By: Rory Zeman

Media Production Editor

On Feb. 9, the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL’s 59th Super Bowl. The win squandered the possibility of the first NFL three-peat victory by the Chiefs while also granting the Eagles redemption after their loss to the Chiefs two years ago in the 58th Super Bowl. 

The game never really got close, with the Eagles gaining the largest lead in the third quarter 34-0. However, a late burst by the Chiefs led to a narrower margin, with the final score standing at 40-22 Eagles. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led the way for the Eagles, receiving the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award after the historic win. The superstar quarterback had 221 passing yards and 72 rushing yards, which was more rushing yards than all of the Chiefs players had combined. Additionally, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who finished third place in the regular season MVP voting, got 57 yards to help his team overcome the tough Chiefs defense. However, the Eagles’s defense, especially in the first half, ultimately earned them the victory. They stopped arguably the best offense in the league from scoring any points until there were 34 seconds left in the third quarter. Additionally, they held the Chiefs to under 300 total yards and only 49 rushing yards.

The top defensive Eagles players were Josh Sweat, Cooper DeJean, and Zack Baun. They caused the Chiefs to: throw two interceptions, lose a fumble, and only get 12 first downs. However, the statistic that continuously demolished the Chiefs’ offense was the six sacks, which prevented the Chiefs from making any significant drives for the first three quarters.

Despite the groundbreaking performance from the Eagles, it would be hard not to discuss the disappointing game from the team that had three-peat aspirations. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce only had four receptions for a total of 39 yards. Additionally, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco only had three carries for a total of seven yards. However, Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy carried the bulk of the weight, with his eight receptions yielding 157 yards. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also had an underwhelming night, with a majority of his 257 passing yards coming from completed hail marys late in the game when it was already unwinnable. Furthermore, his two interceptions were vital to the Eagles’ success. After the game, Mahomes discussed his role in the loss, noting, “The turnovers hurt. I take all the blame for that. Those turnovers swing the momentum of the game, and they capitalized on them.” Jalen Hurts commented on the success of the Eagles’ Defense in stopping the Chiefs’ drives, stating, “Defense wins championships,” and “We saw how they played today. We saw the difference they made in the game. They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we’re able to do what we do.” 

With yet another NFL season completed, fans are excited for what the next, possibly even more competitive season will bring.

(Sources: NBC, NFL, NY Times, The Athletic)