NEW ORLEANS – For most of the game, the Eagles’ defense dominated quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
“We knew one of the keys to this game was going to be winning on defense, was winning up front,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We were able to do that. We got great contributions from the guys. They were ready to play and played hard.”
The Eagles prevailed over the Chiefs, 40-22, claim the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
Perhaps the Eagles biggest acquisition this offseason was adding veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He’s been a former head coach and longtime defensive coordinator in the league.
“He’s a special coach,” Sirianni said.
The Eagles attacked Mahomes and finished with six sacks and 11 quarterback hits. With Mahomes bottled up the Eagles were able to race out to a 34-0 lead. The Chiefs added a couple of garbage time scores to make the score closer.
Fangio sent four players in pass rushing situations and played coverage.
The front four, led by outside linebacker Josh Sweat, were able to make things uncomfortable for Mahomes.
Sweat finished with 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. Defensive tackle Milton Williams got free for two sacks while the Chiefs elected to double-team Jalen Carter.
With the extra attention, Carter was able to muster just two quarterback hits. Jordan Davis added a sack and Jalyx Hunt had a half sack.
“Vic is an outstanding play-caller,” Sirianni said. “He’s brought some detail to this defense. He calls great games. Develops the coaches. Develops the players.”
The Eagles defense was re-tooled under Fangio.
“He’s awesome,” Sirianni said. “The guys love him because he helps them reach their goals and their dreams.”
Fangio, who was the 49ers defensive coordinator, when they beat the Falcons in the NFC championship game after the 2012 season, had never won a Super Bowl title.
“It’s been cool that he’s able to win his first Super Bowl in the town where he grew up is pretty special,” Sirianni said.
Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt also played an important role in the plan to attack Mahomes.
“He’s a special coach,” Sirianni said. “You really saw our defensive tackles continue to get better as the year went on. He gets a lot out of them and these guys trust him with everything. They look up to them.”
Sweat led the Eagles with eight sacks during the regular season, but did not have a sack in the playoffs.
“Honestly, we just followed the gameplan,” Sweat said. “We’re just doing what we been doing all year. We always just say, ‘let’s play our game’ and we will take care of the guy next to us and somebody is going make the play. I feel like once you get things going, nothing can go wrong.”
Sweat wasn’t sure how he became so free.
“I was in the right place,” Sweat said. “I was just running around and was like, ‘Aye…Aye! They let me go crazy. I don’t think I ever got more than two in a game, so my biggest game, sack-wise. Bringing it home for the (defensive) line. That’s what I wanted to do.”
The defensive line planned to take the fight to the Chiefs’ offensive line.
“Defense all year has been physical, that’s one of our biggest things and we just executed,” Sweat said. “We already know we’re going to be physical. We know we’re going to run to the ball and we just have to get it done.”
Mahomes was gracious under fire.
“He kept his composure all the way to the end,” Sweat said. “I don’t think he was flustered really. But you can start seeing hints of it once we started hitting them for sure. And I mean, we got it done. We took advantage of the opportunity. We knew the playmaker, who he was, and he can make us pay so, we had to get it.”
The Eagles still have respect for Mahomes.
“We all know the player he is,” Sweat said. “He can win games. He’s going to keep winning. It doesn’t change how we look at him. We know he’s a great player still.”
Cornerback Cooper DeJean had an interception and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Also, linebacker Zack Baun had an interception to set up a short field for the offense.
“We are just competing with each other out there, I think that is what it is,” Sweat said. “We want to outplay each other and that’s what’s setting the bar for each of us. We just want the bragging rights. That’s how we push each other, we want to see who can get it done.”
The Eagles defenders were also elated for Fangio.
“The beauty of it is that Vic gives us the call,” Sweat said. “We don’t question it and it he puts us in the positions to make the plays. I don’t know how he does it, we just run it. We bring in our technique and we get it done.”
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
