Eagles-Chiefs SB LIX: Back to the future?

Hurts was uncrowned MVP two years ago when Chiefs pulled it out

By the end of the next two weeks, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will probably be tired of all the questions asking him to relive the Super Bowl from only two years ago.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will likely answer them with a smile.

After all, it was Mahomes and the Chiefs that emerged with a 38-35 victory over the Eagles on Feb. 12, 2023, in Arizona after a typical game-ending drive that put what Hurts did that day deep in the history bin of things that might have been.

All he did was pass for 304 yards and a touchdown, while running for three more along with a 2-point conversion.

His 1-yard run gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead, a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Brown provided a 14-7 lead, a 4-yard run made it 21-14 and a 2-yard run and successful conversion run tied the game at 35 with 5:15 remaining.

All the Eagles had to do was stop Mahomes, win the Super Bowl and watch Hurts hoist the MVP trophy afterward.

Yeah, right.

Mahomes passed for only 17 yards on three attempts in the final drive, but his 26-yard run was the back-breaker that moved the ball to the Eagles 27-yard line on a play that began with 2:55 to play.

Of course, the officiating controversies that frequently engulf Kansas City’s postseason success reared its ugly head on the next set of downs.

On a third-and-8 play from the Chiefs’ 15-yard line, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (on injured reserve all this season) was flagged for holding on an incomplete attempt to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Rather than kicking a potential game-winning field goal with 1:48 still remaining in the game, the automatic first down allowed the Chiefs to run the clock down and have Harrison Butker kick the 27-yard game-winner with only eight seconds on the clock. It also helped that running back Jerick McKinnon purposely went to the ground at the 2-yard line on first down to make sure Hurts wouldn’t get the ball with time remaining on the clock.

While Eagles fans were beside themselves after the penalty, Bradberry came clean afterward, saying, "It was holding. I tugged his jersey. I was hoping they would let it slide."

Smith-Schuster said was it was “hundred percent” a penalty, adding, "My route's to strike in, strike back out. I mean Bradberry's a good player, but you know I feel like at some point, the call's gonna be called."

In a pool report, referee Carl Cheffers said there was "no debate" on the call. He said, "The receiver went to the inside, and he was attempting to release to the outside. The defender grabbed the jersey with his right hand and restricted him from releasing to the outside. So, therefore, we called defensive holding."

Two days later on Valentine’s Day, Smith-Schuster had some fun with Bradberry by posting an e-gram of him that said, “I’ll hold you when it matters most.”

It didn’t matter that Mahomes’ numbers were somewhat pedestrian that day, totaling 182 yards on 21-of-27 passing, but he did have three touchdown throws and 44 rushing yards on six attempts, including the big 26-yarder.

In the game, the Eagles outgained the Chiefs 417-340, had 25 first downs to Kansas City’s 21, converted 11-of-18 third downs and possessed the ball for 35:47.

However, as most quarterbacks have experienced in the last seven postseasons, they’ve come up short to Mahomes and the Chiefs as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills did Sunday.

Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley and a defense led by defensive tackle Jalen Carter will try and prevent the three-peat in New Orleans.

Good luck with that.

After the Super Bowl, Howard Balzer will begin his 50th season covering pro football. The first Super Bowl he attended was 44 years ago, also in New Orleans, when the Eagles lost to the Raiders.