The Philadelphia Eagles delivered a masterclass in defensive dominance Sunday night, upending the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to claim their second Super Bowl title and shatter Mahomes & Co.'s quest for a historic three-peat. In a game where Taylor Swift's attendance became a sidebar to Kansas City's unraveling, Jalen Hurts and Philly's defense stole the spotlight.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's unit sacked Patrick Mahomes six times – a career first for the Chiefs quarterback – while rookie Cooper DeJean sealed the game with a 22nd-birthday pick-6. Hurts, named Super Bowl MVP, threw two touchdowns and powered through a signature 'tush push' rushing score, later declaring: \"Defense wins championships. We saw the difference they made today.\"
The Chiefs, seeking to become the first NFL team to three-peat in the Super Bowl era, trailed 24-0 at halftime. Mahomes failed to connect with star tight end Travis Kelce until late in the third quarter, while coach Andy Reid fell to 3-3 in Super Bowl appearances. \"All we want to do is win,\" Eagles coach Nick Sirianni emphasized postgame, shrugging off critiques of his team's regular-season tactics.
Saquon Barkley, the 2024 AP Offensive Player of the Year, broke Terrell Davis' postseason rushing record despite limited action. The win marks redemption for Philadelphia after their 38-35 loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII – a game Mahomes stole with a last-minute drive.
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Eagles deny Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat 40-22 with dominant defense
cgtn.com
