By Ben Tredinnick
Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Last night, the Philadelphia Eagles cruised to a convincing victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. In a game where all the attention coming into it was on a potential “three peat” for the Chiefs, the Eagles defied the odds to deliver a beat down they will never forget.
Here are three main takeaway points from Super Bowl LIX .
#1 Hurts, Not Barkley Making The Difference
The Eagles were one of, if not the best, the team in the entire league coming into the game. This is mostly due to their strong offense, which was only boosted by the arrival of Saquon Barkley from the New York Giants, a move that is going to be examined for years to come. All season long, Barkley was the standout player, and it was likely that a Super Bowl win would be dependent on his performance.
Except, that is not what happened. Barkely was shut down by the Kansas defense and limited to only 57 yards from 25 attempts. However, the Eagles pass game was very strong, with quarterback Jalen Hurts throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and as well as being the top rusher for the team in a performance that won him the MVP.
#2 Patrick Mahomes’ Struggles
While the Eagles were able to move the ball down the field from the opening drive of the game to take the win, the Chiefs were unable to get a single point until the end of the third quarter. By then, it was too late.
The usually strong Patrick Mahomes uncharacteristically struggled last night. He threw two interceptions (one of which led to a pick six touchdown to further the Eagles lead) and was sacked six times.
While Mahomes and most of the Chiefs team this season have not been their usual self, they have always found a way (or, if you believe the conspiracies, been gifted a way) to win. Last night, Mahomes was not the quarterback we all know, and his team paid the price for it.
#3 The End of a Dynasty, or the Beginning of a New One?
This game, and most of the playoffs, felt like a shifting of the NFL landscape was happening.
The poor performances during this season from Kansas City may mean that Andy Reid’s side is losing their dominance and may soon struggle to make another Super Bowl. In their place could be the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and even the Cincinnati Bengals,all of whom have the talent to take the AFC crown off them.
As for the Eagles, they are flying high. This was their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons, and the team have been consistent in their results over the last few years. If this is truely the end of the Chiefs dynasty, then the Eagles could easily take their place as the number one team, with the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions closely following.
Ben Tredinnick is a contributor for The MMM Journal. He can be reached at bmttredinnick@thefourthquartile.com
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