Chiefs Take Down Philadelphia, Become Super Bowl LVII Champs

The Kansas City Chiefs are back on top of the football world. On Sunday night, the Chiefs defeated the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, 38-35. The epic contest in Arizona could mark the beginning of a dynasty for Kansas City. A tale of two halves, Philadelphia and Kansas City battled it out, trading touchdowns all game, until a dominant second half left the Chiefs standing just a bit taller than the Eagles.

By the Narrowest of Margins

Super Bowl LVII was an offensive battle to the end. In a game that saw 73 total points scored, the Chiefs and the Eagles went back and forth. The Eagles came out and dominated the first half of the game, barely allowing any possession time to Kansas City. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts was torching the Chiefs’ defense and putting together long drives that forced Kansas City’s defense to stay on the field and forced Patrick Mahomes to stay on the bench. To make matters worse, when Mahomes did get on the field he injured his ankle, which was already in pain. In a dominant second quarter, the Eagles put up 17 and headed into halftime with a 10-point lead, 24-14.

However, something happened in the Chiefs’ locker room and they returned to the field with a new sense of vigor and maybe most importantly, Patrick Mahomes came back without a limp. Mahomes led his team to a magnificent comeback, only the second double-digit comeback in Super Bowl history. The Chiefs took a one-point lead when Mahomes found a wide-open receiver Kadarius Toney for a 5-yard score. Later, on a very similar play, Mahomes found Skyy Moore all alone in the endzone to put the Chiefs up 35-27. Hurts continued his record-breaking rushing with a touchdown, and the Eagles tied the game up with a two-point conversation 35-35.

The Chiefs marched down the field with a drive that lasted over five minutes and included two third-down conversions. Even with the bad ankle, Patrick Mahomes showed his toughness with a big run that brought the Chiefs inside the 20-yard line. Then, after a controversial holding call, Kansas City found themselves on the 9-yard line with 11 seconds to go. Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker, who had missed a kick earlier in the game, stepped onto the field to win the Super Bowl. This time the ball went through and the Kansas City Chiefs became Super Bowl LVII champions. 

A Team Effort

Super Bowl LVII was not won by just one player. Football games usually aren’t. Each player contributed to the championship win, but some more so than others. Of course, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were the stars they usually are but one player that no one expected to shine was linebacker Nick Bolton. 

Bolton was the leading tackler for the Chiefs’ defense with eight solo tackles and nine total tackles. But perhaps his most impactful play came in the second quarter when Jalen Hurts mishandled the football and Bolton recovered the fumble for a scoop and score. He would have had another one if the play had not been ruled an incomplete pass. If not for Bolton’s scoop and score, the Chiefs would have been down 17 at half time and things would have looked a lot different.

Other members of the defense stood out as the team had 5 tackles for a loss. Khalen Saunders and Leo Chanel finished with a sack on Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. This came against an Eagles offensive line that is considered the best in the NFL.

The usual stars also showed out in the biggest game of the year. Mahomes finished with 182 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also finished with 44 rushing yards on just six attempts. The Kansas City receivers also had a great day. Tight end Travis Kelce was targeted six times and caught all six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore also finished with a touchdown on their only catches in the game. JuJu Smith-Schuster had a team-high seven receptions for 53 yards. Isiah Pacheco kept the pressure on the Eagles’ defense, leading a solid running attack. Pacheco finished Super Bowl LVII with 15 rushes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Patrick Mahomes took home the MVP, making him a two-time Super Bowl MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champ. Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LVII champions.