Hurts, Eagles Devastated by Finale Loss to Chiefs

by Anthony Dacunto

With the finale that was Super Bowl LVII now in the books, the 2022-2023 NFL season has officially come to an end. The conclusion of this year’s season was entertaining, to say the least, with a final score differential of only 3. Unfortunately, the Eagles were on the bad end of that differential, with the Kansas City Chiefs winning 38-35, becoming this season’s super bowl champions. It was a rather sad ending for the team and for Philadelphia. However, the team fought hard from start to finish, and the final result should not be used as a reason to ridicule their performance in any way. A full 60 minutes of effort was shown by both teams, which is the most you can ask for in a championship matchup, regardless of the outcome. 


A Strong Start

The Eagles came out strong just as expected, and it seemed that they had established solid footing going into the half with a two-digit lead over the Chiefs. Jalen Hurts played his part, rushing in two touchdowns, one in the first and second quarters of the game. He also connected with WR A.J. Brown on an ambitious 45-yard pass for another touchdown. The Eagles wrapped up the half with a final field goal from Jake Elliott, putting them up 24-14 against the Chiefs after two. It had appeared at the time that the Eagles had steady control over the game, and that the light of another championship win was now beginning to gleam at the end of the tunnel. After 30 minutes of play, the Chiefs also had worries of Patrick Mahomes and if he would be fit to return. Late in the second, Mahomes was tackled in a way that negatively affected his ankle, and he could be seen limping off of the field. The QB had previously suffered a sprain to his ankle in the AFC divisional game, so this prior injury had led many to question the fate of Mahomes following the break at half. 


Second Half Reset

The Chiefs looked brand new after the break and made sure to waste no time. A little over only five minutes into the third, the Chiefs cut the Eagles’ lead down to 3 following a ten-play drive down the field and finally a rushing touchdown by Isiah Pacheco. The Chiefs had boosted their game both offensively and defensively. The Eagles struggled to carry their first-half spark into the second, and left the third quarter with their only gain being a field goal. The pressure continued to pile on for Philadelphia, as Mahomes completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Kadarius Toney to give Kansas City a 28-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. Just when Philly fans thought they could take a breath, Toney once again performs, and returns a punt for a total of 65 yards. This punt return is the longest ever to be recorded in a Super Bowl matchup. This return put the Chiefs at the five-yard line and gave them the chance at taking a possible eight-point lead over the Eagles late in the game. Then, on third and goal, the Eagles attempted to blitz, which ultimately left WR Skyy Moore completely alone on the left end where he’d receive a touchdown pass from Mahomes.


Crunch Time

 Time began to be the enemy of the Eagles, and this game was now coming down to the wire. The Eagles got just what they needed, when Hurts connected with Davante Smith down the field for a 46-yard reception. This vital completion placed the Eagles at just about the goal line, on the cusp of a crucial touchdown. Then, the ball would be run in by Jalen Hurts yet again, which is a Super Bowl record for QB touchdowns. It was necessary that the Eagles attempt the two-point conversion, which they did. On their attempt, the ball was run in again by who other than Hurts again. The game was then tied, with the ball returning to the Chiefs with a little over five minutes remaining. In the remaining time, the Chiefs played smart football. They managed to progress up the field while simultaneously burning the clock. They would make it all the way to the red zone, where with only 11 seconds left, Chiefs’ Harrison Bukter would seal the deal with the game-winning field goal. The Eagles would go on to get the ball back, trying at one last hail mary that was rather unremarkable. Just like that, the game concluded with a final score of 38-35, and the Kansas City Chiefs are your Super Bowl champions. 

 

Controversial Finish

However, the game did end with a bit of controversy. On that final drive by the Chiefs, a crucial flag was thrown that destroyed any remaining hope for Hurts and the Eagles. On 3rd and 8 at about the 20 in Eagles territory, the Eagles' defense was able to hold the Chiefs to a 4th down when Mahomes had overthrown the ball to WR Smith-Schuster. A flag was then given to cornerback James Bradberry of the Eagles, saying he had held Smith-Schuster during the play. This penalty gave the Chiefs an automatic first down, allowing for them to burn practically all of the remaining clock out and knock down the game-deciding FG. If this flag was not given, then the Eagles would have gotten the ball back down 3, but they would have had at least a minute and a half as well as a timeout to try and make something out of. Countless are outraged by the call, believing it should have never been. Who knows what could have possibly taken place if only this flag had never occurred. 

 

At the End of the Day…

The 2022-2023 Super Bowl LVII was a closely contested game between two powerhouse teams. Despite the outcome not being in their favor, the Eagles should be proud of the effort they put in throughout the game. Jalen Hurts’ impressive performance, along with the offensive and defensive contributions from the rest of the team, made for an entertaining and competitive game. The final score differential of only three points speaks to the level of competition and the high level of skill displayed by both teams. Fans and critics should not let the outcome of the game detract from the Eagles' performance, as they fought hard from start to finish and left it all on the field. The Eagles should be commended for their efforts, and it is clear that they are a team to be reckoned with in the future.

 

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