Super Bowl LIX Recap: Meet the New Boss

I've said this many times before; even as a diehard hockey fan, I cannot deny that Super Bowl Sunday is the best day of the sports calendar. The entire day is centered on that one big game. If you combine the pregame, the actual game, and the postgame celebrations, you're basically looking at about 12 hours centered on this game--literally half of the entire day. It's worth it, though. The Super Bowl gets grander and grander, and this edition, the 59th edition, is no different.

This year, it's the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles meeting for the second time in three years. We all know how the last meeting ended, a heartbreaker for the Eagles, losing 38-35 to a Chiefs team who was a year removed from being upset by the Bengals. This year, the Chiefs entered as the two-time defending champions, and they were looking to make history. No team had ever won three straight Super Bowls. The Chiefs were looking to achieve immortality. On the other hand, the Eagles were looking to avenge not only their Super Bowl LVII loss, they were looking to avenge the disastrous way last season ended.

The Eagles started with the ball, and it looked like the refs would be up to their usual shenanigans from the get go. What should have been a fourth down conversion for AJ Brown was called back due to the most BS offensive pass interference call I had ever seen. So they had to punt, but the Chiefs' first possession didn't result in much either. Eagles finally hit paydirt on the next drive; a long bomb to Jahan Dotson was originally ruled a touchdown, but it was shown that Dotson was down at the one. We know what that means. Brotherly Shove time, and it delivers. Hurts gets in, and the Eagles go up 7-0. After another KC punt, the opening quarter ended with the Eagles ahead, and Hurts with the ball.

However, Hurts throws a pick, but the Chiefs do not capitalize. The Eagles get into field goal range, but what was a clear offsides on 4th and 3 by the Chiefs, was instead ruled a false start by Philly. More BS, but Jake Elliott makes the field goal. 10-0 Philly. On the Chiefs' next possession, Patrick Mahomes' pass ends up in the hands of Cooper DeJean, who runs it all the way back! A Pick 6 for the one of the two birthday boys on the Eagles! It's 17-0! At this point, I'm trying my damnedest not to say, "It's over," and no, not because of 28-3. It's because the Chiefs have been starting games late literally all season, yet they somehow bullshit their way to something. For months we said that their luck would run out at some point.

The two teams traded punts, and KC had the ball again for a chance at something. What happened? Another interception: deep on their own side. Oh man! It took the Eagles 10 seconds to get in the end zone, and it was AJ Brown. It was 24-0! The Chiefs needed something, especially since they would start the second half with the ball. Instead, Mahomes just kept getting sacked and sacked and sacked. Another punt, and the Eagles take a knee. Philly was up 24-0 at halftime. This game was over. I called it at halftime once they got to 24. If you add nine to that number, you'll have the number of yards Mahomes threw for in this first half. Yikes. Even crazier: Travis Kelce had no receptions! Double yikes!

After an amazing and iconic halftime performance from Kendrick Lamar, the second half commenced. The Chiefs needed something badly. Three minute drive, punt. The Eagles added a field goal later, and after KC turned it over on downs, Hurts threw a touchdown bomb to Devonta Smith. 34-0. That's it. Done. The Chiefs finally got on the board late in the third, but it didn't matter. Elliott made two more field goals in the fourth quarter to actually make it 40-6, and again, it was all over but the shouting. It took the Eagles defense relaxing for Mahomes to finally get a pair of garbage time touchdowns, but all that did was make the score look better than it actually did.

The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX, 40-22, capturing their second Super Bowl Championship in franchise history, with both titles coming within the last decade. Jalen Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP, and with this win, he joins Doug Williams, Russell Wilson, and Patrick Mahomes as the only Black QBs to win the Super Bowl. The win gives the state of Pennsylvania a grand total of eight Super Bowl victories, trailing only California (9). What a turnaround. Last year, the Eagles blew a 10-1 start. They started this year with questions about Hurts, and with Nick Sirianni being jeered. Now? They're on top of the NFL world.

As for the Chiefs:

Is it over for the Chiefs? Honestly, I can't answer that question. Let's get one thing straight: like nearly every NFL fan outside of the state of Missouri, I am celebrating their demise in this game. Mahomes totally sucked, Kelce was a no-show, and their bigot kicker never took the field. It was epic. But I'm about to admit some hardcore positives here. I said that this dynasty is much worse than the Brady/Belichick Patriots, and that's a fact. However, they're also more well-rounded. Brady (who called this game for Fox) needed a lot of great players around him. Mahomes almost three-peated after losing Tyreek Hill, one of the best WRs in the league. That's frightening.

One would think that with the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens being threats, the Chiefs would be knocked down a few pegs and stay down. We'll have to see it to believe it, though. This current iteration of the Chiefs has been in five Super Bowls in six years. Buffalo, Baltimore, and yes, Cincy, really need to step it up if any of them want to knock the Chiefs from that AFC perch.

And with that, the 105th NFL season comes to a close. Super Bowl LX (yes, the big game will turn 60 next year) will take place on February 8, 2026, and will be the first of two straight Super Bowls to emanate from California. In the case of SB60, Santa Clara will host that game, which will air on NBC. Oh, and the Eagles are favored to repeat next year. Will they? We'll see next season. For now, major congratulations to the Eagles for capturing this year's Super Bowl, and for taking down the big, bad Chiefs.

Oh, and as Columbo often says, "One more thing." As a result of this loss, there still remains one team in NFL history who has three-peated in any championship: the Green Bay Packers. Technically, we did it twice: winning three straight NFL Championships from 1929-31, and winning the 1965 NFL Championship followed by winning the first two Super Bowls. Let that sink in.