You probably remember the hype. Everyone was talking about the "three-peat." Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were supposed to waltz into New Orleans and do something no team in NFL history had ever done: win three Super Bowls in a row. It felt almost inevitable, honestly.
But then February 9, 2025, actually happened.
If you’re looking for a quick answer on who won last year Super Bowl, it was the Philadelphia Eagles. They didn’t just win, though. They absolutely dismantled the Chiefs 40-22 at the Caesars Superdome. It was a "where were you" kind of game that took the "dynasty" narrative and threw it into the Mississippi River.
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The Night the Dynasty Dented
Basically, the game was over before Kendrick Lamar even finished his halftime show.
Philly came out swinging. Jalen Hurts, who had been hearing whispers all season about whether he was "the guy," looked like a man possessed. He opened the scoring with his signature "Tush Push" (the play everyone loves to hate) and the Eagles never looked back. By the time the second quarter rolled around, it was clear the Chiefs were in serious trouble.
Most people expected a shootout like their meeting two years prior. Instead, we got a defensive masterclass.
Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, somehow figured out the Mahomes puzzle. He didn't even have to blitz that much. The Eagles' front four—led by Josh Sweat and Milton Williams—just lived in the Chiefs' backfield. Mahomes was sacked six times. He looked human. For a guy who usually plays like he has a cheat code, seeing him flustered and throwing interceptions was jarring.
Why the 40-22 Score is Deceiving
If you look at the final score, 40-22 sounds like a somewhat competitive game. It wasn't.
At one point in the third quarter, the Eagles were leading 34-0. The Chiefs didn't even cross midfield until there were about two minutes left in the third. It was the kind of beatdown that makes you feel a little bad for the losers, even if they are the most successful team of the decade.
The Chiefs scored some "garbage time" touchdowns late in the fourth quarter thanks to Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins. It padded the stats, sure. It made the box score look a bit more respectable. But if you watched the game, you knew the Eagles had the Lombardi Trophy packed in the truck by the start of the fourth quarter.
Who Won Last Year Super Bowl MVP?
It had to be Jalen Hurts.
There was a lot of talk about giving it to a defensive player because of how they smothered Mahomes, but Hurts was too efficient to ignore. He finished with:
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- 221 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.
- 72 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground.
- A 77% completion rate.
He played "clean" football. No turnovers. No panicked throws. Just total control. It was a huge moment for him, especially since he turned 28 on the same day as his star running back, Saquon Barkley. Talk about a birthday present.
The "Birthday Luck" Factor
Speaking of birthdays, the Eagles had some weird cosmic energy going for them.
Saquon Barkley turned 28 on Super Bowl Sunday.
Rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean turned 22 on Super Bowl Sunday.
DeJean actually had one of the biggest plays of the night. He picked off Mahomes and ran it back 38 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Imagine being a rookie, it's your 22nd birthday, and you score a pick-six against the greatest quarterback of this generation in the Super Bowl. You probably can't even buy a drink that good in the French Quarter.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Win
A lot of folks think the Eagles won because Saquon Barkley went nuclear.
Actually, the Chiefs did a decent job of containing him. He finished with 57 yards on 25 carries. That’s barely two yards a pop. In most games, if you hold Saquon to 57 yards, you win.
But the Eagles' depth was just too much. When the run game stalled, Hurts found A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. When the offense needed a breather, the defense forced a three-and-out. It was the most "complete" team win we've seen in a long time.
The real story wasn't Saquon; it was the trenches. The Eagles' offensive line, even without the retired Jason Kelce, held firm. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' offensive line looked like a swinging gate. Tom Brady, who was calling the game for Fox, kept pointing out how Mahomes had zero time to breathe. When Brady is calling out your pass protection, you know it’s bad.
Why This Win Still Matters for the NFL
This game changed the trajectory of the league. It stopped the Chiefs from becoming a "triple-champion," a feat no one has achieved in the Super Bowl era. It also validated the Philadelphia front office. Howie Roseman, the Eagles' GM, was crushed for some of his moves in the off-season, but every single one of them—from hiring Vic Fangio to bringing in Jahan Dotson—paid off in New Orleans.
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For the Chiefs, it was a reality check. Mahomes admitted after the game that he "didn't play to his standard." It sparked a lot of debate about whether the Chiefs' window is starting to close or if this was just a one-off nightmare.
Key Takeaways from Super Bowl LIX
If you're looking to understand why the Eagles are the reigning champs, here's the breakdown:
- Pressure is King: You don't beat Mahomes by outscoring him; you beat him by making him uncomfortable. Six sacks and three turnovers did exactly that.
- The "Tush Push" Still Works: Despite all the off-season debates about banning it, the Eagles used it to get their first touchdown. It sets a physical tone that other teams just can't match.
- Coaching Matters: Nick Sirianni was on the hot seat for most of 2024. Winning a ring has a funny way of making everyone forget the "fire the coach" hashtags.
- The AFC is Vulnerable: For years, it felt like the AFC was the powerhouse conference. The Eagles proved the NFC's elite can bully the best of the AFC.
If you want to keep up with how the Eagles are defending their title this year, the best thing to do is watch the injury reports on the defensive line. That's where they win games. Also, keep an eye on the "tush push" stats—teams are still trying to replicate it, but nobody has the personnel (or the guts) to do it like Philly.
The Super Bowl victory wasn't a fluke. It was a 60-minute statement. And for now, the road to the championship still runs through Broad Street.