By the time the Kendrick Lamar halftime set wrapped up at the Caesars Superdome last February, most fans were still waiting for the "real" game to start. We’ve seen this movie before. Patrick Mahomes falls behind, the Chiefs look out of sorts, and then—poof—a second-half magic act leaves the opponent wondering what just hit them. But Super Bowl LIX didn't follow the script. Instead of a Kansas City comeback, the super bowl third quarter score became the definitive proof that the Philadelphia Eagles had finally figured out the puzzle.
Philly went into the locker room up 24-0. Total dominance.
If you were watching on Fox, you probably expected Andy Reid to adjust. He’s the master of it. But the third quarter in New Orleans was less about adjustments and more about a defensive front that played like they were shot out of a cannon. The Eagles didn't just maintain the lead; they turned a blowout into a coronation. By the time the third-quarter clock hit zero, the scoreboard read Eagles 34, Chiefs 6.
The Quarter That Broke the Dynasty
The third quarter started with a glimmer of hope for KC. They got the ball first. Usually, that’s when Mahomes marches down and puts seven on the board to make it a two-score game. Not this time. Vic Fangio’s defense, which hadn't blitzed Mahomes once in the first half, stayed disciplined. They didn't need to send extra heat because Josh Sweat and Milton Williams were living in the backfield.
Kansas City’s first drive of the half was a microcosm of their night: a couple of short runs by Isiah Pacheco, a desperate scramble by Mahomes, and a punt. It felt heavy. You could see it on the sidelines.
Halfway through the third, Jake Elliott knocked through a 29-yard field goal to make it 27-0. Honestly, it felt like the air completely left the stadium at that point. But the real "dagger," as the broadcasters called it, came a few minutes later. After the Chiefs failed to convert a do-or-die fourth down, Jalen Hurts stepped up and delivered a 46-yard rainbow to DeVonta Smith.
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Eagles 34, Chiefs 0.
It was the first time an Alabama player had ever scored in a Super Bowl, which is a wild stat if you think about it. More importantly, it was the moment the "three-peat" dream officially died.
Breaking the Shutout
The Chiefs finally found the end zone with 34 seconds left in the third quarter. It was a 24-yard strike to Xavier Worthy, the rookie who was basically the only bright spot for the KC offense all night. Worthy finished the game with 157 yards, but that first score was too little, too late.
They went for two and failed.
The score heading into the fourth was 34-6. If you were playing Super Bowl squares, the numbers were Chiefs 6, Eagles 4.
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Super Bowl Third Quarter Score: Historical Context
When you look at the super bowl third quarter score of 34-6, it’s hard not to compare it to other legendary beatdowns. It wasn't quite the 43-8 massacre the Seahawks handed Denver in 2014, but for a game that featured a Mahomes-led team, it was shocking. The Chiefs gained only 23 total yards in the first half. Twenty-three. That’s the second-lowest first-half yardage in the history of the Big Game.
The Eagles' trench play was the difference. In their previous Super Bowl meeting (LVII), Philly didn't record a single sack. In New Orleans, they racked up six. They made Mahomes look human. He was hesitant, his internal clock was sped up, and he was missing throws he usually makes in his sleep.
Why the Momentum Never Shifted
Usually, the third quarter is where the Chiefs thrive. They use that 15-minute window to find the defensive weakness and exploit it. But the Eagles' offensive line, the largest in Super Bowl history, just kept grinding. Saquon Barkley didn't have a massive statistical night—25 carries for 57 yards—but he kept the clock moving.
Philly held the ball for nearly 37 minutes.
You can’t score if you don't have the rock.
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- Halftime Score: Eagles 24, Chiefs 0
- End of 3rd Quarter Score: Eagles 34, Chiefs 6
- Final Score: Eagles 40, Chiefs 22
The final score looks a bit closer because Mahomes threw two "garbage time" touchdowns in the fourth quarter to DeAndre Hopkins and Worthy, but don't let that fool you. This game was over when DeVonta Smith crossed the goal line in the third.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for 2026
The fallout from this game has been huge. For the Chiefs, it was a wake-up call that their offensive line needs a serious overhaul if they want to get back to the mountaintop. For the Eagles, it was the ultimate redemption for Jalen Hurts, who took home the MVP trophy with a three-touchdown performance.
If you’re looking at future odds or trying to understand how the power dynamic in the NFL shifted, you have to start with that third quarter in New Orleans. It proved that even the best dynasties have a breaking point when faced with a superior pass rush and a ball-control offense.
To really get the full picture of how this game changed the league's trajectory, you should look into the specific defensive schemes Vic Fangio used to neutralize Travis Kelce, who was held to just 39 yards. Analyzing the pressure rates from that third quarter shows exactly why the Chiefs couldn't get into a rhythm until the game was already out of reach.