Most people expected a nail-biter. They expected Patrick Mahomes to pull some magic out of a hat and secure the first three-peat in NFL history. Instead, we got a demolition. If you’re looking for the super bowl score last year, the number is burned into the brains of everyone in Philly: 40-22.
It wasn’t even as close as that 18-point gap makes it look. Honestly, for about three and a half quarters, the Kansas City Chiefs looked like they’d forgotten how to play football. The Philadelphia Eagles didn't just win; they physically overwhelmed a dynasty in front of 65,719 people at the Caesars Superdome.
New Orleans is known for big parties, but for KC fans, it was more like a funeral. By the time Kendrick Lamar hit the stage for the halftime show, the Eagles were already up 24-0. Think about that. The most explosive offense of the decade didn't put a single point on the board in the entire first half.
Why the Super Bowl Score Last Year Shocked Everyone
Nobody saw a blowout coming. The Chiefs entered Super Bowl LIX as 1.5-point favorites. They had Mahomes. They had Travis Kelce. They had the momentum of two straight rings. But the Eagles' defense, led by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, turned the Superdome into a house of horrors for the AFC champions.
The weirdest part? The Eagles didn't even blitz. Not once.
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They sacked Mahomes six times just by winning their one-on-one battles at the line of scrimmage. Josh Sweat was a nightmare off the edge, racking up 2.5 sacks himself. When you can pressure the best quarterback in the world with only four guys, the game is basically over before it starts. Mahomes was running for his life, eventually finishing with a career-high six sacks and three turnovers.
The Turning Point That Wasn't a Play
Usually, you can point to a fumble or a dropped pass. In this game, the turning point was the entire second quarter. Philadelphia put up 17 points in that frame alone.
- The Tush Push: Jalen Hurts punched it in from the 1-yard line to set the tone early.
- The Birthday Pick-Six: Rookie Cooper DeJean intercepted Mahomes on his 22nd birthday and took it 38 yards to the house.
- The Baun Interception: Zack Baun picked off a desperate Mahomes late in the half, setting up an A.J. Brown touchdown.
It felt like a tidal wave. You've seen the Chiefs come back from 10 or even 20 points before, but this was different. The Eagles were more physical. They were faster. Most importantly, they were angry. Losing to the Chiefs two years prior in Super Bowl LVII clearly left a scar, and they came to New Orleans to settle the debt.
Jalen Hurts and the Offensive Masterclass
While the defense was the story, Jalen Hurts was the surgeon. He didn't have to throw for 400 yards because the defense kept giving him short fields.
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He ended the night with 221 passing yards, 72 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. That 72-yard rushing total actually set a new Super Bowl record for a quarterback. He was calm. He was efficient. He looked like the best player on the field, which is why he walked away with the MVP trophy.
People forget that Saquon Barkley had a relatively quiet night by his standards, only rushing for 57 yards. It didn't matter. The Eagles’ offensive line, anchored by Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, completely neutralized the Chiefs' pass rush. Chris Jones was largely a non-factor.
Breaking Down the Final Score
The game entered the fourth quarter with the Eagles leading 34-6. It was a massacre.
The Chiefs' "rally" was really just a case of the Eagles playing soft prevent defense and pulling their starters. Xavier Worthy caught two late touchdowns, and DeAndre Hopkins grabbed another. They even managed a couple of two-point conversions to make the box score look respectable. But if you watched the game, you know. The super bowl score last year of 40-22 is a bit of a lie—it was a 40-6 game that got bored with itself.
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The Fallout: What This Means for 2026
We are now living in the aftermath of that result. The "three-peat" dream is dead. The Chiefs are in a "reset" phase, trying to figure out how to rebuild an offensive line that got shredded in New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Eagles have established themselves as the new standard in the NFC.
If you're betting on this season or just trying to keep up with the power rankings, keep these three things in mind:
- Defense is back: The Eagles proved that a dominant front four is still the only way to stop an elite QB.
- The Rookie Impact: Cooper DeJean’s performance showed that young, athletic secondaries are the kryptonite for veteran-heavy offenses.
- The Revenge Narrative: Don't underestimate a team that lost a close one years ago. The Eagles played with a discipline that only comes from heartbreak.
The parade on Broad Street was one for the ages. It was only the second Lombardi Trophy in Eagles history, but the way they earned it—by dismantling a legend—suggests it won't be their last for long.
If you want to understand where the NFL is heading this year, you have to look back at how that game in New Orleans was won. It wasn't about flashy plays. It was about line play, ball security, and a rookie defensive back having the game of his life on his birthday.
Check the current standings and look at how many teams are trying to copy that "no-blitz" defensive scheme. Everyone is trying to be the 2025 Eagles right now. Whether they can actually pull it off is a different story entirely.