You probably expected a dogfight. Most of us did. When the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles stepped onto the turf at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, the betting lines were razor-thin. But by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the vibe wasn't "instant classic"—it was a total defensive clinic.
The final super bowl score breakdown tells a story of a 40–22 Philadelphia victory, but honestly, that score is a bit of a liar. It makes the game look somewhat competitive. In reality, the Eagles held a soul-crushing 34–0 lead late into the third quarter. Patrick Mahomes, the guy who usually finds magic in a crisis, was sacked six times. He looked human. For the first time in what feels like forever, the Chiefs ran out of answers.
The First Half Shutout Nobody Saw Coming
Philadelphia didn't just win; they bullied the AFC champions. The first quarter was quiet, starting with a 1-yard Jalen Hurts "Tush Push" touchdown that felt like a standard Eagles business trip. But the second quarter is where the wheels fell off for Kansas City.
The turning point? Cooper DeJean. The rookie defensive back chose his 22nd birthday to jump a Mahomes pass for a 38-yard pick-six. That play made it 17–0 and you could almost hear the collective gasp from the Chiefs' sideline. Shortly after, Zack Baun snagged another interception, setting up a Jalen Hurts 12-yard strike to A.J. Brown.
By halftime, it was 24–0. The Chiefs had gained a measly 23 yards of total offense in the first half. That’s the second-lowest first-half yardage in the history of the Super Bowl. Think about that for a second. The most prolific modern offense was held to less than a quarter of a football field in thirty minutes.
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Breaking Down the Scoring by Quarter
If you’re looking at the super bowl score breakdown to see where the momentum shifted, it’s all in the middle frames.
- 1st Quarter: PHI 7, KC 0. A methodical opening drive by Philly.
- 2nd Quarter: PHI 17, KC 0 (Total: 24–0). The DeJean pick-six and the Baun interception.
- 3rd Quarter: PHI 10, KC 6 (Total: 34–6). DeVonta Smith caught a 46-yard bomb that essentially ended the game. Xavier Worthy finally put KC on the board with a late 24-yard TD.
- 4th Quarter: PHI 6, KC 16 (Total: 40–22). Jake Elliott hammered two more field goals while the Chiefs added two "garbage time" scores against Philly's second-stringers.
Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, did something daring. He didn't blitz once. Not a single time. He trusted his front four—led by Josh Sweat’s 2.5 sacks—to get home while keeping seven men in coverage to confuse Mahomes. It worked perfectly. Mahomes became just the sixth quarterback in Super Bowl history to face zero blitzes and lose.
Why the MVP Went to Jalen Hurts
While the defense was the story, Jalen Hurts was the engine. He didn't have to throw for 400 yards because he didn't have to. He was efficient. 17 of 22 for 221 yards and two touchdowns. But more importantly, he was the game's leading rusher with 72 yards.
He stayed calm while Mahomes was frantic. Every time the Chiefs tried to muster a response, Hurts would scramble for a back-breaking first down on 3rd and 8. It was the ultimate "dual-threat" performance that cemented his status as a superstar.
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On the other side, Saquon Barkley did the dirty work. He carried the ball 25 times for 57 yards. Those numbers aren't flashy, but they kept the clock moving and kept Mahomes on the bench. Barkley also broke Terrell Davis' long-standing record for the most total rushing yards in a single season (including playoffs), finishing an incredible first year in Philly with a ring.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 40–22 Score
Social media will tell you the Chiefs "almost" made a comeback because they scored 22 points. Don't believe it.
The Eagles were up 40–6 with five minutes left in the game. Nick Sirianni had already started pulling starters to avoid injuries. Mahomes' late touchdown passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Xavier Worthy were basically practice reps against a prevent defense.
The real game was won in the trenches. The Eagles’ offensive line, the largest in Super Bowl history, gave Hurts all day to throw. Conversely, the Chiefs' offensive line looked like a sieve.
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Key Stats at a Glance
- Sacks: Eagles 6, Chiefs 2
- Turnovers: Chiefs 3, Eagles 1
- Time of Possession: Eagles 36:58, Chiefs 23:02
- First Downs: Eagles 21, Chiefs 12
Actionable Takeaways for the Offseason
If you’re a fan or a bettor looking toward next year, this game proved a few things that will shape the 2026 season.
Defense Still Wins Championships
The "high-flying" era of the NFL hit a brick wall in New Orleans. If you don't have a defensive line that can create pressure with four players, you can't beat elite quarterbacks. Expect teams to overpay for edge rushers in the upcoming free agency.
The Three-Peat Curse is Real
No team in the Super Bowl era has ever won three in a row. The mental and physical toll of playing that much extra football caught up to the Chiefs. They looked tired and out of sync from the opening kickoff.
Youth on the Perimeter Matters
Xavier Worthy was the only bright spot for KC with 157 receiving yards and two scores. The Chiefs' reliance on aging vets like Travis Kelce (who was held to 39 yards) showed its cracks. Teams will likely shift toward drafting more speed at receiver rather than banking on legacy stars.
To truly understand this game, you have to look past the box score. It wasn't a shootout. It was a masterpiece of coaching by Vic Fangio and a statement of dominance by a Philadelphia team that finally got their revenge for the heartbreak of Super Bowl LVII.