The Kansas City Chiefs made history in New Orleans on Sunday, but it wasn’t the type of story they wanted.
The Chiefs ‘ endeavor to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls was brilliantly thwarted by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs scored only after the game’s results had been almost decided, which was a disgrace to the 40-22 last score, which failed to fully comprehend the scope of the drubbing.  ,
Defense Dominates
Coming into the Super Bowl, most observers thought acts had dominate. Two Eagles people, running up Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts, and two Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his former receiving goal, tight end Travis Kelce, generated much of the preliminary attention. However, the Eagles ‘ defense shined beautifully in the absence of the Super Bowl light, shutting down and up Mahomes for the majority of the game.
ESPN critic Tony Kornheiser frequently made the claim that Barkley’s improvement this history winter represented the just shift between the Eagles team that lost to Kansas City in a small Super Bowl two years ago and the current club in the lead-up to this year’s activity. However, the defense of the Eagles exposed the falsity of that assertion.
Interceptions by two of the newest Eagles in the second quarter wide open the game. Cornerback Cooper DeJean, one of two defensive backs the Eagles drafted last spring, intercepted Mahomes and returned the ball for a touchdown, the first of his career — on his 22nd birthday, no less. Shortly thereafter, Zack Baun, an offseason pickup ( and finalist for NFL defensive player of the year ) who previously played in New Orleans for the Saints, also intercepted Mahomes, which led to another Eagles touchdown and a 24-0 lead at halftime.
The Eagles ‘ defensive success began with its front line, which dominated Kansas City and roughed up Mahomes in much the same way the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did in the Super Bowl four years ago. Six sacks for the defensive line, including a strip-sack that resulted in a Mahomes fumble, and 16 quarterback pressures without blitzing Mahomes at all. Mahomes spent the majority of the game trying to dodge defenders rather than running his offense because Philadelphia was only able to get in Mahomes ‘ face by rushing four linemen and having a better secondary covering receivers closely.  ,
A sign of the game’s one-sided nature: More than halfway through the third quarter, Kansas City had more yards in penalties ( 45 ) than in offense ( 38 ). Mahomes only completed five passes to the Chiefs in the first half, and the Eagles intercepted two of his passes. And many Eagles fans in the Superdome were so overjoyed by the team’s impending victory that they spent the fourth quarter mockingly imitating the Chiefs ‘” Tomahawk Chop.”
Hurts: So Good
The defense helped Philadelphia’s offense, scoring points on one Mahomes interception and setting the Eagles up for two more scores with a sack-fumble after Mahomes ‘ other interception. Jalen Hurts, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, did the rest.
Some initially predicted Chiefs defensive guru Steve Spagnuolo would attempt to stop Barkley’s potent running attack before the game started. Barkley broke the all-time NFL record for most rushing yards ( regular season and playoffs ) in a season but with less than his usual production as a result of those efforts.
However, Kansas City’s focus on Barkley gave opportunities for Hurts to find other receivers. His 46-yard bomb to Davonta Smith late in the third quarter put the game out of reach. Hurts also avoided Kansas City’s blitzes by running himself, outrunning Barkley on the ground, and setting a new Super Bowl record for yards rushing by a quarterback ( 72 ), even as Philadelphia set the record for yards rushing in a playoff run.
Offseason Questions
Kansas City came into the Super Bowl having won a series of tight, one-score ball games. The Chiefs ‘ all-season weaknesses were exposed in the Super Bowl, but this time it was disastrous: a shaky offensive line, a lack of consistent running attacks, and a cobbled-together receiving corps that had not been truly deep threatened since Tyreek Hill left the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City will need to address these flaws if they want to keep competing for titles in the Super Bowl.
Coach Nick Sirianni spoke during the trophy presentation about his desire to “run it back” next season. Doubtless, this playoff run will help quiet his doubters in Philadelphia, some of whom he confronted himself earlier this season. After a shaky 2-2 start, the Eagles peaked at the right moment, bringing another Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia.
