In a Super Bowl rematch from two years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles sought revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs and ultimately achieved it. Down in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the Eagles dominated this go-round and are now the 2024-25 Super Bowl champions. From start to finish, the Eagles’ aggressive defense and key pass from Jalen Hurts was good enough to stop the Chiefs’ three-peat and defeat them 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX (59).
“This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody — offense, defense, special teams,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We didn’t really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.”
The first quarter got off to a slow start, with both teams failing to score on their opening drives. However, the Eagles found the end zone on their second possession. After the Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie was penalized for unnecessary roughness against Dallas Goedert, the Eagles received a first down. Then Hurts connected with Jahan Dotson on a 27-yard pass, bringing the ball to the 1-yard line. Subsequently, the Eagles executed their signature “tush push,” allowing Hurts to score the game’s first touchdown.
The Chiefs went three-and-out on their second drive, but their defense stepped up by causing Hurts to throw an interception, ending his streak of 217 passes without a pick, while the Eagles were deep in the Chiefs’ territory. Despite opportunities, the Chiefs were unable to score again, going three-and-out. On the Eagles’ subsequent drive, Jake Elliott successfully kicked a 48-yard field goal, bringing the score to 10-0, and then the Eagles’ defense started to assert dominance in the game. After consecutive sacks on Patrick Mahomes by Josh Sweat and Jalyx Hunt, Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket and threw a pass intercepted by Cooper DeJean. DeJean returned the interception for 38 yards, increasing the score to 17-0. This was DeJean’s first career pick-6, and it happened on his 22nd birthday. For Mahomes, it was his first pick-6 in 21 career playoff games and ended a streak of 297 straight passes without an interception.
The Chiefs went three-and-out again against the Eagles’ defense. Then they forced the Eagles’ offense to punt after just seven plays, but Mahomes threw his second interception of the first half to All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun. Two plays later, Hurts found A.J. Brown on a 12-yard TD pass for a 24-0 lead.
In this game, the Eagles’ defense sacked Mahomes six times, the most of his career, including 2 1/2 by Sweat. And they did it without Fangio calling a single blitz.
Hurts, who threw for 221 yards, two passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown, earned Super Bowl MVP honors and spoke highly of his defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio.
“Defense wins championships,” Hurts said. “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.”
Previously, Mahomes was 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses before this game, but Fangio outcoached Andy Reid, finishing his first season with his hometown team.
At the beginning of the second half, the Chiefs ran five plays before punting the ball. The Eagles then scored again with a 29-yard field goal by Elliott, extending the score to 27-0. After another five plays, the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs when their offense failed to convert on a fourth-and-four at their own 47-yard line. The Eagles quickly took advantage of the field position as Hurts found DeVonta Smith on a perfect 46-yard pass that resulted in a touchdown that made the score 34-0.
Kansas City finally got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter when Mahomes found Xavier Worthy for a 24-yard touchdown pass, but they failed to convert on the two-point conversion. That made the score 34-6. Philly then went 10 plays and scored another field goal then Pat Mahomes fumbled on their first play the Eagles scored another field goal to make the score 40-6 and the game was pretty much over after that even though Mahomes threw two more touchdowns, one to De’Andre Hopkins and another one to Worthy.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who is now 3-3 in Super Bowls, spoke on his team’s dismal performance in their Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles.
“Today was a rough day all around. Nothing went right. I didn’t coach well. Proud of our guys for fighting. We will learn from this,” Reid said. “Too many turnovers, too many penalties. Against a good football team, can’t do that.”
Mahomes, who is battling Tom Brady for the best NFL quarterback of all time, took full blame for the way he played.
“We didn’t start how we wanted to. The turnovers hurt. I take all the blame for that,” Mahomes said. “I didn’t play to my standard.”
Eagles leading rusher and the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley, was needed much today. He finished with 57 yards, breaking Terrell Davis’ record for yards rushing in a season, playoffs included, finishing the season with 2,504 yards. Remember in the regular he sacrificed breaking the single-season regular season rushing record for this moment and it paid off.
“Hell of a year, right? I couldn’t do it without the big boys up front, everyone on this team. I just appreciate them – the whole Eagles organization,” Barkley said. “Of me being a newcomer, welcoming me in with open arms and helping build confidence back in me too. That was definitely helpful.
“It was a hell of a year, but all of the numbers and stats or records are cool, but the best thing is to be able to hold that Lombardi Trophy.”
