The Philadelphia Eagles soared in a dominating victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 10. What many had assumed would be a close game had quickly turned into a bloodbath as the Eagles kept constant pressure on the Chiefs, winning by a final score of 40-22.
The Eagles entered the game clearly determined to rob the Chiefs of a third consecutive Super Bowl ring. The Eagles’ defensive front sacked Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes six times, the most in his career. The Eagles held a 10-point lead in the first quarter thanks to quarterback Jalen Hurts, who connected with wide receiver Jahan Dotson on a 27-yard pass play down to the one-yard line. Hurts later scored, putting the Eagles up 7-0. The Eagles’ kicker Jake Elliott pushed the seven-point lead to 10 with a 48-yard field goal.
The Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley, a new addition to the team, broke Denver Broncos Terrell Davis’ record for rushing yards in a season, with playoffs included, as he finished the game with 57 rushing yards. Hurts, who would go on to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Hurts also rushed for 72 yards on the ground.
The Chiefs may have felt pressure to be the first team to achieve a three-peat in the NFL since the start of the Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ offense cracked, and they struggled since the start of the game. Mahomes averaged only 6.7 yards per pass attempt and was under constant pressure throughout the game. The score sat at 34-0 until the Chiefs finally broke through late in the third quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass when Mahomes connected with wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Worthy was the lone bright spot for the Chiefs’ offense– he caught eight passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles’ defense closed the door on the Chiefs by forcing two turnovers and holding them to only 49 yards rushing for the game. With nearly three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Eagles showered head coach Nick Sirianni with Gatorade, commemorating his first Super Bowl win.
As the Eagles and their fans celebrated their second Super Bowl win, the Chiefs held a heavy gaze as they walked off the field. For a team that has been to five of the past six Super Bowls and won the past two, it was a clear shock to the players and the fans that they got blown out in this highly anticipated game. Fans will have to wait until next season to see if the Chiefs can redeem themselves, but their quest for a three-peat has officially been reset to zero.
