Eagles vs. Chiefs Super Bowl: 40 winners, 6 losers, and 3 IDKs
Not only did the Philadelphia Eagles win a second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Birds made it look incredibly easily by absolutely DESTROYING the Kansas City Chiefs, who had an unprecedented threepeat at stake, in Super Bowl LIX.
There are infinite things to say about this win and this team.
It’s time to hand out some winners, losers, and IDKs from an unforgettable night.
For even more Eagles analysis, check out my appearance on The Ringer’s Philly Special postgame podcast with Sheil Kapadia (and Cliffy Two Socks):
JALEN HURTS
The Eagles’ second-ever Super Bowl MVP.
The numbers: 17/22 (77.3% completion), 221 yards (10.0 average), 2 TD, 1 INT, 119.7 passer rating … 11 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD.
Hurts continues to play his best football when the lights are the brightest. He was mostly excellent in the Super Bowl two years ago. He was awesome in this year’s NFC Championship Game win over the Washington Commanders. He was nearly flawless in this Super Bowl win.
The moment is never too big for Hurts. He’s composed and in complete control. That much shouldn’t be taken for granted. There are plenty of quarterbacks who put up great regular season numbers and then wilt in the playoffs. You can set your watch to them disappointing in the postseason. The opposite is true for Hurts, who absolutely rises to the occasion.
Hurts made some gorgeous throws in this game, including the dagger to DeVonta Smith. One of his best plays didn’t even count due to a very tacky offensive pass interference call on A.J. Brown.
Leading up to this game, there was a lot of talk about Mahomes’ ability to rip off back-breaking runs. The Eagles experienced one of those in their Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. This time around, however, it was Hurts who looked Mahomesian in that regard. He stepped up against pressure and took off running for some crucial first down conversions. He even had a run where he tiptoed along the sideline like Mahomes often does.
Hurts being the better quarterback in two Super Bowl matchups against Mahomes is pretty special stuff. Just a shame he only got one win from those two.
Another Hurts thing I’ve been thinking about: it’s cool how Eagles fans will get to enjoy the 26-year-old as their franchise quarterback for years to come. Nick Foles winning Super Bowl MVP was incredibly special but he wasn’t the team’s starter and he was gone after the 2018 season.
At the very least, Hurts is immortalized for bringing one Super Bowl title to Philly. But who’s to say he can’t lead them to even more?
After all, he’s a winner.
What an unbelievable performance by Jalen Hurts. Eagles RBs were held to 2.16 yards per carry but Hurts completed 77% of his passes for 221 yards and 2 TDs while rushing for another 72 yards and 1 TD.
His EPA/dropback of 0.51 ranks 1st among all Super Bowl QBs this millennium,… pic.twitter.com/h4VnA2Q5BU
— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) February 10, 2025
Steve Spagnuolo has been a defensive coordinator for 25 playoff games in his storied career.
Based on EPA per pass play AND dropback success rate, Jalen Hurts’ performance in the Super Bowl was the best ever for a QB in a playoff game against Spags.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) February 12, 2025
QBs whose teams scored 35+ points in multiple Super Bowls:
Jalen Hurts
(twice in 2 appearances)
Joe Montana
(twice in 4 appearances)
That’s it. That’s the list.
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) February 10, 2025
VIC FANGIO
Fangio grew up as an Eagles fan and he came to Philly to help deliver a Super Bowl title. He did just that.
The Eagles’ defensive coordinator hardly could’ve orchestrated a more dominant performance. Barring two meaningless garbage time touchdowns, his unit absolutely shut down Mahomes and Andy Reid’s offense.
The Chiefs ran 20 plays in the first half. Those resulted in 13 YARDS and seven Eagles points thanks to Cooper DeJean’s pick-six.
If Super Bowl MVP could go to a coach, Fangio easily would’ve taken home the award.
Historical excellence:
I posted last night about the Eagles defense in Q1-3, I should have looked at just the first half.
The Eagles had defensive DVOA of -163% in the first half. By comparison, the 1985 Bears had -137% in the first half.
Just an obscene defensive performance.
— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) February 10, 2025
The Super Bowl was Vic Fangio’s ideal way to play defense. Nickel personnel, not one single blitz (but a 38% pressure rate!), constricting zone coverage, and slamming the door shut
Fangio and the Eagles held Patrick Mahomes to his lowest EPA/dropback ever pic.twitter.com/1iX8dJV2KR
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) February 10, 2025
Worst First Half EPA/Play
13,464 games (reg season & playoffs) since 2000
1) -1.17 HOU ’21 Wk 4 @ BUF
2) -1.14 KC ’24 #SBLIX vs PHI
