Jalen Hurts led a second-half comeback as the Philadelphia Eagles turned the tables on the Kansas City Chiefs to claim a hardfought 21-17 victory in their Super Bowl rematch on Monday.
Eagles quarterback Hurts rushed for two touchdowns — including the go-ahead score via Philadelphia’s signature ‘brotherly shove’ move in the fourth quarter — to seal a gritty win at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.
The game was a repeat of the two teams’ high-scoring 38-35 Super Bowl classic last season, when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led his team back from a 10-point halftime deficit to claim victory.
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But while February’s Super Bowl was a free-scoring shootout, Monday’s game, played out in driving rain, was dominated by defence, with occasional flashes of inspiration from Hurts and opposite number Mahomes.
This time however it was the Eagles who came back from 10 points down, shutting out the Chiefs in the second half after trailing 17-7 at the break with a superb defensive display.
It comes after Australia’s Jordan Mailata this week said the match had added feeling and revealed he hadn’t watched the replay of last season’s heartbreaking defeat.
“For me, it’s a little bit more personal,” said the Eagles tackle.
“I’ll never forget the feeling of that red and gold confetti falling on my head, and I’ll never forget the emotions from that day.
“I haven’t even rewatched the film from that game. It’s hard for me.”
Hurts — who was sacked five times by a rampant Chiefs defence — came up with the decisive play when it mattered, dropping a 41-yard completion into the arms of receiver DeVonta Smith to leave the Eagles with a first and goal from the one-yard line midway through the fourth quarter.
On the next play, Hurts burrowed over for the touchdown to give the Eagles their first lead of the game.
The Chiefs came within a whisker of snatching victory on their final possession, but Mahomes’ superb long-range pass intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling was dropped by the receiver at the Eagles goal-line.
The Chiefs subsequently turned over the ball on downs to leave Philadelphia celebrating a win that takes them to 9-1 — the best record in the NFL.
“It was two teams going at it in a hostile environment, and we showed up when it mattered the most,” said Hurts, who finished with 150 passing yards but scored two rushing touchdowns.
“That was a complete team win, a complete team effort. Sloppy weather, but we found a way.”
The Eagles quarterback was quick to praise the defence’s contribution for the victory.
“We didn’t play well offensively,” Hurts said. “Our defence definitely had us strong in that game. They did a great job.
“In this league you get to this time of the year you just want to find ways to win and that’s the only thing that matters.
“We’re winning games but we’re yet to play our best ball. There’s a lot to be encouraged by. But we’re far from the finished product.”
Kansas City took the lead in the first quarter, Mahomes finding Justin Watson with a three-yard pass into the end zone to cap a 10-play 80-yard drive.
But the Eagles responded via a D’Andre Swift rushing touchdown to level it up. The Chiefs went 10 points clear at the break after a Travis Kelce touchdown and a 43-yard Harrison Butker turnover.
The Eagles defence took over after the break though, and Hurts rushed over from 10 yards to close the Chiefs’ lead to three points at 17-14.
Hurts’ fourth quarter touchdown completed the comeback.
“We haven’t played great football in the second half all season,” Mahomes said. “We’ve got to find a way to finish off games offensively.”
And there was one hilarious moment when Jalen Carter of the Eagles almost managed to intercept a spike by diving through the legs of an opponent.
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