As a Super Bowl should be, number 57 was a nail-biter for the ages with Kansas City winning on a last-second field goal
PHOENIX, Ariz.– Patrick Mahomes’ nearly unstoppable performance puts a cap to the 2022-23 NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs winning their second Super Bowl in 4 years. Kansas City won in thriller fashion on a last second field goal to put them up 38-35, pulling ahead in a neck-and-neck ballgame throughout most of the contest.
The Chiefs erased a 10-point halftime deficit with a strong offensive showing in the third and fourth quarters with 24 points coming after Rihanna’s mid-game concert. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes jumpstarted an anemic beginning to their offensive output by throwing two touchdowns to Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes showed out while being clearly hampered by an ankle injury which he first suffered in the AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals and reinjured late in the second quarter while being tackled on a scamper. That didn’t seem to stop the newly-voted NFL MVP however as he led them to scoring drives on all four of their second half possessions– a rushing touchdown by Isiah Pacheco, the two aforementioned passing scores, as well as the dagger, a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds by Harrison Butker.
The 27-year old quarterback now becomes the first player in NFL history to not only win league MVP and win the Super Bowl, but also the first one to win Super Bowl MVP as well.
The Eagles came out firing on all cylinders, with Jalen Hurts using both his legs and arms to make incredible throws. 5 years removed from his benching in the College Football National Championship Game, Hurts reappears in the game’s biggest stage throwing for 304 yards and one long 45 yard touchdown to AJ Brown. Hurts’ magical season comes to an end where he suffers only his second loss during his 2022 campaign, with the first the Commanders in Week 10.
To start the Eagles and Chiefs exchanged blows, with Philadelphia leading a 75-yard drive to set up a Hurts’ one-yard touchdown sneak. Kansas City answered with a 6-play 75-yarder by themselves, leading to a gorgeous over the shoulder nine-ball to tight end Travis Kelce on a post and wheel concept.
After that, the two offenses went stagnant, yet the Eagles controlled the time of possession. The Eagles fired soon enough on a long ball to AJ Brown which was followed by a Jalen Hurts fumble (one we’re still scratching our heads at) which was returned by Chiefs’ linebacker Nick Bolton for a touchdown. Hurts would run it in again for a score, and Jake Elliot kicked a field goal at the conclusion of the second quarter to put Philadelphia up 24-14 going into half.
Some interesting stats include:
- Jalen Hurts rushed for 70 yards and three touchdowns, making him the Eagles’ leading rusher. His three touchdowns also match Terrell Davis’ record for Super Bowl rushing touchdowns.
- Mahomes threw only 6 incompletions on the day– his 21/27 completions-to-attempts makes for his best performance in a Super Bowl yet, outpacing his performance in 2019 and 2020 against the 49ers and Buccaneers.
- The Eagles dominated the time of possession from the inception, with Philadelphia holding onto the ball for 35:14 compared to Kansas City’s 24:13.
- DeVonta Smith was the only player barring QBs that hit triple digits on yards, he had 6 catches for 100 yards not including a catch that was called back on the Eagles’ final drive of the second quarter.
Jalen Hurts’ 2-point conversion to tie the game made it seem like there was enough time for both teams to get a possession, but James Bradberry’s controversial holding penalty extended Kansas City’s final drive which in turn allowed Andy Reid and company to run out the clock.
The Eagles are left at a crossroads after Sunday’s disappointing loss in the Super Bowl. Several key veterans are on the chopping block as the team will have to make decisions on their return. Brandon Graham, Philly fan-favorite Jason Kelce, and Fletcher Cox are all vulnerable and are in deep limbo. Hurts’ and the offense spearheaded by the likes of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith remain a bright spot for Philadelphia, however Miles Sanders is also set to be a free agent, whether or not the Eagles bring him back is a decision yet to be made.
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Kansas City’s offseason has paid off. Their preference to part ways with the team’s number one pass catcher Tyreek Hill has paid dividends. The offseason acquisition of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marques Valdez-Scantling allowed for Patrick Mahomes to have relief and put less stress on Travis Kelce to be the kingpin. The Chiefs’ midseason choice to trade for gadget player Kadarius Toney has also made a big difference, especially in the Super Bowl where Toney had a massive 65-yard punt return and 5 yards short of the first punt return touchdown in NFL history. Toney also scored a wide open touchdown, speaking wonders on how big of an asset he is for the Chiefs.
Super Bowl LVII proved to be one of the most entertaining Super Bowls in history, and in a year, we get to do it all over again.
