Chiefs’ three-peat hopes crumbled behind offensive line struggles

Chiefs’ three-peat hopes crumbled behind offensive line struggles


  • The Chiefs’ downfall: In a dominant 40-22 victory, the Eagles overwhelmed Kansas City’s struggling offensive line, pressuring Patrick Mahomes on 40.5% of his dropbacks and disrupting the Chiefs’ offense all evening. 

  • Impossible to beat: Mahomes was pressured on 50.0% of his dropbacks exterior of rubbish time, marking the third-highest strain fee he has confronted in a recreation below these situations.

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The Kansas City Chiefs entered Super Bowl 59 with one obtrusive weak spot, which the Philadelphia Eagles shortly exploited.

In a dominant 40-22 victory, the Eagles overwhelmed Kansas City’s struggling offensive line, pressuring Patrick Mahomes on 40.5% of his dropbacks and disrupting the Chiefs’ offense all evening. Left deal with Joe Thuney (60.1), left guard Mike Caliendo (30.1), proper guard Trey Smith (49.2) and proper deal with Jawaan Taylor (57.3) all earned pass-blocking grades under 61.0, leaving Mahomes below fixed duress.

In the top, the Chiefs’ greatest concern turned their downfall.

The Eagles swarming pass-rush dominates

A dominant defensive efficiency by Philadelphia paved the way in which for the franchise’s second championship. The Eagles’ relentless go rush overwhelmed Patrick Mahomes for all 60 minutes, sacking him six instances—probably the most he has ever taken in a single recreation.

The Chiefs signal-caller was pressured on 50.0% of his dropbacks exterior of rubbish time, marking the third-highest strain fee he has confronted in a recreation below these situations.









SeasonWeekOpp.Pressure %
2020Super Bowl 55@ Buccaneers59.5%
201814vs. Ravens52.6%
2024Super Bowl 59@ Eagles50.0%
2018Conference Championshipvs. Patriots50.0%
20234@ Jets48.6%

Constant strain pressured Mahomes into errors

Mahomes struggled below fixed duress, posting a 59.3 passing grade below strain whereas finishing simply 4 of 9 makes an attempt for 48 yards. His greatest achieve—a 24-yard toss to Xavier Worthy late within the third quarter—got here nicely after the sport had been determined.

Pressure not solely disrupted Mahomes but additionally led to expensive turnovers. His first-half interception to Zack Baun from inside Kansas City’s personal 10-yard line arrange an Eagles landing, serving to Philadelphia construct a commanding 24-0 lead. That play was set in movement by Josh Sweat, who drove Joe Thuney straight into Mahomes’ lap, forcing an errant throw.

The Eagles’ fixed barrage of strain left Mahomes uneasy within the pocket, at which level he didn’t do himself many favors, committing self-inflicted pressures and unforced errors.

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The Eagles’ reliance on their entrance 4 paid off

Philadelphia leaned on its entrance 4 to generate strain all season, permitting additional sources to be allotted to protection—they usually caught to that components in Super Bowl 59. The Eagles didn’t ship greater than 4 rushers on a single play, but their go rush dominated.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio deployed a heavy dose of stunts to create free rush lanes, dialing them up on almost 24% of Kansas City’s passing downs. The technique paid off, producing seven pressures and two sacks whereas maintaining Mahomes off stability. The Chiefs’ quarterback struggled to handle the chaos, throwing each of his interceptions on performs the place the Eagles ran a stunt.

Eagles’ go rush within the Super Bowl















Passing performs42
Blitzes0
Stunts10
Stunt %23.8%
Sacks6
Sack %14.3%
Sack conversion %41.2%
Hits4
Total pressures17
Pressure fee40.5%
Pressures in below 2.5 seconds13
Quick strain %31.0%

Big-Money Pass Rushers

Josh Sweat and Milton Williams stood out as game-changers for the Eagles’ go rush. The soon-to-be free brokers made themselves some huge cash with their performances, combining for 12 pressures and 5 sacks.

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Williams, specifically, was dominant, incomes a game-high 91.0 PFF pass-rush grade. His greatest second got here late within the recreation when he delivered a strip sack on Mahomes, sealing Philadelphia’s championship victory and placing the ultimate nail within the Chiefs’ coffin.