of the NFL campaign could contain a similar upset preventing the Kansas City Chiefs from becoming the first team to win three successive Super Bowls.

They are one of nine teams to have successfully retained the Vince Lombardi Trophy but the first to return to the NFL showpiece the following year.

The last team to win three straight championships in American sports were the Los Angeles Lakers, who ruled the NBA in 2000, 2001 and 2002 while the New York Yankees dominated baseball’s World Series with victories in the three years from 1998 to the millennium. Nearly as impressive as Manchester City winning the Premier League four times on the trot, huh?

Anyhow, the script has been set for coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes to lead the Chiefs into the record books in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9 where they will face the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kansas City, the 7/2 favourites when the season started in September, claimed the top seed despite not being overly impressive this season but returned to their brilliant best in the AFC Championship game on Sunday when they held off a late rally from those perennial bridesmaids the Buffalo Bills to emerge as 32-29 winners in a real humdinger.

Mahomes threw for 245 yards and a touchdown and ran in two more scores while lightning-quick wide receiver Xavier Worthy eclipsed the efforts of tight-end Travis Kelce, making it a rare occasion when his romance with watching superstar Taylor Swift was overshadowed.

Eagles fans will be hoping to party in Bourbon Street after the big game following their team’s rout over the Washington Commanders to lift the NFC title, where running back Saquon Barkley ran 60 yards on their first play for the first of his three touchdowns in a lopsided 55-23 victory.

Barkley has been a revelation since being picked up as a free agent and his MVP credentials will whip up enthusiasm in the City of Brotherly Love that Philly can win their second Super Bowl and gain revenge for their defeat to Kansas City two years ago.

But the Commanders gave up eight costly penalties and committed four turnovers which were converted into 28 points and unsung Chiefs assistant coach Steve Spagnuolo and his disciplined defense won’t be as generous.

Take the Chiefs at 4/5 with Betway, BetMGM, BetVictor, BoyleSports and 888Sport to create history and avoid a twist in the tale.

• Jannik Sinner believes he won’t be a complete player until he follows his third grand slam success – achieved with a straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open – with triumphs on the clay at Roland Garros and the Centre Court grass at Wimbledon.

He is certainly several levels above the rest of the ATP Tour, and is 3/1 with Betfred to win the French Open in May, but hold your horses until the uncertainty surrounding last year’s doping case is resolved as he may yet be banned from playing and forced to miss the fun and frolics in Paris. 

• Leyton Orient, Birmingham, Walsall and Notts County form Tuesday’s Football League acca which can also be permed into a yankee or Lucky 15.

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