Arrowhead Pride
It didn’t take long for Patrick Mahomes to orchestrate a successful drive. On the first play of the game, he connected with Tyquan Thornton for 22 yards. After crossing midfield, the Eagles’ defense stiffened, deflecting a few passes to set up a third-and-10.
Mahomes responded by rifling a 26-yard strike to JuJu Smith-Schuster, moving the Chiefs inside the red zone. Two plays later, he found Isiah Pacheco on a curl route in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.
Jalen Hurts matched that energy on the Eagles’ opening drive. Tight end Dallas Goedert hauled in a crucial third-down pass for 25 yards to push the Eagles into Chiefs territory. A few plays later, Hurts threaded a pass through four Chiefs defenders to Jahan Dotson, bringing Philadelphia inside the 15.
Hurts capped the drive himself, scrambling in from 10 yards out to tie the game at seven.
End of the first quarter: Chiefs 7, Eagles 7
The Chiefs began knocking on the Eagles’ door near the six-minute mark of the quarter, thanks to an Pacheco run that brought them to the Eagles’ 4-yard line. Two plays later, tight end Travis Kelce caught a pass from his best friend to give the Chiefs the lead.
The Eagles’ offense kept rolling, continuing to convert crucial third downs to extend the drive. Backup tight end Grant Calcaterra hauled in the team’s fifth third-down conversion of the game, pushing them deep into Chiefs territory.
On second down, linebacker Drue Tranquill went unlocked, sacking Hurts to third down. With a 100% third-down conversion rate, the Eagles attempted their sixth of the evening. But tranquill jarred the ball loose on a pass to Goedert, forcing a field goal attempt. Jake Elliott drilled it to cut the deficit to four.
End of the second quarter: Chiefs 14, Eagles 10
Hurts can beat you with both his legs and his arm — and the Chiefs felt the full impact of each. DeVonta Smith was instrumental on the drive, hauling in two passes, including one that pushed the Eagles to the Chiefs’ 27-yard line.
The Chiefs’ defense stuck mostly to zone coverage, and Hurts took advantage. He first dove forward from under center to convert a third-and-inches, then broke free on an 18-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles the lead once again.
Mahomes quickly answered with a flat-footed flick of the wrist from the logo that sailed in a perfect arc to Kelce for a touchdown. Simply incredible.
End of the third quarter: Chiefs 21, Eagles 17
The Chiefs’ defense forced the Eagles to punt.
Mahomes then did his best Jalen Hurts impression, strolling into the end zone to give Kansas City a two-possession lead.
On the Eagles’ ensuing drive, Hurts finally made a mistake — throwing an interception to Nick Bolton just after crossing midfield.
Mahomes quickly capitalized, hitting JuJu Smith-Schuster down the home sideline to give the Chiefs excellent field position and a chance...
