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A new poll shows that more Americans are rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
The poll, which was conducted by Emerson College Polling, showed that 35% of respondents were rooting for the Eagles, while 29% were cheering for the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, however, a majority 36% had no opinion.
The Chiefs look to become the first franchise in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls, having already won three in the last five years and appeared in four of the last five Super Bowl matchups. Kansas City's recent dynasty, which has coincided with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce emerging as two of the league's most recognizable stars, has also been met with negativity from other fanbases, specifically regarding calls that the team has benefitted from in the postseason.
The Chiefs have never been penalized more than their opponents, having been flagged less than 10 times in their last 11 playoff games, while 10 of their opponents have been flagged at least 10 times, since 2021. Additionally, Kansas City was called for an average of 5.4 penalties per game during the 2024 NFL regular season, which was the fewest of all 32 teams.
The Chiefs had, however, accumulated more penalty yards than their opponents in 38 of 65 regular season games (55.9%). The New York Jets, who finished with a 5-12 record, were the most penalized team in the NFL during the 2024 at 8.1 flags per game, the highest per-game average of any team since the 2019 season.
The Chiefs will face the Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which was played two years prior. Kansas City defeated Philadelphia, 38-35, with Mahomes claiming his second of three Super Bowl MVPs.