Nobody expected a blowout. Seriously, the betting lines had the Kansas City Chiefs as slight favorites, and most of us settled into our couches expecting a classic Mahomes comeback story. Instead, we got a defensive masterclass that looked more like a 1980s beatdown than a modern-day shootout.
The final score of the super bowl game ended up being Philadelphia Eagles 40, Kansas City Chiefs 22.
But honestly, even that score doesn't tell the whole story. If you just look at the numbers, you might think the Chiefs were "in it." They weren't. Philly was up 34-0 before Kansas City even sniffed the end zone. It was a demolition in the Big Easy that ended the dream of a historic three-peat.
How the Eagles Dismantled the Dynasty
The game kicked off at the Caesars Superdome with a weird energy. The Chiefs won the toss, deferred, and then everything went sideways for them. Jalen Hurts looked remarkably calm, eventually punching in the first score with that infamous "Tush Push" from the one-yard line. It felt routine, but it set a physical tone that Kansas City never matched.
Vic Fangio’s defense was the real MVP here, even if the trophy went to Hurts. They didn't blitz. Not once. Think about that for a second. Patrick Mahomes, the guy who usually shreds teams when they send pressure, was sacked six times by a four-man rush. Josh Sweat and the defensive front were essentially living in the Chiefs' backfield.
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By the time the second quarter rolled around, the wheels had completely fallen off for KC.
- Cooper DeJean’s Birthday Present: The rookie defensive back picked off Mahomes and took it 38 yards to the house. It was his 22nd birthday. Talk about a legendary way to celebrate.
- The Second Pick: Zack Baun grabbed another interception shortly after, setting up a 12-yard strike from Hurts to A.J. Brown.
- First Half Yardage: The Chiefs were held to just 23 total yards in the first half. That is the second-lowest in Super Bowl history.
It was 24-0 at halftime, and Kendrick Lamar hadn't even taken the stage yet. The vibe in New Orleans was stunned.
The Mahomes Struggle and Late "Scoring"
We've seen Patrick Mahomes do the impossible plenty of times. We saw it against the Niners and the Eagles a few years back. But this time, he looked... human.
He finished 21-of-32 for 257 yards, but most of that production came against an Eagles prevent defense in the fourth quarter. He threw three touchdowns—two to Xavier Worthy and one to DeAndre Hopkins—but he also threw those two devastating first-half interceptions.
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The Eagles didn't let up until it was 40-6. Hurts was efficient, going 17-of-22 for 221 yards and two scores, while also leading the team in rushing with 72 yards. Saquon Barkley didn't have a massive yardage day on the ground, but his presence forced the Chiefs to respect the run, opening up deep shots to DeVonta Smith. Smith’s 46-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was essentially the dagger.
Why the Final Score of the Super Bowl Game Matters for History
This win gave the Philadelphia Eagles their second Super Bowl title. It also stopped the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
There's a lot of talk about "dynasties" in sports, but this game showed how quickly the gap can close. Howie Roseman, the Eagles GM, spent two years rebuilding the trenches specifically to stop a Mahomes-led offense. It worked. The Eagles controlled the clock for nearly 37 minutes, leaving the Chiefs' defense exhausted and their offense out of rhythm.
If you're looking at the final score of the super bowl game from a gambling or statistical perspective, the late surge by the Chiefs actually made the game look closer than the 1.5-point spread suggested. But for anyone who watched, this was a statement. The NFC is currently through Philadelphia.
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Key Takeaways from Super Bowl LIX
The fallout from this game is going to last all off-season.
- The No-Blitz Strategy: Expect every defensive coordinator in the league to study how Philly pressured Mahomes with only four linemen. If you can't protect Mahomes, the Chiefs' offense becomes one-dimensional.
- Jalen Hurts' Legacy: With a Super Bowl ring and an MVP trophy, Hurts has firmly moved into the "elite" tier. His 3-TD performance (one rushing, two passing) was a clinic in decision-making.
- The Three-Peat Curse: No team has ever done it. The Chiefs came closer than anyone in decades, but the physical toll of playing that many extra games over three years finally seemed to catch up.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the play-by-play or want to see the advanced analytics on the Eagles' pass rush win rate, you should check out the official NFL Next Gen Stats. For those already looking ahead, the odds for Super Bowl LX are starting to trickle out, and surprisingly, the Eagles aren't the runaway favorites despite this blowout.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Chiefs' offensive line this spring. That unit was the Achilles' heel in New Orleans, and they’ll need a massive overhaul if they want to get back to the big game next year.