The Kansas City Chiefs became NFL champions for the second time in four years after completing a stunning comeback to claim a thrilling 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

By Jack Keegan | Mar 3 2023

Seen as slight underdogs compared to Philly for Super Bowl 57, the Chiefs trailed for the majority of the game in Phoenix and were 27-21 down heading into the final quarter.

There was much speculation around the fitness of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes yet Mahomes veteran coach Andy Reid orchestrated a route back to clinch the Lombardi trophy.

Mahomes, who was named the season's Most Valuable Player for a second time, made touchdown passes to Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore to snatch the lead away from the Eagles.

In doing so, the 28-year-old overcame a magnificent Jalen Hurts, the young Philadelphia quarterback who threw the ball for 304 yards, ran for three touchdowns and set a Super Bowl record with 70 yards rushing in the first Super Bowl matchup featuring two Black starting quarterbacks.

The Chiefs won the toss and deferred, as they have all but once all year, placing the ball in Hurts’ hands to start the Philly fire. The 24-year-old promptly led an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, plunging into the end zone on fourth down.

It marked the first time in a quarter-century that a team received the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl and drove it down the field for a touchdown.

Then, on the first play of the second quarter, Hurts took his shot downfield and connected on a 45-yard touchdown to Brown. The runner-up in MVP balloting was off to a promising start in his first Super Bowl, completing eight of his first 10 passes for 116 yards with no interceptions and a pair of touchdowns.

The Eagles would score once more before half-time through a 35-yard field goal from Jake Elliot, opening a 10-point lead in a half where they controlled the ball for most of the half. But the bigger issue for the Chiefs was Mahomes, who limped off the field after a tackle by TJ Edwards reaggravated the high ankle sprain he suffered in the divisional round. Andy Redi’s greatest fears were starting to come to light.

The Eagles avoided a catastrophe moments later when Boston Scott’s apparent fumble was returned for a touchdown – again by the opportunistic Bolton – only to be overturned by replay.

That’s when Mahomes rose much like Lazarus and led a nine-play, 75-yard drive, which was completed by a four-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Kadarius Toney.

Two plays later, the Chiefs had scored again, extending their lead to 35-27 after the extra point.

This Superbowl appeared to be slipping away from the Eagles. But clinging to their last hope, Philadelphia fired back with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 49-yard reception by Smith on the penultimate play then another Hurts touchdown run – his third on the night.

That set the stage for Mahomes to shine: tied at 35-35 in the Super Bowl with five minutes left and 75 yards from the end zone. After wasting some time with a couple of hand-offs to Pacheco and a seven-yard connection with Kelce across the middle, Mahomes bolted 26 yards down the middle of the field to the Philadelphia 17.

On came Harrison Butker to consign the Chiefs contingent into the history book. Butker’s field goal left the Eagles with a last-ditch attempt with six seconds left.

This is the third Super Bowl title for the Chiefs had been sealed after a 50-year wait for their second. Only once in 56 previous Super Bowls had a team overturned a larger half-time deficit.