Two years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles stood on the edge of immortality, only to watch Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs snatch victory from their grasp in a heartbreaking 38-35 Super Bowl loss. To this day, Jalen Hurts has been haunted by the reminder of being so close to glory. “Losing Super Bowl 57 to the Chiefs changed my soul,” Hurts admitted.
Fast forward to Super Bowl 59, and the Eagles found themselves with another chance to go down in history. They weren’t just aiming for redemption; they were determined to stop the Chiefs from becoming the first NFL team in the Super Bowl era to complete a three-peat. A more experienced Hurts, driven by the pain of that previous loss, led his team with intensity throughout the game. Hurts delivered a stellar performance on the biggest stage, guiding the Eagles to a dominant 40-22 victory and earning himself the MVP trophy. As the confetti fell, fans wondered: Is the Chiefs’ dynasty ending?
From the opening kickoff, the Eagles gained control of the game on both sides. On their second possession, Philadelphia marched 69 yards down the field in 7 plays, capping off the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Hurts. Hurts’s touchdown was the lone score of the first quarter as Philly’s defense forced the Chiefs to punt on each of their drives.
The Chiefs aimed to gain momentum after intercepting a pass from Hurts, but their f
irst drive of the second quarter ended in another three-and-out. The Eagles got into field goal range on their next drive, and kicker Jake Elliott increased their lead with a 48-yard field goal. On the Chiefs’ next drive, the Eagles’ defense wreaked havoc on Patrick Mahomes, sacking him on the first two plays before rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean intercepted his pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. In Kansas City’s next three offensive drives, Philly’s defense forced two more three-and-outs and linebacker Zach Baun intercepted a pass, setting up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to A.J. Brown. The score going into halftime was a shutout, with the Eagles leading 24-0.
In the third quarter, Kansas City started with the ball but was again suffocated by Philly’s pass rush, who sacked Mahomes twice before the Chiefs punted. Elliott converted on a 29-yard field goal attempt on the next drive. Desperate for a spark, Andy Reid signaled for the offense to stay on the field on fourth down in their following possession, which they failed to convert on. Immediately after regaining possession, Hurts launched a 46-yard touchdown strike to Devonta Smith. The Chiefs finally found the end
zone at the end of the quarter when Mahomes threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Xavier Worthy.
Trailing 34-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Chiefs put together a couple of scoring drives to trim the deficit by the end of the game. The final score was 40-22, and the Eagles celebrated their victory.
Hurts’s MVP performance featured 17 completions out of 22 passes, 221 passing yards, two touchdowns, 11 carries for 71 rushing yards, and an additional score. Smith and Brown combined for 112 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Despite all this success on offense, Hurts credits the Eagles’ defense for securing the win: “Defense wins championships,” Hurts said after the game, “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.”
Hurts can likely rest easy now, knowing his team has avenged their past Super Bowl loss with an impressive display of championship football on both sides. However, with the immense potential this Eagles squad possesses, they won’t just settle for this victory; they’re determined to establish themselves as the new dominant force in the league and create a dynasty of their own.
