Super Bowl LVII: A K.C. Masterpiece
Monday, February 13th, 2023
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the game-winning drive in Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.
Credit: © John Angelillo, UPI/Alamy Images
The Kansas City Chiefs rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led an aggressive Philadelphia offense, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for one more. But the Chiefs’ dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes, hobbled by a high ankle sprain, battled back in the second half to clinch the win. The first Super Bowl ever to feature two number-one-seeded teams, it was the second Super Bowl championship for the Chiefs in the last four years.
The Eagles took the kickoff to open the game and drove downfield, capping the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for the touchdown. The Chiefs answered immediately with a brisk three-minute drive capped by a touchdown catch by All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. On the first play of the second quarter, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown made a spectacular 45-yard touchdown catch to regain the lead 14-7. Hurts fumbled on the next drive. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton grabbed the ball and sprinted 36 yards for the score, tying the game 14-14. The Eagles converted two fourth-down plays in the next drive as Hurts scored his second rushing touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead. Following a three-and-out by the Chiefs, the Eagles added a 35-yard Jake Elliott field goal to make the score 24-14 at the half.
Caribbean superstar Rihanna floated into the Super Bowl halftime show on a glowing red platform high above the turf suspended by wires. Wearing a glossy red outfit and surrounded by backup dancers clad in white, Rihanna took to the stage for her first live performance in four years. She later revealed that she was performing while pregnant with her second child.
The Chiefs opened the second half with a touchdown drive to cut their deficit to 24-21. Soon after, the Eagles responded with a 33-yard field goal to extend their lead 27-21. Mahomes hit back with a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Chiefs their first lead in the game at 28-27. The Eagles followed with a three-and-out and a punt that Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney returned 65 yards to the 5-yard line. The Chiefs scored three plays later on a Mahomes touchdown pass to take a 35-27 lead. The Eagles quickly bounced back as wide receiver DeVonta Smith grabbed a pass and scrambled 45 yards up the sideline to the 2-yard line. Hurts followed with his third rushing touchdown on another quarterback sneak. The 2-point conversion was good to tie the score 35-35 with just over 5 minutes remaining. But the Chiefs marched downfield, aided by a couple of key penalties, to the 2-yard line. After a couple of plays to run down the clock, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made the 27-yard field goal to put the score 38-35. With only seconds left and no timeouts, a Hail Mary pass by Hurts fell short to end the game.
Hurts finished the game with 27 completions in 38 pass attempts for 304 yards. He also rushed 15 times for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Mahomes completed 21 of 27 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed six times for 44 yards. Mahomes, who had just been named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2022 season, was also named Super Bowl MVP for the second time.