A brutal first 4 weeks had many Eagles fans reeling, but not the team. They rattled off 12 wins in 13 weeks, grabbing the 2 seed in the NFC, and finally getting the chance to avenge the years of playoff disappointment they have endured since their 2017 Super Bowl win. Saquon Barkley led the way through a foggy NFC playoff picture, but the team mostly dominated, and only looked like they could lose for a couple of minutes in their divisional matchup against the Rams.
In the Super Bowl, many were convinced that the Chiefs so-called "devil magic" would gift them a 3 peat, but this Philly team dominated from start to finish. Patrick Mahomes, someone who has had more playoff success than just about anybody else currently in the league, looked lost. The opposing defensive line barreled through a front 5 that hat struggled throughout the season, and even Mahomes couldn't overcome the shortcomings surrounding him. Andy Reid and Matt Nagy failed to establish a run game early, handing it off just 1 time in the first 25 minutes in a matchup where you desperately need balance.
Even when they got the ball back down 17-0 nearing the end of the first half, Mahomes through a brutal 2nd interception, clearing the way for an A.J. Brown touchdown. No halftime speech could have saved KC as they slowly watched their hopes of a 3-peat slip away. They head into an offseason without the Lombardi trophy now for the first time in 3 years. That offseason isn't as bright as one might think, though, especially for a team that has 3 of the last 5 Super Bowls. Travis Kelce doesn't have too much left in the tank, and the WR core -- even with Rashee Rice coming back -- remains an issue. The defense struggled in the most important matchup, but held down the fort for most of the regular season. And while I don't RB Isaiah Pacheco is on the hot seat just yet, his poor production down the stretch could put KC in the market for a running back in the near future.
As for the Eagles, they couldn't have drawn out a better game. With most of America behind them for the first time in nearly a decade, they put a stop to the Chiefs dynasty (at least for now) with an absolute bloodbath on the biggest stage. I can't give enough credit to Howie Roseman, who built a tremendous roster all around. Most notably from him, though, is the offensive line he crafted, practically laying the cards out for a championship. Many will remember the Saquon signing -- rightfully so -- and many will remember the Jalen Hurts (who, by the way, consistently proved me wrong throughout the playoffs) selection, but virtually none of their success is possible without incredible blocking in front of them.
And, after a woeful defensive performance just 2 years ago, Roseman completely retooled that side of the ball, which showed against KC. It takes a lot to dethrone a 2 time defending Super Bowl champion team that you lost to just a couple years ago, but the Eagles did it. Nick Sirianni, through everything he faced from fans, never lost sight of the ultimate goal. A lot of their success in this game should also be attributed to an excellent gameplan. They knew the Chiefs would stack the box, and Jalen Hurts was fully prepared to sling it.
As unfortunate as it is for me to say, this Eagles team fully deserved it. I can't imagine the emotional pain a person goes through when they lose a Super Bowl, knowing they may never make it back, but this squad pushed through (literally) to make it happen. After a long 2 years, the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions.
Eli Knight
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