In New Orleans on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs made history — just not the kind of history they had in mind.
The Philadelphia Eagles spectacularly thwarted the Chiefs’ attempt to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. The 40-22 final score failed to recognize the full scale of the drubbing, with the Chiefs scoring only after the game’s outcome had been all but decided.
Defense Dominates
Coming into the Super Bowl, most observers thought offenses would dominate. Two Eagles players, running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts, and two Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his longtime receiving target, tight end Travis Kelce, generated much of the pregame publicity. But the Eagles’ defense shone brightly under the Super Bowl spotlight, shutting down and shutting out Mahomes for much of the game.
In the runup to this year’s game, ESPN commentator Tony Kornheiser often claimed that Barkley’s addition this past offseason represented the only change between the Eagles team that lost to Kansas City in a tight Super Bowl two years ago and the current squad. But the Eagles’ defense proved the inaccuracy of that claim.
In the second quarter, interceptions by two of the newest Eagles broke the game wide open. 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 started 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. The defensive line achieved six sacks, including a strip-sack that led to a Mahomes fumble, and 16 quarterback pressures without blitzing Mahomes at all. With Philadelphia able to get in Mahomes’ face by only rushing four linemen, and an improved secondary covering receivers closely, Mahomes spent most of the game trying to dodge defenders rather than running his offense.
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). In the first half, Mahomes completed only five passes to the Chiefs, and two of his passes were intercepted by the Eagles. And many Eagles fans in the Superdome spent the fourth quarter mockingly imitating the Chiefs’ “Tomahawk Chop,” so convinced were they of the impending victory.
Hurts: So Good
As for Philadelphia’s offense, the defense helped out by scoring points off of one Mahomes interception and setting the Eagles up for two other scores off another Mahomes interception and a sack-fumble. Jalen Hurts, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, did the rest.
Coming into the game, some thought Chiefs defensive guru Steve Spagnuolo would attempt to shut down Barkley’s powerful running attack. The Chiefs largely succeeded in those efforts; Barkley gained 57 yards on 25 carries — enough to break the all-time NFL record for most rushing yards (regular season and playoffs) in a season but below his usual production.
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 helped put the game out of reach. Hurts also evaded Kansas City blitzes by running himself; he outgained Barkley on the ground and set a new Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback (72), even as Philadelphia broke the record for most rushing yards in a playoff run.
Offseason Questions
Kansas City came into the Super Bowl having won a series of tight, one-score ball games. The Super Bowl exposed all the weaknesses that the Chiefs had shown all season, only this time to catastrophic effect: a shaky offensive line, the lack of a consistent running game, and a cobbled-together receiving corps that has lacked a true deep threat since Tyreek Hill joined the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City will need to address these shortcomings if they wish to continue competing for Super Bowl trophies.
As for the Eagles, 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.
Jesus Christ is King
