When it mattered most, Patrick Mahomes delivered for the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite a hurt ankle, a depleted receiving cast and a double-digit halftime deficit, Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid found a way to win their second Super Bowl in the last four seasons.
With just under three minutes remaining and the game tied at 35, Mahomes hobbled his way down the field with a 26-yard scramble to set up the Chiefs in the red zone at the two-minute warning. After a timeout, the Philadelphia Eagles defense forced a third and eight with 1:54 remaining in regulation.
Mahomes overthrew his target, Juju Smith-Schuster, which would have forced a field goal, but a questionable holding call on Eagles defensive back James Bradberry gave the Chiefs a first down at the 11-yard line. In his postgame press conference, Bradberry admitted that he did hold Smith-Schuster’s jersey.
With only one timeout remaining for Philadelphia, the Chiefs were able to run the clock down to 11 seconds, when Harrison Butker nailed the 27-yard field
goal, giving Kansas City a 38-35 lead. The Eagles took over at their own 38-yard line with time remaining for one final play, but quarterback Jalen Hurts did not reach the end zone on the Hail Mary attempt.
The Chiefs played a nearly perfect second half to walk away with the franchise’s third Super Bowl victory. Their offense scored a touchdown on each of their first three possessions, with their final drive ending in the game-winning kick from Butker.
Their defense held the Eagles to 11 second half points after allowing Philadelphia to score 24 in the first half. A 65-yard punt return from Kadarius Toney in the fourth quarter — the longest punt return in Super Bowl history — set up the Chiefs for an easy touchdown to give them their first lead of the game. Reid coached the best second half of a Super Bowl since Bill Belichick and Tom Brady led the New England Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit in 2017.
To give the Eagles credit, head coach Nick Siriani and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen — who is now the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach — scripted an outstanding game on offense. Jalen Hurts tied a Super Bowl record with three rushing touchdowns to go along with 374 total yards on offense, one passing touchdown and a two-point conversion.
Second-year wide receiver DeVonta Smith tallied 100 yards, including a 45-yard catch that set up first and goal for the Eagles. A.J. Brown, who the Eagles acquired from Tennessee in the offseason, racked up 96 yards and a touchdown.
Where the game went wrong for Philadelphia was everywhere else on the field. Running backs Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott combined for only 2.6 yards per carry on 17 attempts. The Eagles front seven, which tallied the third most sacks in a season ever in the Super Bowl era, did not register a single sack on Mahomes. In fact, the Eagles only registered two QB hurries the entire game, both from linebacker Haason Reddick.
The Eagles have their offseason work cut out for them, with multiple expiring contracts and a new deal due for Hurts, who is expected to reach near $50 million in average annual value.
The Chiefs, who are now proving to be a dynasty, have reached the Super Bowl in three of the last four seasons, and have hosted the AFC Championship in five consecutive years. Despite trading one of the best wide receivers in football, Tyreek Hill, in March, the brilliance of Mahomes, Reid and Travis Kelce led Kansas City to the promise land, and will be one of the league favorites to repeat next season.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of All-Pro Reels, Wikipedia
