The last time the Kansas City Chiefs lost a Super Bowl, their offensive line was outmatched and outplayed in a 31-9 defeat to Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The script was the same on Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles romped to a 40-22 blowout for their second Super Bowl title and a redemption from their loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Philadelphia’s defense set the tone early and didn’t relent as it kept constant pressure on Patrick Mahomes en route to a 24-0 lead that effectively ended the game by halftime.
The end result was six sacks of Mahomes, one that resulted in a lost fumble. And Mahomes threw two interceptions, each of which Philadelphia converted into touchdowns. It was an overwhelming effort from Philadelphia’s defense that stifled a three-time champion quarterback who’s established himself among the all-time greats before turning 30 years old.
Here are the plays that defined Philadelphia’s dominant win in Super Bowl LIX.
Chiefs go 3-and-out after intercepting Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia dominated the first quarter box score, but Kansas City had a chance to tie the game after intercepting Jalen Hurts early in the second quarter while trailing 7-0. Hurts threw an ill-advised pass in field-goal range that Bryan Cook intercepted near the goal line, breathing life into a Chiefs team that gained 19 yards on its first two possessions.
But the Chiefs couldn’t cash in. Backed up against their own 3-yard line, the Chiefs got 7 yards combined on first and second downs. But Travis Kelce couldn’t hang on to a low pass from Mahomes on third-and-3, and the Chiefs were forced to punt from their own 9-yard line. The Eagles extended their lead to two possessions with a field goal on their next drive.
Cooper DeJean’s pick 6
The Chiefs weren’t down and out after the Eagles extended their lead. Mahomes and Co. have faced 10-point deficits in the Super Bowl before and come out victorious. But Cooper DeJean officially put Chiefs fans on notice on Kansas City’s next possession.
With Philadelphia leading 10-0 midway through the second quarter, Mahomes rolled out to his right on third-and-16 and targeted DeAndre Hopkins. But the pass was woefully underthrown, allowing rookie Eagles cornerback DeJean to intercept it.
DeJean corralled the ball at the Kansas City 38-yard line and crossed the field to the right sideline and into the end zone for a pick 6 on his 22nd birthday.
The Eagles had a 17-0 lead, and the Chiefs’ three-peat hopes were in serious jeopardy.
Third-down sack of Mahomes on next Chiefs possession
If anybody was going to lead a comeback at this point, it would be Mahomes. But there was no Mahomes magic Sunday night.
The Chiefs stood a chance to cut their deficit to 10 points before halftime on their next possession. But Philadelphia’s pass rush wouldn’t allow it. With Kansas City facing third-and-9 at its own 31, the Eagles got pressure with a four-man rush and forced Mahomes to scramble. He couldn’t evade Milton Williams, who caught Mahomes from behind for a drive-ending sack.
Zack Baun interception leads to A.J. Brown TD
The Chiefs forced an Eagles punt on the ensuing Philadelphia possession and faced another chance to cut their deficit to 10 before halftime. But their next possession met a worse ending than their previous one.
This time, the Eagles got pressure on Mahomes in the Chiefs end zone and forced an ill-advised pass into traffic on the first play of the possession. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun leapt for a diving interception to secure possession in the red zone.
Two plays later, Hurts found A.J. Brown for a 12-yard touchdown, and the route was on. The Eagles extended their lead to 24-0 before halftime.
Eagles sack Mahomes twice on first possession after halftime
After halftime, the Eagles quickly ended any long-shot hope of a historic comeback by again getting pressure on Mahomes.
Kansas City started the first possession of the third quarter with good field position at its own 36-yard line, then faced first-and-10 at its own 44. But Jordan Davis sacked Mahomes for a 1-yard loss on first down. Then Josh Sweat got to Mahomes for a 6-yard loss on second down to put the Chiefs at third-and-17.
The Chiefs managed eight yards on third down and opted for a fourth-and-9 punt that might as well have been a white flag.
The Chiefs scored some garbage-time points from there to end the shutout and make the score more respectable. But a succession of big plays ensured the result of this game long before the fourth quarter started.
