Super Bowl

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Here's what our columnist Phoebe Schecter had to say about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who she thinks will be the key player on Sunday.

I would say that the NFC Championship game was the best version that we have seen of Hurts. He and Barkley had three rushing touchdowns each, and Hurts had a touchdown pass too.

But I think this is a huge game for him because if you look at the one person who has the most pressure on them, it is Hurts. It isn't Barkley, it isn't the Eagles' offensive line - those guys have been terrific - and they've got the number one defence.

The Chiefs don't have stress on them because if they don't win, well they've gotten to the Super Bowl five times [in six years]. I think Hurts is going to bear the brunt of it. He's the guy that is going to be the reason why the Eagles win or lose.

Read Phoebe Schecter's full Super Bowl preview column

Who will win the Super Bowl?

Watch this clip as Eagles fan Anthony and Chiefs fan Brad try to convince each other their team will win.

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The Philadelphia Eagles had their lightest practice of the week on Friday, although head coach Nick Sirianni said their one-hour workout was normal for a Friday.

"I thought the focus was there and the energy was there and the effort was there," he added.

Two players were limited in practice - guard Nick Gates (groin) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring).

Defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow) hopes to play in his third Super Bowl and was among nine others who were on the injury report but practiced in full.

Graham and CJ Uzomah (abdomen) are questionable to play. The Eagles have until 16:00 local time on Saturday to activate them from Injured Reserve in order for them to play.

The Eagles will close out their Super Bowl prep with more film study, a mock game and the team photo on Saturday.

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist in New Orleans

Image source, BBC Sport

Work has been going on at this New Orleans intersection since Monday and on Thursday it was revealed what it was all about.

ESPN has constructed a stage in the Warehouse/Arts District from which it is broadcasting preview shows for Sunday's Super Bowl.

It is in the middle of several bars and restaurants, with the Caesars casino as a backdrop.

And with out-of-towners having started flooding into the city since Thursday, it's started to get quite lively around the set.

That, of course, is exactly what they wanted as the excitement builds towards the big game in the Big Easy.

But don't let that cloud fool you, the temperature has crept up towards 30C towards the end of the week.

Super Bowl winner Martellus Bennett talks to BBC Sport about coping with winning and losing the big game

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The Kansas City Chiefs have been practising this week at Tulane's Yulman Stadium and there have been plenty of positive vibes around the place.

At one point on Thursday, while the starting offense was in a huddle, The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring started playing over the speakers.

As the song progressed, several players started singing along, yelling, "Whoa-oh!" in time with the song.

"They know that it's a privilege and an honour to be here, but at the same time they want to make sure they enjoy each day," coach Andy Reid said. "That's the thing you probably see. This group has kind of been that way the whole year; it's a unique group that way."

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is excited for first NFL game in Ireland, which will be held in Dublin later this year.

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The National Football League has confirmed a first regular season fixture in Ireland.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be the host team at Dublin's Croke Park.

Dublin will be one of three new cities to host regular season games next season with fixtures in Madrid and Berlin previously announced.

Friday's announcement comes two days after the NFL said there will be a game in Melbourne, Australia, in 2026.

"The Steelers are excited and honoured to play in the NFL's first ever regular season game in Ireland," said Dan Rooney Jr, the team's director of business development and strategy.

"The Rooney family has deep ties to the island, having immigrated from there in the 1800s, eventually settling in Pittsburgh, PA, where my great grandfather would go on to found our franchise in 1933.

"We're excited to represent our hometown of Pittsburgh internationally and play in front of a growing number of Steelers fans abroad.

"Today's announcement builds off our deep connections to the island and charts a path forward to what we feel is a very exciting future for the Steelers in Ireland."

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist in New Orleans

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Snoop Dogg seemed to love his night hosting the NFL Honors award ceremony.

It began as more like a roast as Snoop picked out some of the game's biggest names and made jokes at their expense.

They enjoyed it at first but Joe Burrow and Sam Darnold looked awkward when Snoop poked fun at Cincinnati's defence and Darnold's former team, the New York Jets.

And the rapper didn't even hold back on the two teams that will be contesting Super Bowl 59.

Some claim NFL officials have been favouring the Kansas City Chiefs so Snoop said that Sunday's game will be an "incredible Super Bowl match-up between the Eagles... and the refs".

He then turned on Philadelphia, saying that "the Chiefs have the chance to do a Super Bowl three-peat for the first time in history. The Eagles have the chance to be liked by the rest of America - also for the first time in history."

The Pittsburgh fan then came back on to the stage wearing a full Steelers uniform and later did a skit with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell which could have been weird but, credit to 'the Comish', it actually ended up being really funny.

Never mind music, perhaps Snoop now needs to give comedy a go.

• Most Valuable Player - Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills quarterback)

• Offensive Player of the Year - Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles running back)

• Defensive Player of the Year - Patrick Surtain (Denver Broncos cornerback)

• Offensive Rookie of the Year - Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders quarterback)

• Defensive Rookie of the Year - Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams linebacker)

• Comeback Player of the Year - Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals quarterback)

• Coach of the Year - Kevin O'Connell (Minnesota Vikings)

• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year - Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end)

Image source, Reuters

Josh Allen has been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season.

It is the first time the Buffalo Bills quarterback has won the award, with the 27-year-old being selected ahead of 2023 winner Lamar Jackson.

"I'd like to thank the Bills organisation - [owners] Kerry and Kim Pegula, [general manager] Brandon Beane, [head coach] Sean McDermott," said Allen.

"Thank you guys for drafting me seven-and-a-half years ago. It feels just like yesterday, it really does.

"I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it but I think it's derived from team success and I love my team.

"We've got such a great locker room at Buffalo. It truly takes everybody to have team success and I'm so fortunate to beat part of a great organisation.

"I'd like to thank my parents. In my 20-plus years of playing football, they've missed maybe 15 games in their entire life. They are so dedicated to supporting me and my favourite team-mates, who are my sister, my brother and my little sister.

"I love you guys, I know you take a lot of pride in this as well, and last but not least my fiancee Hailee. You've been my rock, my best friend, and I would not be standing on this stage if it weren't for you."

Image source, Getty Images

The season's best NFL players are recognised by All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections, and Josh Allen was named as this season's Pro Bowl starter for the AFC Conference ahead of Lamar Jackson.

However, All-Pro selections hold more prestige as fewer players are selected, and Jackson was picked ahead of Allen in the All-Pro first team.

Normally, that would be significant in terms of the NFL MVP race.

The panel of 50 broadcasters/journalists that make the All-Pro selection also pick the NFL MVP, and the last time the first-team All-Pro quarterback was not also MVP was 1987.

Votes are cast at the end of the regular season so although Allen's Buffalo beat Jackson's Baltimore in the play-offs - before losing to defending champions Kansas City - it will have no bearing on who is named this season's NFL MVP.

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The leading contenders to be this season's NFL MVP are Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Allen went clear in the MVP race with a superb run at the start of December before the Bills finished the season with a 13-4 record.

Jackson, who was named MVP for a second time last year, finished the season strongly to help the Ravens to 12-5 and close the gap on Allen.

While who had the best season is hard to call, Allen is the favourite and his advocates argue he is more valuable to Buffalo than Jackson is to Baltimore.

The Bills traded their top receiver in the off-season while the Ravens signed one of the league's best running backs in Derrick Henry.

Henry rushed for 1,921 yards - second to Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley - and Baltimore's receiving group is stronger than Buffalo's, putting more onus on Allen to get the job done.

The Ravens also had six All-Pro selections compared with Buffalo's one - Allen.

Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are the only active players to have won MVP. Is it time for Allen to join them?