The Super Bowl is upon us again, and I’m here to tell you how to pick a team to root for if you have no particular attachment, emotional or otherwise, to the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

Except I already did that two years ago.

My five-point system to subjectively pick a side recommended backing the Eagles over the Chiefs. That did not actually result in you picking a winner, but that’s not really what fandom is about. And I can say that as a longtime Washington Apparently-Still-the-Commanders fan who has gone over 30 years without his team making it to the big game, although they sure came close this year.

Not a lot has changed for the Eagles and Chiefs since their matchup in Super Bowl LVII, except the Eagles have Saquon Barkley and the Chiefs have Taylor Swift. But Sports Editor Jordan Holland declined to rerun the column from two years ago, so we’re going to try this again.

Geography

A primary criteria for many people’s fandom is geography, although that doesn’t explain my affinity for the Commanders or, in baseball, the Miami Marlins. Nevertheless, let’s start here.

Unlike the Raiders, Rams and Chargers in recent years, the Chiefs and Eagles haven’t moved since last they clashed on the sport’s biggest stage. According to Google, those cities are right where we left them in 2023, with Kansas City 766 miles away from Parkersburg and the City of Brotherly Love within a hop, skip and 422 miles. EAGLES 1, CHIEFS 0

Alma Maters

Neither team is exactly nearby, but maybe some of their players took the field in college for teams with local followings.

No Mountaineers or Bobcats can be found on either roster, but Philadelphia does have former Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell, who recorded six catches in five regular season games but did not make it into the box score of either Eagles playoff victory.

Kansas City still has defensive back Nazeeh Johnson, a Marshall alum who was a backup last in 2023 and injured in 2024. He’s still listed second on the depth chart at right cornerback, but recorded 56 tackles and a sack, well above the numbers for his rookie year. Rookie tackle Ethan Driskell also went to Marshall and is on the team but only saw action in two regular season games. CHIEFS 1, EAGLES 1

Uniforms

This one remains as close to call as it was two years ago. Both teams have classic looks that have not been crazily mutated to the point they cause eye strain. The Eagles will be wearing their dark green home uniforms and the Chiefs their white jerseys with red pants.

Once again, those iconic wings on the Eagles’ helmets tip the balance. EAGLES 2, CHIEFS 1

Mascot

I usually look at which mascot is more original and/or which mascot would win in a fight. Two years ago, I gave the edge to the Chiefs, then last year I acknowledged the fact that their actual costumed mascot is a wolf – possibly even a werewolf since he walks on two legs. I don’t really know what could change that, unless we stipulate that the Eagles are represented by those giant ones from the Lord of the Rings movies that people say should have just flown the ring to Mordor.

But if we did that, the contest would already be over. While I don’t believe the NFL has referees tipping games to get allow certain teams to advance, I’m not above artificially creating drama to keep you reading to the end of this column. It’s opinion after all, not news. CHIEFS 2, EAGLES 2

Storyline

Just like last year, it’s hard to call either of these teams an underdog. They were each the top seed in their respective conferences. The Chiefs are a marginal favorite, but the Eagles are hardly plucky upstarts

If we wanted to go negative, I could advise you to root against the team you find less annoying. Some people are tired of the emphasis on Swift with the Chiefs, although that does get others interested. Others might find the Eagles’ use of a play referred to as the Tush Push to be pretty irritating, although I think that could be largely mitigated by calling it by its alternate name, the Brotherly Shove.

But there’s too much negativity these days. If this were a movie, the two-time defending champion Chiefs would probably not be the team you’re rooting for, absent the passion of Chiefs’ fans and Swifties. The Eagles, whose coach Nick Sirianni has been rumored to be on the hot seat in between two Super Bowl appearances, and running back Saquon Barkley would probably be the sentimental favorites.

Just not for someone whose team they beat 55-23 to get here. EAGLES 3, CHIEFS 2

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.