Patrick Mahomes has faced constant pressure all season.

On the field, as the Kansas City Chiefs have attempted to become the first team in NFL history to pull off a Super Bowl three-peat.

And in the pocket, as Mahomes has been sacked a career-high 36 times while fighting off rushing defenders and intense blitzes.

As soon as the Philadelphia Eagles blasted the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship, serious NFL fans began mentioning one name that could be the key for Philly in its Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs.

Vic Fangio.

Fangio doesn’t start for the Eagles or even wear a uniform.

But the 66-year-old defensive coordinator is the mastermind of a punishing and relentless defense that will have Kansas City internally planning for two weeks in the hope of slowing down Jalen Carter and Co.

“I think for Kansas City to be able to mitigate the pass rush of the Eagles, Andy (Reid is) going to have to stay ahead of the chains,” said University of Hawai’i defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold, who will call the Super Bowl for talkSPORT.

“They have to be successful on first down. They can’t get into long down-and-distance situations … where that front can just pin its ears back and come after Mahomes.

“The chess match between Vic Fangio … who’s one of the most respected veteran defensive coordinators in the league, and Andy Reid, who’s the greatest play designer of our generation, is going to be a really fun thing to break down.”

The Eagles’ defense under Fangio ranked second in the NFL this season in average points allowed (18.3) and was sixth in takeaways (26).

But another stat undercuts everything about the Fangio vs the Chiefs theory.

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Jalen Carter and the Eagles’ defense have been all over the place in the playoffs[/caption]

Philly’s respected DC is a stunning 0-8 vs Mahomes in previous games.

A Super Bowl three-peat for Mahomes will push that lopsided mark to 0-9.

Fangio has 38 years of experience and worked with five Pro Football Hall of Famers, including Ray Lewis.

But during previous stops with Denver and Miami, Mahomes and the Chiefs always found a way to get the best of Fangio’s defense.

“He better throw out THAT playbook if he wants to give his team a chance,” one fan tweeted.

“Wow … as if the Chiefs needed any more brownie points,” a second fan posted.

“This Eagles team is by far and away better than those teams,” a third fan wrote. “I wouldn’t put too much into past results, given the talent on those Denver teams especially and how good Chiefs were during that era, as well.”

“He has never had the talent on D, particularly rushing and defending the passer, that he now has in Philly,” a fourth fan said. “Should be a fascinating matchup.”

Zack Baun, Darius Slay and Cooper DeJean are part of a tough Philly crew that limited the Eagles’ three playoff opponents (Washington, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay) to an average of 18.3 points a game.

With Mahomes and the Chiefs aiming for history, Philly’s best hope is its defense.

And a defensive coordinator who badly needs his first win vs Mahomes.

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