The final score of 40–22 makes it look like a blowout. Honestly, it was. By the time the third quarter of Super Bowl LIX was winding down at the Caesars Superdome, the Kansas City Chiefs weren't just losing; they were being dismantled. It was a weird, almost surreal night in New Orleans. Patrick Mahomes, the guy who usually pulls magic out of thin air, looked completely human. Maybe less than human. He was sacked six times. That is a career-high for him in any game, let alone the one with the Lombardi on the line.
People were talking about a three-peat. The media was obsessed with it. But the box score from super bowl shows that the Philadelphia Eagles had other plans, specifically a defensive front that didn't even need to blitz to ruin Mahomes' night.
The Numbers That Stunned New Orleans
If you just look at the total yardage, the game seems somewhat competitive. The Eagles put up 345 net yards compared to the Chiefs' 275. But that’s the trap of the box score from super bowl. It hides the fact that Kansas City didn’t put a single point on the board until there were 34 seconds left in the third quarter. By then, Philly was up 34–0.
Jalen Hurts was the MVP, and rightfully so. He didn't have to throw for 400 yards because he didn't have to. He was efficient. He went 17-for-22 for 221 yards and two touchdowns through the air. But he also did Jalen Hurts things on the ground. He rushed 11 times for 72 yards. That 72-yard total actually broke his own record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in Super Bowl history.
📖 Related: Barry Sanders Shoes Nike: What Most People Get Wrong
Philadelphia controlled the clock for nearly 37 minutes. That is a lifetime. It basically meant the Chiefs' defense was gasping for air while Saquon Barkley churned out 57 yards on 25 carries. He didn't have huge breakaway runs, but he was a hammer.
That Second Quarter Avalanche
The game was won in the second quarter. Period.
It started with a Jake Elliott 48-yard field goal to make it 10–0. Then, the rookie Cooper DeJean—on his 22nd birthday, no less—undercut a Mahomes pass and took it 38 yards to the house. The stadium erupted. You could see the air go out of the Chiefs' sideline.
👉 See also: Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart: Why the Roster Flip is More Than Just Kyler Murray
Mahomes threw another pick to Zack Baun shortly after the two-minute warning. Philly turned that into a 12-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. Suddenly, it was 24–0 at the half. Kendrick Lamar hadn't even started his halftime show, and the game felt over.
Chiefs Late Surge or Garbage Time?
Technically, the Chiefs "won" the fourth quarter 16–6. Does it matter? Not really. Most of those points came against Eagles backups after the lead had swelled to 40–6. Xavier Worthy was a bright spot for KC, though. He hauled in 8 catches for 157 yards and two scores. If you only saw his line in the box score from super bowl, you'd think he had a legendary game. In reality, a huge chunk of that was 50-yard bombs against a prevent defense while the Eagles' starters were already looking for the Gatorade buckets.
Key Individual Stats
- Jalen Hurts (PHI): 221 Pass Yds, 2 TD, 1 INT / 72 Rush Yds, 1 TD.
- Patrick Mahomes (KC): 257 Pass Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT / 6 Sacks taken.
- Xavier Worthy (KC): 8 Rec, 157 Yds, 2 TD.
- DeVonta Smith (PHI): 4 Rec, 69 Yds, 1 TD (including that 46-yard dagger).
- Jake Elliott (PHI): 4-for-4 on FGs, including a 50-yarder.
Why This Box Score Matters for the Future
This game officially ended the "three-peat" conversation and solidified the Eagles as the new powerhouse. Nick Sirianni, who was on the hot seat according to some "experts" earlier in the year, now has a ring.
✨ Don't miss: Anthony Davis USC Running Back: Why the Notre Dame Killer Still Matters
The defensive blueprint is what people will study. Philly's front four—Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter, and the rest—didn't need exotic blitzes. They just beat their men one-on-one. They forced Mahomes into three total turnovers. When you give Jalen Hurts that many extra possessions, you're going to have a bad time.
If you're looking to break down your own local league games or just want to understand how a "dominant" defense looks on paper, study the time of possession and the sack count here. The box score from super bowl LIX is a masterclass in "trench warfare."
To truly understand how this affects the 2026 season, keep an eye on the Chiefs' offensive line retooling this offseason. They'll need to address those six sacks immediately if they want to get back to the big game. For the Eagles, the focus shifts to whether they can keep this defensive core together under the salary cap.
Start by checking out the advanced "Expected Points Added" (EPA) stats for this game to see just how much the DeJean pick-six swung the win probability. It was the statistical turning point that the raw numbers often overlook.