It’s finally here: Super Bowl Sunday.

Always a nostalgic day for yours truly. Probably for all New England Patriot fans, right? You watched them, and yours truly carved out a week to cover them.

It was getting ridiculous with three straight trips from 2017-19 (years of the game; the seasons are 2016-18).

But it all began in the Big Easy. New Orleans should be a special place for Patriots fans because it was where their first three Super Bowls were played. Houston in 2004 broke the string. There was the Bears game in 1986, then yours truly’s first coverage trip in the Bill Parcells Super Bowl vs. the Packers in February of 1997.

And, of course, the most memorable of them all, the first Super Bowl championship in February of 2002 vs. the Rams. Cell phones were around then but nowhere near like they are today. The festive media party in the mall adjacent to the SuperDome with food stations from all the local restaurants was interrupted for all working media when Bill Belichick named Tom Brady as the starter over Drew Bledsoe. How dare he. Remember, Bledsoe came off the bench in the AFC Title Game in Pittsburgh after Brady rolled his ankle and didn’t return. There was only a week in between the conference championships and the Super Bowl.

We were poised to make another trip back in 2013 but the Ravens ruined that one at Gillette before they beat the 49ers for the crown.

New Orleans is the most media friendly city to host the event. A lot (team hotels, press conferences, etc.) is within walking distance. Lots of memories, and of course the game’s aura has grown even more in the last 30 years, the media number just ridiculous. A lot has happened in New Orleans since, starting with Hurricane Katrina to the tragedy this past New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street. And of course the snow that hit the city just a couple of weeks ago. On one hand, they had no way to deal with it; on the other, it disappeared in a heartbeat. That won’t happen here at the North Pole, unfortunately.

But one the Patriot fans don’t want to see disappear is their status. They don’t want the Chiefs to be the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. They are already the first to have that chance. Plus, one more gives them as well as their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, a fourth crown. All have been won after the Patriots won their last.

Imagine if Mahomes hadn’t had to go up against Brady or had a better offensive line during the game in 2021?

We’re here to tell your fears will not be realized:

EAGLES 27, CHIEFS 20

And it might not even be that close. Here’s why:

Everyone wants the high priced diva receiver, the skill position players, etc. What the Eagles and ther GM Howie Roseman were able to do, while acquiring a few of the above types – lastly Saquon Barkley – was create arguably the best offensive and defensive lines in the game.

Mahomes, like he was vs. the Bucs four years ago, will be running for his life; Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter is a beast.

Barkley is able to rip off those long scoring runs because the Philly offensive line parts the Red Sea, and that’s exactly what will happen in Super Bowl LIX if the Chiefs dare to load the box. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Look at the holes Barkley has had; his athletic ability in the open field takes care of the rest.

But Roseman made sure he had the beef on both sides of the ball. It starts there. Remember, the first few top picks in the Patriots Belichick era were defensive line, and everyone was crying. That’s why with that fourth pick the Patriots should resist the urge for the shiny toy and draft the beef.

The Chiefs and Mahomes have been able to pull out the wins, get the big plays. They did show us something vs. the Bills, regardless of the bad officiating.

We’re no fans of the Eagles or their classless coach, Nick Sirianni.

But they’re going to be winners when all is said and one Sunday night.

PLAYOFFS: 6-6

FINAL REGULAR SEASON: 86-40

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).