NFL news: Super Bowl LIX – Three talking points as Philadelphia Eagles crush Kansas City Chiefs
The Philadelphia Eagles utterly dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs from start to finish as they claimed Super Bowl LIX with a crushing 40-22 victory.
Coming into the showpiece off the back of wins at the last two Super Bowls, the Chiefs had one eye on becoming the first team in NFL history to achieve a three-peat of titles.
Unfortunately, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes just could not get his foot off the clutch, with constant pressure from Philadelphia’s defence leaving him in a state of shell shock while the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts powered his team home.
Sports News Blitz writer Sam Condy takes a look at three key talking points from Sunday night.
Refereeing controversy
Throughout the season, there have been whispers of referee bias towards the Chiefs, with close calls seemingly going the way of the Kansas City franchise more often than not.
Early on in the Super Bowl, there were signs of things heading in that same direction.
The first drive of the game saw Eagles running back Saquon Barkley handed the ball in order to attempt a rush forward. In a clearly premeditated plan of action, the Chiefs were able to keep him contained.
However, that opened up passing options for quarterback Hurts and he duly pinged a long ball out wide to A.J. Brown. After a phenomenal catch and well-deserved celebrations, the referees stepped in, citing pass interference and promptly penalising Brown and the Eagles.
This was despite the movement looking clean enough and there being minimal contact on the receiving end.
As a result of the decision, the tension in the arena ratcheted up and people began to wonder if the Chiefs had some extra players on the field donning black and white stripes.
In the end, though, the Chiefs seemed to run out of luck in that department as the Eagles ran away with the game.
READ MORE: NFL news: Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles destroy Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans
Eagles’ defensive domination
Perhaps the most spectacular aspect of the on-field action was the Eagles defence.
Before the game, it was widely assumed that both sides would lean into their defensive prowess in a cagey, high-stakes affair.
Even so, the Eagles defence was nothing short of spectacular. From their very first play, Philadelphia set about strangling Mahomes and his offensive outlets, cutting off pass angles all over the show and forcing him to throw Hail Mary pass after Hail Mary pass.
Mahomes was ultimately sacked six times in the contest, the most in a single game of his entire career, while simultaneously throwing for two interceptions in the first half alone.
Time and again, the Eagles effectively collapsed the pocket, leaving the superstar with little time to find a pass.
As bad as it sounds – and it was every bit as bad as it sounds – Mahomes was not solely to blame. The Chiefs’ offensive line was, to be honest, an entirely uncoordinated and at times unbothered mess.
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Jalen Hurts the MVP
On a night that was meant to be Mahomes' coronation, his opposite stole the show.
Right from the get-go, Hurts set the tone in orchestrating a cold and efficient nine-play, 54-yard drive to get the game's first points on the board.
From there, he only grew further into the game, with his 46-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith – to seal an Eagles win in the third quarter – particularly worthy of the highlight reel.
Hurts, originally a second-round draft pick in 2020 and doubted his whole career, was subsequently named the Super Bowl MVP.
It appears a new superstar is on the rise.
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