The Philadelphia Eagles are the kings of the NFL after blowing out the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The spotlight shines bright on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for overcoming adversity in his career. All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley also ran his way to the record for most rushing yards in the regular and postseason.

While the star skill position players get most of the recognition, the real unsung heroes of the Eagles were the big boys up front. Both lines were dominant, and it started with the offensive. The Eagles’ offensive line was pivotal to the championship run and their record-breaking rushing attack. Those numbers were not achievable without some beasts on the front lines.

Philadelphia’s offensive line was the best for multiple seasons. Primarily, it was the ability to move opposing defenses at will. The line is one of the tallest and heaviest offensive lines in the league. The championship result was unsurprising when you add a star running back and a dual-threat quarterback behind that line.

Let the big dogs eat

It’s easy for fans to use stats to pinpoint why a team won or lost. Fantasy football is one of the main causes of that. Everyone is focused on which players can give their team the most yards and points, but it isn’t just because of those players.

As a result, they forget about players on the front lines. Most fans don’t realize that when running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers perform well, it’s often because the offensive line is so great.

Let’s look at the other side of the rankings. The New England Patriots were ranked as having the worst offensive line in the league this year. Even though their roster has multiple weak areas, their offensive line has not performed well.

It isn’t a coincidence that the team with the best line won the Super Bowl. It also isn’t a coincidence that the team with one of the worst offensive lines is back to the drawing board next year. Fans can forget about offensive linemen, but to a team, they are a must-have for success more than ever.

Defense wins championships

The Eagles didn’t just win with their offensive line, though. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was rattled all game long. He was hit 11 times, sacked six times, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The pressure by the Eagles’ big guys constantly forced Mahomes into uncomfortable situations and hurried throws.

It became obvious that winning at the line of scrimmage makes a difference in football games. You will win more than you lose when you can dominate both sides of the ball.

The Eagles had the third-best defensive line this season. Combine that with one of the best offensive lines, and you have set yourself up for success. Philadelphia’s efforts to disrupt the run game, holding Kansas City to only 23 yards of offense in the first half, was the main reason why it led 34-0 at one point in the game.

Follow the blueprint

If your team wants to succeed, it must have some great linemen up front. The Chicago Bears are on the rise, but the front office has not added much to the lines. With skilled position players around young quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears must grow their talent in the trenches. Every team got a front-row seat to its importance in the Super Bowl, and prices might soar this offseason as everyone tries to replicate the Eagles’ success.

@Jon_Mathew23

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