By: Zach Bender
This season’s Super Bowl was highly anticipated. Both conferences’ top seeds coming out the regular season went into this season’s Super Bowl. There were no real favorites coming into this game to neutral football fans. However, to Salisbury citizens, this was one of the biggest games they would watch.
The only big speculation was whether Mahomes’ ankle would be a big factor. Mahomes was able to play through the injury and gift them a win in the AFC Championship game.
Opening the game, the Eagles drove down the field for an 11-play touchdown drive, ending in a push into the end zone from a yard out. The Eagles would take advantage of the success they have had on this play all throughout the game.
The Chiefs would answer quickly with a six-play touchdown drive led by Mahomes. Mahomes would find an open Travis Kelce, who ran a great route against safety Marcus Epps. The Eagles would then have to settle for a three-and-out.
The Chiefs looked to take their first lead of the night after forcing the three-and-out. Mahomes would find Kelce over the middle for a big gain of 22-yards. The Chiefs would be held to a field goal attempt from 42 yards out, which would doink off the left upright, keeping the game tied at seven late in the first quarter.
The Eagles would answer the missed field goal with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts to fellow Pro Bowler A.J. Brown on the first play of the second quarter. The Eagles would then force a three-and-out.
In the ensuing drive, the Eagles were looking to extend their lead. They would drive to about mid-field before Hurts would fumble the ball, which would be picked up and run back to the end zone by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, who played a great Super Bowl. Tying the game at 14.
Hurts and the Eagles would bounce back with a 12-play touchdown drive that would take seven minutes off the clock. Hurts used his legs throughout this drive and would also score using them, giving the Eagles the lead again. (14-21) They were also able to force a punt and get the ball back with 1:22 left in the first half. They were able to get 35-yards out for kicker Jake Elliott. At halftime, the score was 14–24.
Coming out of the half, the Chiefs would start hot, cranking out a 10-play drive that included three plays over ten yards. The Chiefs would punch it into the end zone with rookie running back Isiah Pacheco. Cutting the Eagles’ lead to three. (21-24)
The Eagles would then answer with a 17-play drive that took 7:45 off the clock. The drive would be halted by a 33-yard field goal, increasing their lead to six points.
Patrick Mahomes would return to the field and lead the Chiefs to their second consecutive touchdown drive, giving the Chiefs a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. (28-27) The Chiefs would also force a three-and-out on the ensuing Eagles drive.
After a record-setting punt return by receiver Kadarius Toney, who was acquired from the Giants in a mid-season trade, the Chiefs would find rookie Skyy Moore for his first NFL touchdown, extending their lead to eight. (35-27)
Jalen Hurts would then come back onto the field and answer, using his legs to score a two-yard rushing touchdown. He would also run in the two-point conversion that would tie the game at 35.
The Chiefs would have about five minutes to go down and score, starting from their own 25-yard line. Mahomes would lead the Chiefs down to the Philadelphia 15-yard line, but it was now 3rd-and-8. Wide receiver JuJu-Smith Schuster, who was having a great second half, was held by cornerback James Bradberry. This flag is still being debated as I type this. For the second game in a row, the Chiefs would be able to capitalize and score the game-winning field goal. This kick gave them a ring.
“It was a penalty,” said Eagles cornerback James Bradberry, who had the crucial flag called against him at the end of the game. “I grabbed his jersey, and I hoped they would let it slide.”
This win gives the Chiefs their second Lombardi in four years. Patrick Mahomes was named the Super Bowl MVP, his second time winning it.
“I thought guys just embraced the moment,” Mahomes said about rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit. “In that first half, we were playing and doing some good stuff, but I felt like the guys were getting consumed by everything around us.”
As the 2021-2022 season has come to an end, the question arises: Will the Eagles be able to bounce back next season?
Leave a Reply