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| Patrick Mahomes is sacked by Jalyx Hunt in the third quarter during Super Bowl 59. |
Feb. 10, 2025, 11:18 AM GMT+6
Philadelphia delivered a commanding 40-22 victory in Super Bowl 59, thanks to one of the most dominant defensive performances in title game history—against none other than one of the greatest quarterbacks the league has ever seen. While the entire defense shined, it was the Eagles’ defensive line that left the biggest mark on Sunday’s game.
The relentless pass rush overwhelmed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, sacking him six times—a career-high for a single game. Beyond those sacks, Mahomes was intercepted twice under heavy pressure and lost a fumble on another sack.
“Defense wins championships,” said Super Bowl 59 MVP Jalen Hurts. “You saw how they played today. You saw the difference they made. They gave us short fields, and we capitalized.”
Multiple Eagles defenders contributed to the onslaught. Outside linebacker Josh Sweat recorded 2.5 sacks, defensive end Milton Williams added two, and defensive tackle Jordan Davis chipped in with one. Sweat, who led the team in both sacks and pressures, had a strong case for game MVP honors.
The Chiefs’ offensive line struggled across the board. Davis and fellow defensive tackle Jalen Carter consistently collapsed the pocket’s interior, allowing edge rushers to exploit one-on-one matchups on the outside.
Just how dominant was the Eagles’ defensive front? Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t blitz Mahomes a single time on his 42 dropbacks, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Yet, despite never sending extra rushers, the Eagles still pressured Mahomes 16 times.
By halftime, with Philadelphia leading 24-0, Mahomes faced pressure on 47.1% of his dropbacks—higher than his 42.9% completion percentage. The Eagles' ability to generate pressure with just four rushers allowed their secondary to stay in zone coverage for most of the game, neutralizing deep plays and limiting Mahomes’ scrambling opportunities.
“This year, we’ve been able to get home with our four-man rush ... and today was no different,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “We do what we believe is necessary to win, not what others think we should do. This was our strategy, and it worked.”
The result? One of the worst offensive performances by Kansas City in recent memory. The 22 points the Chiefs scored were their lowest in the postseason and their fewest in a Super Bowl since their nine-point showing against the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. Even those 22 points were misleading, as 16 of them came in the fourth quarter when the outcome was already decided.
“They outplayed us from start to finish,” Mahomes admitted. “We didn’t start the way we wanted to. The turnovers hurt, and I take full responsibility. They shifted the game’s momentum, and Philly took advantage.”
Philadelphia’s winning formula—generating pressure with just four rushers—was eerily similar to the Buccaneers’ approach in Super Bowl 55, another tough outing for Mahomes. However, replicating the Eagles’ defensive dominance is no easy task.
Williams, Carter, Davis, and defensive end Nolan Smith Jr. were all drafted by Philadelphia in the last four years. With significant investments in their offense—big contracts for their quarterback, receivers, and offensive line—the Eagles’ ability to draft and develop elite defensive talent was crucial to their success. Their secondary also featured rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the latter of whom had a pick-six.
Kansas City, a team that has felt almost unstoppable over the past three seasons, finally met its match in Philadelphia. Leading up to the game, the conversation revolved around the Chiefs’ potential dynasty and Mahomes’ GOAT trajectory. But all of that—along with Kansas City’s quest for an unprecedented three-peat—was derailed by a straightforward yet highly effective strategy: sending four dominant pass rushers after the quarterback.
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