CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 04: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
They were one game away from winning a third straight Super Bowl, but instead, they were embarrassed on the biggest stage in sports. KC had one of the worst Super Bowl performances we have ever seen, scoring their first points with 34 seconds left in the 3rd quarter when they were already losing 34-0.
Reid and Spagnuola had no answers:
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 26: Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the field during the second half of the AFC Championship football game against the Buffalo Bills, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Spagnuola had his guys in a good position to stop Barkley in the first half, but it made them susceptible to big plays in the passing game, and the Eagles made enough of them to make a difference. Reid had no answer for the Eagles pass rush and didn’t put his QB in a position to win.
Chiefs had less first-half yards than the Eagles had points:
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 09: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Jalyx Hunt #58 and Josh Sweat #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Yes, you read that right. The Chiefs had fewer yards in the first half than the Eagles did points. It was a complete disaster of a half for KC.
Where was Kelce?
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 24: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts before the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on January 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
He didn’t make a single reception in the first half. This was the first time in his postseason career that he didn’t have a catch. He was a complete non-factor until the game was out of reach, and it is a big reason why the offense sputtered.
Mahomes shows he is human with awful interceptions:
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 23: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Mahomes had no time in the pocket. The Eagles defensive front dominated the Chiefs offensive line, and it led to uncharacteristic mistakes by Mahomes that led to 14 points in the first half.
The Eagles were simply better:
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws the ball during the second half in the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Jalen Hurts looked poised, the playmakers made plays, the defense was elite, Barkley stuck with it even after a bad first half, and their offensive and defensive lines were far superior.
Could the Eagles be a new dynasty?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 29: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles takes the field against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
They have all the pieces in place for it. They are dominant on both sides of the football, and they arguably are a mini-dynasty already getting to the Super Bowl in two of the past three seasons.
One-dimensional offense:
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 10: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs hands the football to Kareem Hunt #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
The Chiefs didn’t run the ball. They were too pass-heavy, and it allowed the Eagles defense to tee off on Mahomes. Then, the Chiefs fell so far behind that they had to abandon the idea of the run altogether.
