Nobody saw that coming. Seriously. You might have thought the Kansas City Chiefs were inevitable, but the Philadelphia Eagles just tore that script to shreds in New Orleans.
It was a bloodbath.
If you're looking for who winning the Super Bowl actually was, look no further than the midnight green confetti. The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs with a final score of 40-22. But honestly, even that score makes it look closer than it was. For nearly three full quarters, the Chiefs—the "dynasty"—didn't put a single point on the board. Zero.
How the Eagles Shut Down the Three-Peat
The hype leading into Super Bowl LIX was all about the "three-peat." No team in NFL history has ever won three Super Bowls in a row. Kansas City was supposed to be the one to do it. Instead, they ran into a brick wall named Vic Fangio and a defensive front that played like they were possessed.
Patrick Mahomes is usually a magician. In New Orleans, he looked human. Very human. He was sacked six times—a career-high for him in a game that mattered this much. The wild part? The Eagles didn't even blitz him. Not once.
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Think about that.
Usually, to get to Mahomes, you have to sell out. You have to send the house and hope he doesn't burn you deep. Philly just sat back in coverage and let their front four do the dirty work. Josh Sweat was a nightmare, recording 2.5 sacks on his own. Because the Eagles didn't have to blitz, Mahomes had nowhere to throw. Every window was shut. Every lane was clogged.
The Birthday Gift No One Expected
Then there’s Cooper DeJean. The rookie was celebrating his 22nd birthday on Super Bowl Sunday. Most kids get a watch or a nice dinner. DeJean got a 38-yard pick-six.
He jumped a route in the second quarter, snatched the ball, and it was over. You could feel the air leave the Superdome. That play pushed the lead to 17-0, and the "Fly, Eagles, Fly" chants started drowning out everything else. It was the kind of moment that makes you realize who winning the Super Bowl is often decided by the guys who aren't even on the billboard.
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Jalen Hurts and the "Tush Push" Legacy
While the defense was busy tenderizing Mahomes, Jalen Hurts was playing mistake-free football. He finished with 222 passing yards and two touchdowns, but his legs were the real story. He rushed for 72 yards, a Super Bowl record for a quarterback, and notched his signature touchdown via the "tush push."
It’s a play everyone hates unless they’re from Philly. It's ugly. It’s basically a rugby maul. But it works every single time.
Hurts was named the Super Bowl MVP, and he deserved it. He was calm. While the Chiefs were panicking and throwing interceptions (Mahomes had two in the first half alone), Hurts was just moving the chains. He found A.J. Brown for a score right before halftime to make it 24-0. At that point, Donald Trump, who made history as the first sitting president to actually attend the game, hadn't even finished his halftime snacks before the game was effectively over.
The Chiefs’ "Cosmetic" Comeback
Look, the Chiefs did score eventually. Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins caught some late touchdowns in the fourth quarter. If you just looked at the box score tomorrow, you might think, "Oh, 40-22, that’s a respectable game."
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It wasn't.
Those points were purely cosmetic. The Eagles were already giving Nick Sirianni a Gatorade bath with three minutes left on the clock. Kenny Pickett was in the game taking snaps. That’s how bad it was. The Chiefs' postseason winning streak snapped at nine games, and the dream of a three-peat died in the Louisiana humidity.
Why This Win Changes the Narrative
For a long time, people questioned if the Eagles could win "the big one" again after the 2017 miracle. They’d been close. They lost a heartbreaker to these same Chiefs two years ago. This wasn't just a win; it was an exorcism.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles GM, has basically built a roster that defies the traditional "window" theory. He keeps finding guys like Saquon Barkley, who, despite a "lackluster" 57 yards on the ground in this specific game, kept the defense honest all night.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a fan or just someone following the fallout, here is how you should process this shift in the NFL power balance:
- Watch the defensive tape: If you want to understand modern football, go back and watch how Philly pressured Mahomes without blitzing. It’s a masterclass in "simulated pressure" and front-four dominance.
- Keep an eye on the rookie class: Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell didn't play like rookies. The Eagles' secondary is going to be a problem for the league for the next five years.
- Respect the "Tush Push": Love it or hate it, it's the most efficient play in football history. Until the league bans it, the Eagles have a literal "cheat code" for short-yardage situations.
- Don't count out Mahomes long-term: He looked bad, but he's still Mahomes. The Chiefs will retool their offensive line this offseason. They have to.
The Philadelphia Eagles are the world champions. They didn't just win; they dominated. The Lombardi Trophy is headed back to Broad Street, and the rest of the league is officially on notice.