ZWF: Chiefs vs Eagles: Who ya got?
Zander's Weekend Facts #53: Sunday, February 12, 2023
The day football fans have waited months for is finally here. It’s Super Bowl Sunday!
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, a quick preview of tonight’s big football game, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 93 features a fact-filled preview of today’s big game, including a prediction from Zander. Plus, Zander pays tribute to Leeds United States. Go download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, February 12, 2023:
The Super Bowl has arrived
There’s a Sunday in February every year when America puts down TikTok, stops reading the latest edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, and unites to sit in front of the television to watch the latest edition of the National Football League’s championship game.
That Sunday has come, and at 6:30 pm et, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will take part in the 57th edition of the Super Bowl.
Nearly 100 million will tune in to watch the game, but also to witness the fabled commercials that everyone will be talking about on Monday. And who could forget the most watched portion of the entire event, the halftime show, which is headlined by Rihanna this year. In fact, some believe tonight’s game could break the record for the most watched program on American television, which is currently held by the 2015 edition of this game at 114.4 million viewers.
Most important to football fans, however, will be the matchup on the field. For the first time, the Chiefs and Eagles will match up in the NFL’s final game of the season. The Chiefs are seeking their third Super Bowl title, while the Eagles are looking to claim just their second.
The Chiefs, who last won this game in 2020, are led by sensational quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who led the league in passing yards and touchdowns this season. Mahomes was also at the helm for the team’s victory three years ago, and a second title would already put the 27-year-old’s name up there with some of the game’s greats.
The Eagles, whose lone Super Bowl title came in 2018, will have third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts under center. Hurts is attempting to put his name in the history books as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. After being benched in the National Championship game at Alabama and being drafted in the second round, Hurts is looking to prove his doubters wrong once and for all.
This week on the Zander’s Facts podcast, I provided a much more complete preview of tonight’s game, and also made a prediction. You should go listen to it :)
But for your convenience, I’ll also place my prediction down below.
I’ve got the Kansas City Chiefs taking down the Philadelphia Eagles 28-24 to win the franchise’s third Super Bowl title. Let’s go #ChiefsKingdom!
For a guide to tonight’s game, check out this article from ESPN - 2023 Super Bowl guide: Chiefs-Eagles picks, stats, predictions
What Zander’s been reading this week
On Tuesday night, President Joe Biden gave his second State of the Union address to Congress, focusing on issues such as health care and the economy. However, the most notable moment of the speech may have been Biden’s ability to turn Republicans’ constant heckling of him against them.
Check out this week’s featured article on The Atlantic - How Biden Successfully Baited Congressional Republicans - (Article is free on Apple News)
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
Turkey/Syria Earthquake: Over 25,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria after an earthquake hit the region on Monday. The 7.8-magnitude quake struck near the city of Kahramanmaras in southeast Turkey, with several aftershocks, including one registering a 7.5-magnitude on the Richter scale, hitting in the hours and days after. The death toll is the largest in an aftermath of an earthquake since the 2010 Haiti earthquake claimed over 300,000 lives. While survivors are still being pulled from the immense rubble, there are still many whose situations are unknown.
Classified Documents: The federal government’s search for classified documents continued last week, with former Vice President Mike Pence’s home in Indiana being searched by the FBI. In the search, the FBI found one classified document, which follows the discovery of several documents at Pence’s home in January. Documents have also been found at the residences of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. On Friday, news revealed that Trump’s team had given federal authorities additional documents last month.
Zelensky in the U.K.: As the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the United Kingdom last week. While meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Zelensky thanked the U.K. for their support of Ukraine and requested additional assistance from the country, warning that with supplies running out, any Ukrainian progress could grind to a halt. After receiving tanks from the U.S., Germany, and other NATO allies, Ukraine is now requesting fighter jets from the U.K. and countries in the European Union.
Another Object Show Down: Almost one week after a Chinese spy balloon was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. military shot down a “high-altitude object” over Alaskan airspace on Friday. National Security Council official John Kirby said the U.S. does not know exactly what the object is or who owns it. On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that a U.S. F-22 shot down another object over northern Canada.
Ohio Train Derailment: Over one week ago, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, just west of the Pennsylvania state line. The derailment last Friday night began a massive blaze, with smoke in view miles away from the site. Fearing an explosion, officials ordered an evacuation of all homes one mile from the site, but the order was lifted a few days later. However, residents in the small town are still worried about the potential health hazards that the derailment could pose.
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the ZF Sporting Club:
NBA Trade Deadline: The NBA trade deadline was this past Thursday, with the lead-up being one of the most eventful in recent memory. This year’s deadline was headlined by the implosion of the Brooklyn Nets, with stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being traded to Phoenix and Dallas, respectively. The Los Angeles Lakers also remade their roster alongside stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. (The next edition of the Zander’s Facts podcast will recap the NBA trade deadline and break down the league’s top headlines. Tune in this Wednesday.)
Oklahoma/Texas in SEC: The University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas reached an agreement with the Big 12 Conference this week that will see the two schools leave the conference and join the SEC in 2024. Originally, the two schools were joining the SEC in 2025, but an agreement between the schools, the Big 12, and the Big 12’s television partners will allow the schools to leave the Big 12 one year earlier. As part of the agreement, the schools will owe over $100 million combined to the conference, which will be distributed to the remaining Big 12 schools.
LeBron James: On Tuesday night, LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. James scored his 38,388th point on a fadeaway jumper at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Immediately after he made the shot, the game was paused to honor James mid-court, with Abdul-Jabbar handing a basketball to James and the two embracing. James’ Los Angeles Lakers ended up losing to the Thunder 133-130. With James out injured for the last two games, he currently sits at 38,390 career points.
New Mexico State Basketball: The New Mexico State men’s basketball program has had its operations suspended until further notice. According to a report from Stadium, allegations surrounding the repeated hazing of a player forced a police report to be filed, resulting in the university taking action to suspend the program. The Aggies’ game on Saturday against California Baptist was canceled. According to the university, the new allegations are not related to a shooting that involved a member of the team back in November.
NFL Awards: The annual NFL Awards show took place on Thursday, with the league honoring the top performers of the 2022-23 season. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took home his second Most Valuable Player award. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson won the Offensive Player of the Year award, while San Francisco 49ers defensive end Joey Bosa claimed the Defensive Player of the Year title.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out Zander’s Facts’ Linktree page for more on everything Zander’s Facts related, including the all-new Zander’s Facts website. At ZandersFacts.com, get the latest on all the facts that Zander is putting out, and check out the freshest styles at the Zander’s Facts shop!
You can also listen to every episode of the podcast on this very website. All Zander’s Facts podcast episodes are now available on zandersfacts.substack.com under the “Zander’s Facts” tab for your enjoyment. That includes the next episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast, which comes out this Wednesday!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The Facts in print return next Sunday, February 19, 2023.
