Eagles Coach's Winless Record vs. Patrick Mahomes Prompts Concern Before SB LIX

It’s not hard to be confident about the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles have won 15 of their past 16 games and hung 55 points on the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. While they’re dealing with a few injuries, they also are facing a Kansas City Chiefs team that doesn’t look as dominant as they did while winning back-to-back Super Bowls.

With a history that also includes defeating the New England Patriots dynasty in Super Bowl LII, the Eagles have a great chance of winning their second title on Feb. 9. But there is one stat that should concern Eagles fans and it’s no surprise that it starts with Patrick Mahomes.

Vic Fangio’s Record Against Patrick Mahomes a Troubling Stat for Eagles Heading Into Super Bowl LIX

Super Bowl LIX will be another meeting between Mahomes and Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. While Fangio is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the game, Mahomes has been his nemesis, posting an 8-0 record against Fangio as a defensive coordinator or head coach.

Normally, these stats come with a small sample size, but Fangio and Mahomes met frequently when they were AFC West rivals. Fangio became the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2019 and while it was his first lead job, it also meant he had to face Mahomes and the Chiefs twice a year.

Fangio had some luck when Mahomes got injured in his first meeting on Oct. 17, 2019, but he completed 10-of-11 passes for 76 yards before exiting a 30-6 Chiefs victory. Mahomes picked up where he left off in his first full meeting with Fangio a few weeks later, throwing for 340 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a 23-3 victory.

The two rivals met six times over Fangio’s three years as head coach, and the Chiefs came out on top in all six games including the 66-year-old’s final game in Denver on Jan. 8, 2022. 

After a year as an Eagles consultant, Fangio returned to the defensive coordinator role with the Miami Dolphins in 2023 but still couldn’t get out of playing Mahomes twice a year. Mahomes threw for 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 21-14 win over the Dolphins on Nov. 15, 2023, and scored another victory in the playoffs, throwing for 262 yards and a touchdown in a 26-7 win in the Wild Card round.

Overall, Mahomes has thrown for an average of 229.3 yards per game with 10 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 95.9 passer rating in eight career meetings against Fangio. The Chiefs’ offense has also averaged 26.8 points per game in those meetings, which could mean bad things for the Eagles.

An optimist would point out that the Eagles’ roster is better than the one Fangio had during his time with the Broncos. But Fangio’s defenses have ranked in the top 10 in scoring twice and top 10 in yardage three times since his first meeting with Mahomes in 2019.

It’s another matchup that will be analyzed leading into the Super Bowl and could be a determining factor in whether the Eagles can pull off an upset.

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