Patrick Mahomes helped rally the Kansas City Chiefs from a 10 point halftime deficit on Sunday night in a 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on Glendale, Arizona. Mahomes won his second Super Bowl in three starts and was named the MVP of the game.
Mahomes, who looked to re-aggravate his high ankle sprain at the very end of the first half, led his team to touchdowns on three consecutive possessions to start the second half after trailing 24-14 at halftime. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, playing in his first Super Bowl, scored on two touchdown runs and threw a 45 yard score to A.J. Brown over the opening 30 minutes to help the Eagles gain that 10 point lead. The Chiefs scores came on a Mahomes to Travis Kelce 18 yard passing play and a Hurts fumble that was returned 36 yards by Nick Bolton.
The second half was a much different story, as Kansas City turned up their offense and had Philadelphia back on their heels. On the first possession of the third quarter, the Chiefs marched down the field covering 75 yards on 12 plays with Isiah Pacheco scoring on a one yard run. After a 33 yard Jake Elliott field goal made it 27-21 Eagles, KC took their first lead early in the fourth on a Mahomes to Kadarius Toney five yard TD pass 28-27. After Philadelphia was then forced to punt, Mahomes helped extend the lead finding a wide open Skyy Moore for a four yard touchdown for an eight point advantage with 9:26 to play. Hurts led Philadelphia (16-4) right back though on a 75 yard drive in 10 plays, with the key play being a 45 yard pass down the left sideline to Devante Smith to the Chiefs two yard line. Hurts took it himself on the next play for six, and then also converted the two-point conversion to tie it at 35-35 with a run to the left end with 5:20 remaining. The game winning drive was set up by a Mahomes 26 yard scramble with 2:55 left, and then a defensive holding on James Bradberry on a third down play from the Eagles 15 yard line. Mahomes took a knee on two of the next three plays to run down the clock to set up the winning kick of 27 yards by Harrison Butker with just eight seconds showing on the clock. A desperation throw by Hurts on his final chance from his own 36 fell incomplete as time expired.
Mahomes finished 21-27 passing for 182 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding six rushes for 44 yards in the win for Kansas City who finishes with a 17-3 record and their second Super Bowl Title in the last four years. Pacheco led the ground game with 76 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Kelce, who along with his brother Jason who plays center for Philadelphia became the first brothers combo to play in the big game, had six receptions for 81 yards and a score. Bolton had eight total tackles and the fumble recovery for a touchdown to lead the defense. Hurts went 27-38 for 304 yards and a touchdown, while he was the leader rusher for his team as well with 15 attempts for 70 yards and three scores. Smith had seven catches for 100 yards, while Brown had six for 96 and a touchdown. Avonte Maddox had six tackles for the Eagles, as they were seeking their first NFL Championship since they won their first over Tom Brady and New England in the 2017 season. Mahomes becomes the first quarterback to win a league MVP and a Super Bowl in the same season since 1999.
Recap by Chris Lessner
