Feb 11, 2025 | NFL, Los Angeles, Sports, Valleys

Eagles Thrash Chiefs to Stop Potential Three-Peat

Led by a suffocating defensive effort, the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 en route to their second-ever Lombardi trophy.

Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni, right, raises the Vince Lombardi trophy next to quarterback Jalen Hurts, left, after the Eagles’ 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday evening, February 9th, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By Austin Gage | Contributing Sports Writer

As the clock hit zero in New Orleans, it became official that the Kansas City Chiefs would not become the first NFL team to win the Super Bowl three times in a row. The Philadelphia Eagles, who displayed impressive defensive play from the defensive line, linebackers and secondary, flew high as they prevailed 40-22, a scoreline that was much closer than the game would actually suggest.

In a rematch of the Super Bowl matchup from just two seasons ago, the Eagles did not blink on the game’s biggest stage.

Shaking off an opening drive that was ruined thanks to an offensive pass interference penalty called on star wide receiver A.J. Brown, the NFC champions marched down the field. Using a 27-yard reception by wide receiver Jahan Dotson, quarterback Jalen Hurts punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown via Philadelphia’s patented “Tush-Push” to score the game’s first points midway through the first quarter.

As the Chiefs struggled mightily on the offensive side of the ball out of the gates, the Eagles began to move the ball down the field consistently. Using a long 11-play, 50-yard drive, Philadelphia faced a third and 10 at the Kansas City 30-yard line. Dropping back and feeling the blitz from the defense, Hurts lofted a pass into double coverage targeting Brown near the endzone. Unfortunately, the throw was underthrown and picked off by Chiefs’ safety Bryan Cook, giving the ball back to the reigning champions early in the second quarter.

The Eagles’ defense, however, had no intentions of allowing the Chiefs to crawl back the same way they had in their first Super Bowl matchup. The interception from Hurts, which represented his only real mistake in a quality game, could not be capitalized on and Kansas City was forced to punt.

Good field position allowed Philadelphia to get into field goal range with eight minutes left in the second quarter and kicker Jake Elliott nailed through a 48-yard attempt. The scoreboard flashed 10-0 in favor of the team in midnight green.

A big surprise all game long was the Eagles’ ability to score despite the lack of success from superstar running back Saquon Barkley, who was held to a disappointing 57 rushing yards on 25 carries and 40 yards receiving on six catches. Barkley, playing in his first Super Bowl after six seasons with the New York Giants, ran for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season.

The ensuing drive saw disaster strike for the Chiefs offense as they desperately needed a score to get back into the game midway through the second quarter. After back-to-back sacks credited to linebackers Josh Sweat and Jalyx Hunt, Kansas City and three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes stared at a crucial third and 16. Rolling right on the run, Mahomes fired a pass in the direction of rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who was just past the line to gain. Eagles fellow rookie cornerback Cooper Dejean had other plans and jumped the pass to pick off Mahomes, and the birthday boy of 22 years navigated through blocks to return the football the other way for a pick-six. Philadelphia would take a 17-0 lead and would not be done in the first half.

The next three offensive possessions for Kansas City went as follows: punt, interception and punt. The interception, which was made from a diving attempt by All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, set up the offense inside the Chiefs’ 14-yardline. From there, Hurts would connect with Brown for a wide open 12-yard score to take a 24-0 lead into halftime.

As rapper Kendrick Lamar performed the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history with a record 133.5 million viewers as announced by FOX, Kansas City could not find any answers during the break for the Eagles in the upcoming second half. A slow start offensively of possessions ending with a punt and a turnover on downs truly eliminated any chance of a historical comeback.

Serving as the nail in the coffin, Hurts only needed one play after the turnover on downs to find other star wide receiver Devonta Smith down the field. Off a play-action, Hurts unloaded just inside the numbers near the endzone and connected with an open Smith for a 46-yard bomb. Smith led Philadelphia in receiving on the day and finished with four catches for 69 yards and the score. Hurts, who played phenomenal as well in the teams’ first Super Bowl matchup, added a second impressive performance in the Lombari-contesting game. He totaled 221 passing yards and two touchdowns in the air and added 72 rushing yards on 11 carries with a rushing score Sunday afternoon to win his first-ever Super Bowl MVP award.

“Offense was able to score points and take advantage of opportunities just enough to put points on the board. And defense played their ass off. They played how they’ve played all year. I truly believe offense wins games but defense wins championships and how that defense has been able to play, it’s a great testament to them,” said Hurts.

After the massive touchdown to extend the Eagles’ lead to 34-0 late in the third quarter, the game was decided. Despite Mahomes finding the endzone a total of three times in the last 16 minutes, with two of them being long touchdowns to Worthy who finished with an impressive eight catches for 157 receiving yards, there would be no doubt of the victor. The Eagles coasted the rest of the way and secured the second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Although Mahomes salvaged his stat line with 257 passing yards and the three passing scores, his two interceptions early and six total sacks from the Eagles made life difficult for the three-peat believers. Led by two-and-a-half sacks from Sweat and two from defensive tackle Milton Williams, Philadelphia’s defensive front had Kansas City’s offensive line lost for the entire game.

And for the first time since 2018, the Eagles return home as Super Bowl Champions. For the first time since the end of the 2021-2022 season, all other teams will not be chasing after the Kansas City Chiefs.

“This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody – offense, defense, special teams,” Eagles’ head coach Nick Siranni said.