KANSAS CITY (MO.) Jalen Hurts scored two touchdowns on the ground, including the go-ahead tush push in the fourth-quarter, as the Philadelphia Eagles overcame a 10-point deficit at halftime to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs by 21-17, in a Super Bowl Rematch played Monday night.
Nick Sirianni and the Eagles (9-1), who insisted for weeks that they weren’t out to exact revenge on their February 38-35 defeat, did so anyway. The Eagles (9-1) shut out Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs (7-3), and defeated Andy Reid, their former coach, for the first five games after he left Philadelphia to move to Kansas City.
The Eagles’ center Jason Kelce beat his little brother Travis Kelce, too. Taylor Swift’s absence from the game would have been a blessing for the Chiefs tight-end, as he could have used a little luck. He fumbled in the red area in the fourth quarter when Kansas City tried to extend its 17-14 lead.
With less than two minutes left, the Chiefs had a shot at winning. They converted on fourth down with a penalty for roughing-the passer and got some help from that. A perfectly placed Mahomes ball went straight through Marquez Valdes Scantling’s hands for a 51-yard touchdown. The Eagles then stopped Kansas City at fourth down and won the game.
Hurts only threw 150 yards, with one pick. But he was able to make the plays Mahomes couldn’t in the second half. D’Andre Swift ran for 76 yard and scored, while DeVonta snagged six passes for 99 yards.
The champion had won all four previous meetings. Dallas lost to Buffalo in 1993.
Mahomes’ passing was limited to just 177 yards, with two touchdowns. He also had an interception at the end zone. Isiah Pacheco added 89 rushing yards for the Chiefs. They couldn’t overcome two red zone turnovers and an abundance of penalties.
The Chiefs led 17-7 at halftime Monday night, unlike the Super Bowl when the Eagles lost a 10-point lead.
Mahomes’ third-down touchdown pass to Kelce with 1:45 remaining tied the game at 7-7 after Hurts and Mahomes exchanged first-quarter touchdowns. When the Eagles recovered the ball, Trent McDuffie’s and George Karlaftis’ sacks forced them to give it back in 44 seconds.
Mahomes has plenty of time to bring the Chiefs into range so Harrison Butker can add a field goal from 43 yards.
The Chiefs’ offense has been terrible in the second halves of this season. They scored a league low 53 points on Monday night. After two punts at the start of the second half, Philadelphia took advantage of the favorable field position and marched downfield, before Hurts completed the drive with an 10-yard touchdown.
The Chiefs continued to lose and the Eagles took advantage.
Kelce, along with penalties that derailed the Chiefs’ first two drives in the second half fumbled away the ball at the Philadelphia 8 very early in the 4th quarter. Justin Watson, who was in charge of the Chiefs’ return after they had to punt the ball a few moments later, failed to bring the ball down at the Philadelphia 1 resulting in the touchback. This gave Hurts and Co. a little breathing space.
Hurts’ sneak, which was 80 yards in the opposite direction, gave Philadelphia a lead of 21-17 with 6:20 remaining.
