Chiefs claw back to beat Eagles 38-35 in dramatic and controversial Super Bowl

Coming into Super Bowl 57, most of the talk centered around the elite quarterback play of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts and the record-breaking talent on the Philadelphia Eagles defense. However, on Sunday night, it was the decisions of the officiating squad that loomed largest in the Chiefs’ 38-35 victory.

With Kansas City driving in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and the game tied 35-35, Patrick Mahomes was unable to find an open receiver and, with pressure in his face, threw the ball to the back of the end zone where it fell incomplete. 

It looked like the Chiefs would need to settle for a field goal with 1:54 seconds left until the officials threw a flag on Philadelphia cornerback James Bradberry, calling him for a controversial holding penalty on Kansas City receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. 

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK

21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER!

CLAIM NOW

21+ and present in Participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLERBET $5
GET $150
IF YOUR BET WINS!BET NOW

The Chiefs got a fresh set of downs and were able to run the clock down to just eight seconds left before Harrison Butker knocked through the game-winning field goal. 

It was an unfortunate and deflating end to what was a phenomenal football game. 

The Eagles and Chiefs had already overcome shoddy field conditions that caused players to slip and change cleats and multiple lengthy catch reviews as the NFL officials still work to determine what a catch actually is. It’s a shame that in a game with just nine total penalties, the impact of one was so large. 

On the field, despite all of the big names playing for either side, it was the unheralded players from the Kansas City Chiefs who came up with some of the biggest plays of the game. 

After the first quarter, it seemed like the narrative about the Eagles’ dominance would hold true. Philadelphia scored with ease on their first drive and often seemed just a big play or two away from putting the Chiefs in a really big hole. 

Jalen Hurts hit A.J. Brown for a 45-yard touchdown to put Philadelphia up 14-7 with just eight seconds gone in the second quarter. When Philadelphia forced a Kansas City three-and-out on the next drive and quickly moved the ball to midfield, it seemed like the game could get out of hand. 

However, Hurts fumbled on a quarterback sneak, and Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton scooped the ball up, taking it 36 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14. 

Bolton would wind up leading the Chiefs in tackles with nine on the evening, and his touchdown was the only thing the Chiefs had to hang their hat on at the end of the first half, trailing 24-14.

Then the Kansas City offense exploded in the second half, scoring on every single drive against a Philadelphia defense that had looked unbeatable for much of the season.

Kansas City put together back-to-back 75-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter with Mahomes connecting on passes to Travis Kelce, Jerick McKinnon, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and then hitting former Giants receiver Kadarius Toney for a touchdown. 

After the Toney touchdown, the Chiefs’ defense forced a quick three and out, which set up another opportunity for Toney to shine, taking the punt 65 yards to the Eagles’ five-yard line. It was the longest punt return in Super Bowl history and a bit of redemption for a player who has been talked about more for his off-field drama than his on-field performance in his young career. 

Two plays later, the Chiefs would turn to another unheralded player to punch it in, drawing up a beautiful misdirection play to set up a Skyy Moore touchdown reception on his only catch of the game. 

Philadelphia responded not with their own unheralded players but with their stars. 

Hurts hit A.J. Brown on two passes for 18 yards before finding DeVonta Smith for 45 yards down to the two-yard line. Hurts would later rush the ball in (with another helpful push in the back from his teammates) before tying up the game 35-35 with a two-point conversion rush. 

With the chance to steal the victory, the Chiefs turned to running back Isiah Pacheco, who was stellar for them all evening.

The rookie from Rutgers totaled 76 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown and carried the ball four times for 18 yards on the game-winning drive, returning to the game after a vicious hit to pick up a huge 10-yard gain. Mahomes was also able to break free for a 26-yard scramble as the Chiefs marched down the field before the ensuing officiating drama. 

While Mahomes was named the Super Bowl MVP and much of the media coverage will be about him playing injured, this win wasn’t really about Mahomes. It was a team win for Kansas City.

Their star quarterback threw for 182 yards and three touchdowns, while Travis Kelce added 81 receiving yards and a touchdown of his own. But beyond just those two, Pacheco was stellar, Smith-Schuster led the team with seven catches and added 53 yards, and the offensive line was tremendous against a ferocious Philadelphia pass rush.

Plus, you have the coaching adjustments of Andy Reid, who came out of halftime and just clearly outcoached the Eagles’ defensive staff, who had no clue how to get the Chiefs’ offense off of the field. 

Philadelphia was able to pile up 417 yards of offense, and Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns while throwing for 304 yards and another touchdown, but it wasn’t enough. Their defense, which set an NFL record for sacks, had zero on the night and just needed to make a few more plays to help get their team over the edge. 

At the end of the day, the two best teams in football put on a show between the lines. It’s just unfortunate that that’s not how people will remember and talk about a game that ended not with a bang but with a whimper. 

For more NFL content like this Chiefs and Eagles recap, visit amNY Sports