Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. The much-anticipated matchup ultimately became a back-and-forth offensive bout with both teams giving it their all on America’s biggest stage. Despite the Eagles being favored and continuously praised for having the best overall roster in the NFL this season, the Chiefs were able to defy expectations and overcome the odds pulling out the upset.
As soon as the teams hit the field, it was obvious that the offenses were going to be able to move the ball downfield with ease throughout the game. The Eagles started the game with the ball and moved into Kansas City territory swiftly before an overturned touchdown gave Philadelphia the ball at the one-yard line. Quarterback Jalen Hurts took matters into his own hands and brought the team into the endzone for his first rushing score of the game.
The Chiefs were able to answer almost immediately, storming 75 yards down the field in just over three minutes to score. A Patrick Mahomes pass found star tight end Travis Kelce in the endzone to tie the game at seven. The team was able to reclaim possession soon after but could not take the lead as veteran kicker Harrison Butker missed a 42-yard field goal that bounced off the left upright.
The Eagles were able to take advantage of the blunder, with multiple short plays setting the team up just past midfield. Jalen Hurts was able to create enough space to launch a perfect pass into the endzone finding receiver A.J. Brown for a 45-yard touchdown. One of the longest plays of the game gave the lead back to Philly and served as what seemed like a momentum shifter in favor of the Eagles.
A quick three-and-out gave the Eagles the ball back; however, the tables turned slightly as Hurts began to run with the ball before dropping it. The fumble allowed Chiefs’ linebacker Nick Bolton to scoop it up before returning it for a 36-yard defensive score.
Despite the tie, the Eagles were able to bring a 12-play drive 75 yards down the field to retake the lead. A 28-yard rush by Hurts pushed the team into the red zone before he again took off with the ball, this time for a four-yard rushing touchdown. Philly kicker Jake Elliott added a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to bring the score to 24-14 in their favor heading into the break.
After a brief intermission, the teams came back out to the field as the Chiefs looked to bounce back from their subpar performance in the first half. The team started with a 75-yard scoring drive that included a 14-yard scramble by an injured Mahomes which brought the team within five yards of the end zone. Rookie running back Isiah Pacheco was able to rush the ball in for the touchdown, bringing Kansas City back to within three.
The Eagles answered by orchestrating the longest drive in the history of the Super Bowl; a 17-play possession that ended with another field goal, this time of 33 yards to give them a six-point lead. The Chiefs wasted no time, however, and were able to finally take their first lead of the night at the beginning of the fourth quarter following a five-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to receiver Kadarius Toney.
Toney proved he wasn’t done, as he then returned the Eagles’ next punt 65 yards before finally being pushed out of bounds at the five-yard line. The Chiefs were able to add to their lead as rookie receiver Skyy Moore caught his first-ever touchdown on a four-yard pass to put the Chiefs up 35-27 with just over nine minutes left in the game.
The Eagles proved they still had some fight left in them as they charged back down the field with the help of another 45-yard pass from Hurts, this time to Devonta Smith. The play brought the team to the two-yard line before Hurts brought the ball into the endzone for his third and final rushing score of the contest. Hurts added on a two-point conversion to tie the game at 35 with five minutes left.
Kansas City proved they were masters of the clock once again as they put together a masterful drive culminating in a game-winning 27-yard field goal by a redeemed Harrison Butker putting the team back up by three with eight seconds left in the game. The drive was not free of controversy, however, with an arguable holding penalty aiding the Chiefs deep down the field.
The Eagles were able to put together one last play, but a wildly shallow pass from Hurts sealed the deal as the Chiefs came away with their second Super Bowl ring in four years. Patrick Mahomes came away with his second Super Bowl MVP award just days after receiving his second regular season MVP award as the team’s future couldn’t look much brighter. On the other hand, the Eagles, despite their loss, come out of the season as a new powerhouse in the NFC and will surely be back, wreaking even more havoc in the playoffs next year.