The question of who won the NFL for the 2024-2025 season isn't just a matter of looking at a box score. It was a demolition. If you tuned into Super Bowl LIX expecting a nail-biter between the league's two titans, you probably walked away shocked. The Philadelphia Eagles didn't just win; they dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
It was February 9, 2025. A date Chiefs fans won't forget anytime soon, and not for the right reasons.
The hype going into the game was suffocating. Everyone was talking about the "three-peat." No team in the history of the NFL had ever won three Super Bowls in a row. Patrick Mahomes was on the verge of immortality. But the Eagles had other plans. They brought a defensive front that looked like it was shot out of a cannon. Honestly, it was a "rematch" that felt nothing like their previous meeting two years prior.
The Night the Dynasty Stalled
So, who won the NFL championship? The Philadelphia Eagles officially claimed their second Vince Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. They did it by jumping out to a staggering 34-0 lead. You read that right. By the time the third quarter was winding down, the "greatest quarterback of a generation" was staring at a goose egg on the scoreboard.
Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, put on a masterclass. He didn't blitz much. He didn't have to. The Eagles' front four—led by Jalen Carter and Milton Williams—treated the Chiefs' offensive line like a revolving door. They sacked Mahomes six times. They pressured him on nearly 40% of his dropbacks.
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It was ugly.
Mahomes looked human. Maybe for the first time in a championship setting, he looked genuinely rattled. He threw two interceptions in the first half alone. One of those was a gift for rookie Cooper DeJean, who was playing on his 22nd birthday. DeJean jumped a route, snatched the ball, and raced 38 yards for a pick-six. Talk about a birthday present.
Jalen Hurts and the MVP Performance
While the defense was busy making life miserable for Kansas City, Jalen Hurts was playing efficient, surgical football. He wasn't asked to throw for 500 yards. He didn't need to. Hurts finished the night 17-of-22 for 221 yards and two passing touchdowns.
He also did Jalen Hurts things on the ground.
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The "Brotherly Shove" (or Tush Push, depending on who you ask) made its inevitable appearance. Hurts punched in a rushing touchdown early to set the tone. By the time he connected with DeVonta Smith on a 46-yard bomb in the third quarter, the game was effectively over.
Hurts walked away with the Super Bowl MVP trophy. It was a moment of pure vindication for a guy who has dealt with constant "can he actually throw?" questions since he entered the league. Turns out, he can throw just fine when the biggest trophy in sports is on the line.
Why the Chiefs Couldn't Close the Gap
A lot of people are asking how a team as good as the Chiefs got blown out. It wasn't just one thing. It was a "perfect storm" of failures.
- The Offensive Line: Jawaan Taylor and the rest of the unit couldn't handle the speed of the Eagles' edge rushers. Mahomes spent most of the night running for his life, much like he did against the Buccaneers back in Super Bowl LV.
- The Turnovers: You cannot give the ball away three times against a team like Philly. Mahomes had the two picks and a fumble forced by Milton Williams.
- The "Kendrick Lamar" Factor: Okay, this didn't affect the game, but the halftime show was the talk of the night. Kendrick performed "Not Like Us" while the Chiefs were likely in the locker room trying to figure out how they were down 24-0. The energy in the building was entirely pro-Eagles.
The Chiefs did score some points late. Xavier Worthy had a decent night with two touchdowns, including a 50-yarder in "garbage time" that made the final score 40-22. But don't let the score fool you. This wasn't a 18-point game. It was a 34-point blowout that the Eagles let up on in the final minutes.
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What This Means for the NFL Moving Forward
Now that we know who won the NFL, what happens next?
The league is in a weird spot. The "Chiefs Dynasty" isn't dead—Mahomes is still Mahomes—but the aura of invincibility is gone. The Eagles have proven that if you can dominate the trenches without sending extra blitzers, you can neutralize the best player in the world.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles' GM, looks like a genius. He rebuilt that defensive line through the draft and savvy trades, and it paid off with a ring.
Key Takeaways from Super Bowl LIX
- Defense wins championships: It’s a cliché because it’s true. Six sacks and two interceptions ended the "three-peat" dream.
- The Eagles are built to last: Their core is young, and Hurts is officially a Tier 1 superstar.
- The Chiefs need a reset: Their wide receiver room outside of Worthy struggled to find separation when it mattered most.
If you’re looking to apply some logic to your own football analysis or even your Sunday league team, remember the lesson of Super Bowl LIX: Control the line of scrimmage, control the game. Keep an eye on the upcoming NFL Draft. Every team in the AFC is going to be looking for "Eagles-style" pass rushers to try and replicate the blueprint for beating Kansas City. For now, the trophy resides in Philadelphia.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming season, start tracking the "pressure rate" of defensive lines rather than just total sacks. As the Eagles showed, making a quarterback uncomfortable is often more valuable than the tackle itself. Follow the moves in free agency for teams like the 49ers and Lions, who are the top contenders to challenge the Eagles' reign in the NFC next year.