What. A. Game. One of the rare occasions where the expectation for excitement may have actually been exceeded by the product. Back and forth action, gutsy performances and just a touch of controversy. The ol' NFL wouldn't have it any other way would they?
Chiefs 38- Eagles 35
Right from the jump, we knew this one was going to be a classic. Each team's opening drive found pay dirt, with Jalen Hurts and Travis Kelce starting off their games on high notes. A Philly three and out set up Harrison Butker to continue his inconsistent streak, hitting a 42 yard field goal off the left upright late in the first quarter.
The miss handed the Eagles prime field position, which they capitalized on with AJ Brown scoring from 45 out on an absolute dime by Hurts to the front left corner of the end zone. A Chiefs' three and out on the subsequent possession felt incredibly ominous.
Until six plays later, when Philadelphia's quarterback simply dropped the football in the pocket, proceeding to kick it away from himself. Right into the path of cornerback Nick Bolton, who scooped and scored to tie things up at 14. Wild turnaround.
The teams alternated three possessions to end the half, with Philly pulling ahead 24-14. In the process, Patrick Mahomes injured his ankle being tackled on a scramble, sending the Midwest into an absolute panic. He looked incredibly labored coming off the field, to the point that speculation about him continuing was valid.
Then the world found out Rihanna was pregnant again; quite a gender reveal! Thought the show itself was pretty meh, but who am I? Back to the game.
For whatever reason, the Eagles' defense was a complete no-show during the second half, allowing three straight touchdown drives while their double-digit lead evaporated. You'd have never known Mahomes had gotten banged up before the break with how locked in he was.
Juju Smith-Schuster went from invisible to unstoppable, helping pace KC through the scoring drives. Jerick McKinnon emerged on the ground and in the short pass game while Isiah Pacheco found surprising success against a tough front seven. Throw in the defensive adjustments that limited Philadelphia to eleven second half points, and this was coaching clinic on halftime adjustments by Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo. Masterful.
Time to cue the ref debates. Still unsure how the Dallas Goedert catch on third and fourteen wasn't overturned. The throw may have been the sharpest in Hurts' young career, but his tight end was visibly bobbling the ball off his hands and facemask on his way out of bounds. It was surprisingly upheld after review, allowing the drive to continue for three points.
To the final drives we go... Many an Eagles fan seemed upset on social media by the refs' insistence on allowing Kansas City to sub in defenders...blissfully unaware that that's how every game works. No shame in trying to get the snap off quickly, but don't sub there! Another coaching folly by Sirianni. They punched the ball into the end zone though and converted the two-point conversion to tie things up. The defense just needed to make one stop.
Spoiler alert: they could not. The Chiefs rode Pacheco, Kelce and Juju all the way down to the two yard line before setting up the game winning field goal for Butker. 12 plays, 66 yards, 5:07 off the clock. Some (mainly Eagles fans) would say that an iffy third down holding penalty in the red zone on James Bradberry helped to extend the drive, but the cornerback himself said it was holding. Tough call to make at that point in the biggest game of the year, but a hold's a hold. Love seeing the accountability toward the media from Bradberry.
Legacy type drive for #15, securing his second Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP in three trips to the big game. If you weren't already aware, don't lose sight of the greatness this quarterback brings each time he steps on the field. We're witnessing history write itself. Expect both of these teams back in the thick of things next season. Offseason, here we come.
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@Choppinglines
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