In a dominant display, the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl victory, securing a commanding 40-22 win on Sunday. The Eagles’ defense, led by Cooper DeJean and Josh Sweat, overwhelmed Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, silencing any hopes for a Chiefs’ three-peat.
DeJean, marking his 22nd birthday, made an unforgettable impact with a pick-6, while Sweat relentlessly pressured Mahomes throughout the game. Meanwhile, quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, including a signature “tush push” to extend the lead, and finished throwing for 221 yards. Despite an impressive 57-yard showing by Saquon Barkley, who also broke Terrell Davis’ record for the most rushing yards in a single season (including playoffs), the Eagles’ defense was the star of the show. Coach Nick Sirianni emphasized the importance of teamwork: “This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody – offense, defense, special teams. We didn’t really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.”
The Eagles’ comprehensive performance left no room for doubt, as they outplayed the Chiefs. The home crowd, packed with Philadelphia supporters, celebrated each score, breaking into the familiar chant of “Fly! Eagles! Fly!” Even Taylor Swift’s support couldn’t help the Chiefs, losing for the first time in 10 games this season. Regardless of his girlfriend’s support, Travis Kelce didn’t catch a pass until late in the third quarter. In other notable attendance, President Donald Trump became the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl.
The Chiefs had previously won three of the last five Super Bowls but were soundly beaten by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2021 Super Bowl. Mahomes, unbeaten in eight previous games against Fangio’s defenses, was overwhelmed by the Eagles’ pressure. The Eagles recorded six sacks of Mahomes, the most of his career, without even blitzing once.
Hurts, who nearly led the Eagles to a win over the Chiefs in the previous Super Bowl, said the performance was a result of the team’s collective effort. “Defense wins championships,” he reflected. “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.” Barkley, named 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, was held to just 31 rushing yards in the first half as the Eagles built a commanding 24-0 lead.
The Eagles’ revamped defense, with eight new starters from last season, ensured Mahomes couldn’t replicate his past Super Bowl magic. Sirianni, once mocked for being a “clown” by national commentators, cemented his place in history with this championship, solidifying a career that boasts one of the best winning percentages in NFL history. With less than three minutes remaining, Sirianni was drenched in Gatorade, his team having left no doubt as they coasted to victory.
The game didn’t lack controversy, either. For the past two weeks, the public perception was that the officials were in favor of the Chiefs. This claim was dismissed as “ridiculous” by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Despite controversial officiating calls, including a nullified pass to Brown for offensive pass interference and a questionable roughing the passer penalty on Kansas City, the Eagles maintained control throughout. Hurts, who threw his first interception in 217 attempts, saw the Chiefs fail to capitalize on the turnover.
With this victory, the Eagles became the latest team to defeat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, denying them a historic third straight championship. The Green Bay Packers remain the only NFL team to win three consecutive titles, doing so in 1929-1931 and again in 1965-1967. The Lakers’ three-peat in the NBA, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, remains the most recent example of a major American sports league achieving such dominance.