Super Bowl LIX: Hurts and Defense Beat Chiefs, 40-22

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Adversity in life can be hard to overcome, and in professional sports, it can make or break a career. Jalen Hurts knows a thing or two about that. Despite leading Alabama to two straight national title games, he was benched. He would leave the Tide and finish his college career at Oklahoma.

Then came the next level, the NFL, and the haters and doubters followed him. Could he be a true NFL quarterback? Could he make the big throw, read defenses, or even lead a team? Five years later Hurts has transformed himself and the Eagles into perennial contenders, Super Bowl runner-up, Super Bowl Champions, and SB LIX MVP.

To get here, he had to face the one man who has set the bar for winning in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, the three-time champion QB for the Kansas City Chiefs. The guy who makes a living playing in this game.

A 38-35 loss to these Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII was the perfect recipe for revenge for Hurts and these Eagles. To get it done, they had to shut down the best winner the NFL has seen since Tom Brady. This is where that vaunted Eagles defense took over.

From the outset, Mahomes felt the pressure, an arm on him, bodies in green all around him in the Chiefs backfield. He dropped back 42 times and was sacked six times. Add to that the charges of harassment from the Eagles all game long. The pressure resulted in two interceptions including a pick-six. For the Chiefs to three-peat, Mahomes (21-32 for 257 yards, 3 TDs, two picks) had to be Mahomes and last night he just wasn’t that.

The Chiefs gameplan was simple: shut down Saquon Barkley (25 carries for 57 yards) and dare Hurts to beat you. Dare they did and beat they got. Hurts was spectacular running the offense finishing 17-22 for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. Oh, and for good measure, he added 11 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

They say that defense wins championships and this game was the definition of that. Yes, Hurts played like a champion, but the defense is what won the title for Philly. They were relentless from the outset. They pressured Mahomes constantly, were in the backfield all game long, and asserted the dominance required to beat this juggernaut in the Chiefs. Check, check, and checkmate.

For head coach Nick Sirriani, he heard the mess too. They shouted for him to be fired but he blocked out the noise. He stayed the course and he is now an NFL Champion.

The Eagles came out on top, 40-22 and they are your Super Bowl LIX champs.