Jalen Hurts, stingy defense propel Eagles over Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX

“I think we had a focused group out there,” Hurts said. “Offensively, we were able to score points and take advantage of the opportunities just enough to put points on the board. The defense played their (behinds) off.”

Hurts rushed 11 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 221 yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. He finished with a passer rating or 119.7.

“He just keeps getting better,” Eagles head coach Nick Siriani said. “He knows how to win... Jalen is special.”

Hurts was named the most valuable player of the game.

“I truly believe that offense wins games and defense wins championships,” Hurts said.

He didn’t know what to make of winning the MVP award.

“I’m still processing it,” Hurts said. “It’s been a long journey. I’ve been through a lot of highs and lows. I’ve always stay true to myself and having this vision of being the best that I could be. You can’t do great things without the guys around you.”

The Eagles’ defense harassed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with six sacks, 11 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

“They played better than us from start to finish,” Mahomes said. “We didn’t start like we wanted to. I take all of the blame for that. The early turnovers swung the momentum of the game and they capitalized on them.”

Mahomes completed 21 of 32 passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 95.4.

Tight end Travis Kelce, Mahomes’ favorite target, was held to four catches for 39 yards.

“They scored on the one and got a touchdown immediately after (the second interception) so that was 14 points that I gave them,” Mahomes said. “It’s hard to come back from that in the Super Bowl. I just didn’t play to my standard and I have to be better next time.”

The Eagles finished the season 18-3 and the Chiefs 17-3. The 34 combined wins entering the game by the Chiefs and Eagles were the most-ever between Super Bowl opponents.

“They played well in a good scheme,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They executed better than we did.”

The pressure of Mahomes was relentless with Josh Sweat leading the way with 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits.

“Their defensive line did a nice job,” Reid said. “Again, that happens in these games, the line play is magnified.”

The Eagles reached the Super Bowl behind the rushing of running back Saquon Barkley, who broke the record for most yards rushing in a season and playoffs with 2,509 yards. Pro football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis held the previous record with 2,476 yards, set in 1998 by the former Georgia Bulldog.

Barkley had 25 carries for 57 yards.

The Chiefs didn’t get on the board until :34 seconds left in the third quarter when Mahomes tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy. The two-point conversion failed.

As the Eagles’ defense made Mahomes look like a mere mortal, they jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead. The Eagles sacked Mahomes three times and hit him eight times in the first half. Cornerback Cooper DeJean and linebacker Zack Baun had interceptions, with DeJean returning his 38 yards for a touchdown.

The teams exchanged punts to open the game. The Eagles were on the move and went for it on fourth down-and-2 from the 50. Wide receiver A.J. Brown hauled in a pass, but was called for pass interference to force a punt.

The Chiefs punted after Mahomes was nearly sacked on third down-and-9. He got off a pass that was nearly intercepted.

On their second possession, the Eagles put together a seven-play, 69-yard touchdown drive. Hurts scored on a yard run after wide receiver Jahan Dotson had hauled in a 27-yard pass.

The Chiefs were forced to punt again after linebacker Nolan Smith, who played at Georgia, got some pressure on Mahomes and forced an errant throw on third down.

The Eagles were back in business with 4:36 left in the first quarter. Hurts directed the Eagles into scoring range but then tossed an interception to Chiefs safety Brian Cook.

After the Chiefs sputtered again, the Eagles added a 48-yard field goal from Jake Elliott to make it 10-0 with 8:38 left in the second quarter.

On third down-and-16 from the Chiefs’ 24, Mahomes tried to hit wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins over the middle, but DeJean, a rookie from Iowa, undercut the route, gathered in the ball raced into the endzone to make it 17-0.

After an exchange of punts, the Chiefs were backed up at their 6-yard line. Mahomes tried to pass over the middle on first down, but Baun got in the passing lane and made the pick at the 14-yard line.

After a 2-yard run by Hurts, he found Brown on a crossing route for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 24-0.

The Eagles’ halftime lead tied San Francisco for the second-largest halftime lead in Super Bowl history. The 49ers led the Broncos by 24 in Super Bowl XXIV. Washington led Denver by 25 in Super Bowl XXII.

The Eagles added a 29-yard field goal by Elliott and Hurts connected with Devonta Smith for a 46-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make it 34-0.

The Chiefs, in desperation mode, finally got moving and put up a touchdown to make it 34-6.

With the Eagles ability to run the ball and wipe time off the clock, there was not enough time for the Chiefs to stage a miracle comeback.

The Eagles received another 48-yard field goal from Elliott. After sacking Mahomes for a sixth time, Milton Williams recorded the fumble. Elliott made a 50-yard field goal to make it 40-6.

Mahomes tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Hopkins with 2:54 to play. The two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Justin Watson was good.

The Chiefs attempted the “announced” onsides kick. Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal was called for illegal touching.

The Eagles sent in backup quarterback Kenny Pickett to close out the game, but they couldn’t move the ball.

Mahomes quickly tossed a 50-yard bomb to Worthy with 1:48 to play. The two-point conversion was complete.

The Eagles recovered the onsides kick.

The Chiefs were the fourth team all-time to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls, joining the 1990-93 Buffalo Bills (four consecutive Super Bowls), 1971-73 Miami Dolphins (three) and 2016-18 New England Patriots (three).

The Eagles won their first Super Bowl in franchise history after upsetting the Falcons in the divisional round of the playoffs after the 2017 season. This title became the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.