On Sunday, February 12th, The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles had a showdown for the ages at Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Leading up to the big game, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs had a regular 14-3. They were the number one seed in their conferences. Football fans knew this game would be among the best.
Just days before the Super Bowl, the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback, Patrick Mahomes II, was announced as the Most Valuable Player for the 2022 season. It is not always when the regular season MVP plays in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles were determined to win. Led by Jalen Hurts, the Eagles played it out until the end. In his third year, Hurts was trying to become among the youngest quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl.
This Super Bowl was a big deal for a few reasons. If you will, a Super Bowl of firsts–an all-female crew performed the flyover during the National Anthem, and both teams’ starting quarterbacks were black. It was the first time two brothers played on opposing teams in the Super Bowl.
Brothers Jason (Eagles) and Travis (Chiefs) Kelce are NFL vets, each having already won a Super Bowl with their current teams in previous years–took this seriously. But their mother, Donna, loves them both and doesn’t want to pick sides–the solution: a custom Kelce Chiefs and Eagles jersey that’s split front and back.
The first half looked like the Eagles were going to be the champions. The game shifted at halftime with the score of 24-14 Eagles in control. Both teams went into the locker rooms, and each quarterback gave a pep talk–and Mahomes’ words seemed to work well–having scored on every drive of the second half.
Many doubted the Chiefs in this game because Mahomes had an existing ankle injury, but his mindset was not to leave the game. The Chiefs’ MVP quarterback risked his health to put his team on the back.
Chiefs Offensive Coordinator ??Eric Bieniemy said, “I knew it was pretty bad when he got up limping,” referencing Mahomes’ resilience. Mahomes put himself at risk, which the team needed for the Chiefs to Stay in the game.
Although Mahomes’ led the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl victory in four years, winning the game’s MVP in both will most likely need surgery to fix his ankle.
The calls made during this game had angered many people–mostly accusing the game’s officials. At this point, it’s a common occurrence.
The most controversial call was a holding call on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry with less than two minutes remaining. Mahomes was scrambling away from defenders and over-tossed the ball to JuJu Smith-Schuster. On what would have made it a fourth down, it was a first down.
The Chiefs’ quarterback got the ball to running back Jerick McKinnon, sliding at the one-yard line–-and not to give the Eagles a chance to come back with plenty of time.
The Chiefs ran down the clock by kneeling, pushing them back two yards each of the two times Mahomes knelt.
This situation set up the optimal opportunity to win it all. The Chiefs’ Kicker, Harrison Butker, made a field goal that was a give-me—putting the Chiefs up 38-35–with much controversy.
However, Bradberry said after the game that the referees made the right call. “It was a holding,” Bradberry said to reporters. Bradberry owned up to tugging Smith-Schuster’s jersey. Bradberry said, “I was hoping they would let it slide.”
Super Bowl LVII will be a game remembered forever. But the reason was the brotherly love the Kelce brothers shared after the game. Jason of the Eagles hugged Travis, of the new Super Bowl champions, saying, “F— you. Congratulations.”
