Sports
How Kansas City Chiefs Can Defeat Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX
As the Kansas City Chiefs pursue an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl championship, they’ll need a road map to make history and overcome the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX Sunday.
Conveniently, their most recent win, a 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship, should offer plenty of guidance for the upcoming game plan, as should a previous meeting with their upcoming opponent.
Certain to be near the top of the list for prioritization will be the Chiefs’ performance in short yardage, especially on defense and in critical moments Sunday.
Against Buffalo, the Chiefs managed to stuff the Bills on fourth down just twice in six attempts, but one of those stops came in a critical short yardage situation.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen converted a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, picking up three yards on an option look. When the Bills were again successful on fourth down on the goal line, it was running back James Cook diving for the score.
Allen picked up another fourth-and-short a drive later. But four plays later, arguably the biggest play of the game, went to the Chiefs. Kansas City stood Allen up for no gain with the Bills nursing a 22-21 lead.
The Chiefs scored to go ahead on the ensuing drive and went on to win the game.
Opinions remain divided on whether Allen crept across the first-down line to gain on that play. From any vantage point, the Chiefs’ defense showed a sturdiness in keeping it from being an automatic first down in a critical situation.
It wasn’t an aberration. The Chiefs managed to stuff Allen three separate times in QB sneak situations. Next Gen Stats credited KC for the most such stops in a single game the last nine years.
That could bode well against Philadelphia and its reliance on the infamous “tush push,” a short yardage formation that generally nets positive results for the Eagles and has befuddled the Chiefs defense in previous matchups.
Jalen Hurts scored twice out of the formation in Super Bowl LVII, a game the Chiefs won by three to kick off their current pursuit of a three-peat.
In the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders, Hurts scored out of the formation twice and so frustrated the Commanders with the play that at one point referee Shawn Hochuli felt compelled to threaten Washington with awarding points to the Eagles to keep them from continuing to jump offsides.
If the Chiefs can win occasionally in those situations—and they now have evidence to believe that’s the case—it will go a long way in getting them a win on Sunday.
Kansas City likely will look to lean on another tactic that served them well in that previous Super Bowl, as well as in last week’s AFC Championship: exploit man coverage.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was given the green light to run more against Buffalo, with several good gains on the ground coming at the expense of man coverage. Mahomes finished with a season-high 11 rushing attempts, which netted 43 yards and two touchdowns.
In addition, Mahomes defeated Buffalo’s man schemes through the air, most notably with a quick out to Xavier Worthy, which Worthy turned into an 11-yard scoring play.
Two years ago in this spot, Mahomes twice burned the Eagles with scoring passes in obvious man situations near the goal line and had similar success on the ground, running for 44 yards (on six attempts).
For the Chiefs to reach rarified air, the script might end up being that simple. Stand up strong on short yardage, and let Mahomes cook against man defense, and a third trophy lift in three years will very likely be on the menu.
Sports
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
Apr 4, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York forward Emil Forsberg (10) tries to gain control of the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are struggling at the opposite ends of the pitch.
Over their last four MLS matches, D.C. United have failed to score. Meanwhile, over the Red Bulls’ last four league games, they have surrendered 14 goals.
When the teams meet Wednesday night in Harrison, N.J., they will be seeking answers for their recent woes.
The lack of scoring punch is nothing new for D.C. United (2-4-2, 8 points). Last year, the club scored 30 goals, the fewest in MLS. D.C. also failed to score in four straight league matches from May 10-24, 2025.
It’s been a challenge for the Black and Red to remain positive. In addition to going 0-2-2 during their scoreless MLS run, they fell last week on penalty kicks to One Knoxville SC in a U.S. Open Cup match in which they put up three goals.
“I think we’ve shown we can create. I think it’s just about being very precise in some moments on both sides of the ball,” said D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had four saves in a scoreless draw Saturday at the Philadelphia Union.
The offensive struggles of D.C. were evident as it took just six shots against Philadelphia, none of which were on frame. Coach Rene Weiler said he expects a similar challenge against New York (3-3-2, 11 points).
“You have to find ways to score goals,” Weiler said. “First of all, you have to accept the fight and the physical game because most of the teams on our side of the league are very physical.”
The Red Bulls look to rebound from a dispiriting 4-1 loss Saturday at CF Montreal in which their lone tally was an own goal.
Lowly CF Montreal has just two wins this season, both against the Red Bulls, who they have outscored 7-1.
Julian Hall (five goals, two assists) and Emil Forsberg (one goal, two assists) provide firepower for New York, which hopes to rediscover its defense against its longtime MLS rival.
“Games against D.C. United always carry extra weight,” Red Bulls manager Michael Bradley said. “We’re gonna step on the field at home on Wednesday night ready to give everything we have to respond in a really strong way.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
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Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
