Easy Like Sunday Morning: The Eagles Are Super Bowl Champions
This Eagles Team Wasn’t Just Well Prepared.
They Were Superior In Every Way.
Long before the Eagles were routinely playing in the Super Bowl every year — or any year at all — I used to get relatively annoyed at the blowout in the big game. You know — those games where you really don’t give a hoot about either team, no one is watching the game in the third quarter, and by 8:00 P.M., all of the queso dip has been gone for hours?
In 1986, when the Bears beat the Patriots 46–10; in 1993, when the Cowboys beat the Bills 52–17; or in 2001, when the Ravens beat the Giants 34–7.
On Sunday afternoon during Super Bowl LIX — it would only come down to the early third quarter to know that this game was all but over.
The Philadelphia Eagles — with the perfect combination of All-Pro veterans, free agent acquisitions, and impactful rookies perfectly selected in the NFL Draft just ten months prior — overwhelmed the Kansas City Chiefs to bring home their second Super Bowl in seven years on Sunday night.
PHOTO: Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
On offense — the Eagles controlled the football — wearing down Steve Spagnuolo’s Chiefs’ defense in a methodical fashion combined with quick-strike offensive possessions that racked up both yards and points. An early plan to contain Saquon Barkley opened the opportunity for the Eagles to go to the air. They may have stopped Barkley in the early going but could not contain an Eagles passing attack perfectly orchestrated by Jalen Hurts. The Eagles offensive line — moving the Chiefs off the ball while keeping Jalen relatively untouched through three quarters — gave Hurts hours to pick apart the Chief’s defense.
But it was on defense where the Eagles were truly most dominant. While the second-level took away favorite Chiefs target Travis Kelce — Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter, Brandon Graham, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, Milton Williams, and Jalyx Hunt bulldozed the Chiefs’ pass protection schemes. He kept Patrick Mahomes on the move all night. Philadelphia’s secondary shined once again, allowing the Chiefs only twenty-three yards of total offense through the second quarter and forcing three turnovers. The biggest of which — a history-making 38-yard interception made by amazing rookie Cooper DeJean in the second quarter and then returned for a touchdown — put the Chiefs completely on their heels.
The last time that the Eagles faced a future Hall of Fame quarterback for the second time in the Super Bowl — they won. The last time that Donald J. Trump was President — the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Every time the Eagles score at least forty points in the Super Bowl — they are undefeated.
My top moments of last night? After Milton Williams stripped Patrick Mahomes in the fourth quarter and dunked the football into the goalpost — Mahomes walked dejectedly back to the Chiefs sideline. They swatted away a Carson Wentz attempt to share some sideline IPAD insight. Back on the field — I couldn’t help but revel in the sight of a frustrated JuJu Smith-Schuster — standing on the twenty-yard line with his hands on his hips with the Eagles up 40–6.
Yep — the game was sweet perfection in a Super Bowl that had everything. Except for competition, that is. I’ve changed my mind about Super Bowl blowouts.
I’ve started to like them a whole lot better.
PHOTO: Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
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