Chiefs Top Eagles in Super Bowl 57; Pair of Former Giants Contribute in Different Ways

James Bradberry and Kadarius Toney each had a significant role in the outcome of the game.
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The Kansas City Chiefs exploded for 24 points in the second half, overcoming a 24-14 halftime deficit against the Philadelphia Eagles to take home Super Bowl XLVII.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who injured his ankle at the end of the second quarter but who soldiered on coming out of the long halftime break, finished 21 of 27 for 182 yards and three touchdown passes, two of which came as part of that 24-point run. 

The Chiefs also scored on a 1-yard touchdown rush by Isaiah Panceco and a 27-yard game-winning field goal by kicker Harrison Butker with eight seconds remaining to break a 35-35 tie.

A pair of former Giants played a notable part in the game's outcome. Former cornerback James Bradberry, who signed as a free agent with the Eagles after the Giants were forced to cut him due to salary cap issues, was flagged for a defensive holding call on a 3rd-and-8 after the Eagles defense had forced an incomplete pass from Mahomes to receiver Juju Smith-Schuster late in the fourth quarter.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, receiver Kadarius Toney, the Gioants' 2021 first-round draft pick whom they traded for a pair of draft picks back in October, delivered a 65-yard punt return to set up the Chiefs' fourth scoring drive of the game. Three plays later, Mahomes hit receiver Skyy Moore on a 4-yard touchdown pass, widening his team's lead 35-27.

Despite the Eagles dominating the time of possession battle 35:47 to 24:13, the Chiefs defense held the Eagles to just 147 yards total offense in the second half while racking up 212 yards on offense as they moved the ball up and down the field. 

Kansas City's defense, led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who once held the same role with the Giants twice, limited Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to 10 of 16 pass completions for 121 yards in the second half of play.

The Chiefs also got a huge scoop-and-score fumble recovery by linebacker Nick Bolton in the second quarter, who returned it 36 yards to make it a 14--14 game at the time.

The Chiefs became the first team in the postseason to score more than seven points against the Eagles, whose defense failed to register a sack and who only managed five quarterback hits and one pass breakup in the game. 

This is Mahomes' second Super Bowl MVP in the last four years.


 


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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.