Few could have anticipated that Super Bowl LIX would unfold as it did. The Kansas City Chiefs entered the game as slight favorites as their pursuit of a historic NFL three-peat drew to a close…with a thumping loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome.
The Eagles won, 40-22, though the Chiefs rescued the final score somewhat after facing a 34-0 deficit late in the third quarter. Still, the result had long been decided before Patrick Mahomes tossed a few touchdowns to make the margin a little less gaudy, and the expectant fans of “Chiefs Kingdom” are pointing all kinds of fingers as Kansas City‘s three-peat dreams came crashing to a halt.
Fans question Reid’s approach to the running game
For some, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid should shoulder significant blame for Kansas City’s Super Bowl dud. This perspective centers on the Chiefs’ insistence on passing the ball early in the game, when the score was still close, rather than establishing the run game with Kareem Hunt.
Hunt, the Chiefs’ lead running back, had only three carries in the Super Bowl, making up a small portion of Kansas City’s 11 total rushing attempts. Mahomes led the way with four carries for 25 yards, though he took a beating in the process: Philadelphia sacked Mahomes six times, despite hardly blitzing during the contest.
What remains strange about the Chiefs’ offensive plan for Super Bowl LIX is that Hunt had carried the ball in excess of 200 times between the regular season and the playoffs; for Kansas City to turn away from him entirely despite his combined 845 rushing yards and nine touchdowns could have contributed to their offense becoming predictable, and easy for the Eagles to stop.
Reid and the Chiefs may feel regret over not winning a game the sportsbooks thought they would edge; they will now have an offseason to mull it over and plot a course back to Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
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