Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles denied the Kansas City Chiefs a historic three-peat as they stormed to a 40-22 victory over the back-to-back defending champions to win Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans on Sunday.
It would be sweet, destructive revenge – rather than repeat – as the Eagles toppled the team that had broken their hearts at Super Bowl 57 two years ago. The Chiefs edged it 38-35 on that occasion and entered Sunday having won 12 games by one possession this season; this time, it was never even close as any good fortune within those tight matchups expired in dramatic, merciless fashion.
Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP as he finished 17 of 22 for 221 yards, throwing two touchdown passes to AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith and an interception, as well as rushing for 72 yards and a score.
The majestic best of Saquon Barkley was not required on a night that saw the newly-crowned Offensive Player of the Year post 57 yards to break Terrell Davis’ all-time record for most single-season rushing yards, including playoffs.
It marked the 28th birthday of Barkley and the 22nd birthday of standout cornerback Cooper DeJean, who returned an interception for a 38-yard pick-six to help the Eagles carry a 24-0 lead into half-time.
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Philadelphia Eagles duo AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith hit head coach Nick Sirianni with the traditional Super Bowl Gatorade shower.
Nick Sirianni’s side were bigger, faster, stronger and smarter as they thrived on a raucous atmosphere that created the feel of Philly while suffocating Patrick Mahomes with their No 1-ranked defense and neutralising a Steve Spagnuolo defense that had spearheaded Kansas City’s last two Super Bowl seasons.
Mahomes was skittish all night in the face of a ferocious Philly front, finishing 21 of 32 for 257 yards, with three consolation touchdowns and those two interceptions. He was sacked six times and hit 11 times in total while being denied a fourth Super Bowl ring before the age of 30.
The night began with a celebration of NOLA vibrancy with a Crescent City bonanza of jazz, marching bands and Mardis Gras costumes. It continued with the artistry of 22-time Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar, including the special guest narration of Hollywood icon Samuel L Jackson, in a half-time show that would make for a debate over whether Drake or the Chiefs had taken a heavier defeat. And it concluded with Hurts, Barkley, Sirianni and their steamrolling Eagles storming the doors to the NFL’s Promised Land.
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Jalen Hurts finds DeVonta Smith for brilliant 46-yard touchdown and stretch their lead over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stats leaders
Kansas City Chiefs
- Passing: Patrick Mahomes, 21/32, 257 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
- Rushing: Patrick Mahomes, 4 carries, 25 yards
- Receiving: Xavier Worthy, 8 catches, 157 yards, 2 TDs
Philadelphia Eagles
- Passing: Jalen Hurts, 17/22, 221 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Jalen Hurts, 11 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: DeVonta Smith, 4 catches, 69 yards, 1 TD
Scoring summary
It did not take long for the first moment of controversy to arrive as a harsh offensive pass interference penalty against Eagles receiver Brown was met by ironic jeers in light of conspiracy theories over favouritism towards the Chiefs by NFL officials. It would negate a 32-yard completion on fourth-and-two to deny Sirianni a reward for his immediate aggression.
The Eagles would not be deterred, though, and after forcing a swift Chiefs punt did open the scoring when Hurts punched in a one-yard touchdown having connected with Jahan Dotson for 27 yards on a back shoulder fade down the sideline.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ pass is intercepted by Philadelphia Eagles’ Cooper DeJean, who takes it to the house for the touchdown.
Spagnuolo sought to haul the Chiefs back into the contest when he dialled up the blitz on third-and-four, culminating in a sack by George Karlaftis only to see the play pulled back due to an offside penalty against Charles Omenihu.
The Chiefs defense did finally make its mark when Bryan Cook soared across the field deep in his own territory to pick off Hurts’ undercooked end zone shot towards Brown, ending a 11-play, 50-yard drive.
Kansas City continued to stall on offense in the face of a rampant, gang-tackling Eagles defense, and it was a 10-point game by mid-way through the second quarter when Jake Elliott kicked a 48-yard field goal.
Chaos ensued on the next drive when Mahomes rolled to his right before tossing a desperate pick-six to a waiting DeJean on third-and-16, the Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist evading one tackle attempt before bundling over for a 38-yard interception return touchdown.
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Jalen Hurts is helped into the endzone by the Philadelphia Eagles’ ‘Tush Push’ to open the scoring in their Super Bowl clash with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes’ nightmare continued when he was intercepted by All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun at the Chiefs’ 14-yard line, setting up Hurts’ touchdown strike to Brown as Philadelphia opened up a 24-0 lead with a minute to play in the first half.
Barkley needed little more time to break Davis’ record early in the second half, before Philly extended their cushion with Elliot’s 29-yard field goal with five minutes to play in the third quarter.
The punishment continued when a merciless Hurts took the top off the Chiefs defense with a 46-yard touchdown heave to Smith to make it 34-0.
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Patrick Mahomes finds Xavier Worthy for a 24-yard touchdown to finally put the Kansas Chiefs on the board in the third quarter.
The Chiefs ensured they swerved the humiliation of a shutout when Mahomes tossed a 24-yard touchdown strike to Xavier Worthy in the final seconds of the third, before Elliott split the posts with a 48-yard field goal to move the Eagles closer to victory.
More Mahomes misery followed when he lost a fumble after a hit from Milton Williams, Elliott then striking from 50 yards to push the lead to 40-6 with eight minutes remaining. The Chiefs reduced the deficit on DeAndre Hopkins’ seven-yard touchdown catch with five minutes to play, and again on Mahomes’ 50-yard scoring pass to Worthy, both of which were followed by successful two-point attempts.
But it had been long over, Philadelphia’s electric travelling support lighting up the city and the Superdome to witness their team’s triumphant return to the top.
