Chiefs edge Eagles in Super Bowl LVII to win 2nd title of Mahomes era
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have done it again.
Mahomes passed for three touchdowns to help the Kansas City Chiefs overcome a 10-point deficit and defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 on Sunday in Super Bowl LVII at Arizona's State Farm Stadium.
The superstar quarterback, who claimed the second regular-season MVP award of his career Thursday, led the game-winning drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal from Harrison Butker with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs become only the second team in Super Bowl history to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy after being down by double digits at halftime. The New England Patriots achieved the feat in Super Bowl LI versus the Atlanta Falcons.
Kansas City won its second title in the last four seasons. The team claimed the first trophy of the Mahomes-Reid era in Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers after overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Mahomes, who played Philadelphia with an injured ankle, finished the evening with 182 yards on 21 of 27 passing. He also carried the ball six times for 44 yards, including a clutch 26-yard run with just under three minutes left. The 27-year-old won the second Super Bowl MVP of his career to become only the third player ever with multiple MVP awards in both the regular season and Super Bowl (Tom Brady and Joe Montana).
Kansas City had a slow start to Super Bowl LVII and didn't convert any of its three third-down attempts in the first half. The Chiefs recorded only six first downs and had the ball for only 8:06 in the first two quarters. However, they scored on every possession in the second half to stage another memorable comeback.
"Not one of y'all said the Chiefs were gonna take it home this year! Not a single one! Feel that shit! Feel it," tight end Travis Kelce said postgame, according to Michael Hurley of WBZ.
Kelce led K.C. with 81 yards and one touchdown on six receptions. He now has 16 career TD receptions in the playoffs, the second most ever to Jerry Rice (22).
JuJu Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 53 yards. He drew a defensive holding penalty against cornerback James Bradberry on third down with 1:54 left, which ultimately let the Chiefs run out the clock to drill the game-winning kick in the dying seconds.
"It feels amazing just to see the confetti," said Butker, who missed a 42-yarder in the first quarter, according to Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press. "I just tried to focus on one kick and focusing on the process."
Wide receivers Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney each caught a touchdown, too. Toney, who joined the Chiefs in an October trade from the New York Giants, also contributed with a 65-yard punt return - the longest in Super Bowl history - that helped set up Moore's score minutes later.
Facing the NFL's best pass rush, Kansas City's offensive line lived up to the occasion, helping Mahomes finish the game without being sacked. The Chiefs also moved the ball well on the ground, rushing for 158 yards (6.1 per carry) and one touchdown.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts posted a historic performance for the losing side, setting the Super Bowl single-game record with 70 rushing yards and becoming the first player in NFL history to rush for at least two touchdowns and throw for another in a Super Bowl.
Hurts finished the evening with 304 yards passing and one touchdown pass to go along with three scores on the ground. He also punched in a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 35 apiece.
The Eagles' offensive line stepped up once again, as did receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Brown had a 45-yard touchdown in the first quarter and finished the contest with 96 yards on six receptions, while Smith racked up seven catches and 100 yards. Defensively, however, Philadelphia wasn't able to stop Kansas City when it mattered most, allowing 17 fourth-quarter points.
The 73 combined points were the third-most in Super Bowl history.