The Sportsletter - Mahomes, Hurts & The Super Shootout 🏆

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 13, 2023  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

The biggest show in sports was an all-time classic for 58 minutes, but a penalty call we’ll be talking about forever took the air out of the finish in Super Bowl LVII. It's been a tough year for Philadelphia. The Union lost in the MLS Cup Final. The Phillies lost in the World Series. The Eagles lost in the Super Bowl. Your move, 76ers.

Excuse me while I attempt to table my disdain for officiating and recap SB57: Mahomes, Hurts, points aplenty, and the most epic Super Bowl shootout...

Letter Rip!

SUPER BOWL LVII 🏆

Chiefs Dynasty, Cemented

Photo: Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

Chiefs def. Eagles (38-35) in Epic Super Bowl LVII to Win 2nd Lombardi Trophy in 4 Years

Phew. Where do we even start? That was one for the ages. Sunday night’s NFL finale produced one of the most electrifying Super Bowls of all-time. How it ended left a salty taste in the mouths of fans everywhere. Regardless, Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl LVII champions. After 55 minutes of football, it was 35-35 with the two best teams in the league tossing haymakers at each other. But Mahomes had the football for the final drive, and we all know how that script ends. A few big plays, a crucial penalty, and a chip-shot for the title earned Kansas City their second Lombardi Trophy in four years.

It was one of the greatest football games in Super Bowl history, and it had to end somehow. Here’s the recap of Super Bowl LVII — an all-time classic.

A Tale of Two Halves

Both the Eagles and Chiefs marched down the field on their opening possessions (7-7), but it was all Philly’s offense the rest of the second half. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts was spectacular, accounting for three touchdowns en route to a 24-14 halftime lead — the only other Chiefs’ score came on a fumble-return touchdown — and Philly took all the momentum into halftime.

An All-Time Classic, Until the End

Mahomes and company came out in the third quarter with an updated game plan and a spark of urgency, scoring touchdowns on two straight drives to take a 28-27 advantage. After a three-and-out for Philly, Kadarius Toney nearly returned a punt for a touchdown to set up another Chiefs’ score (35-27). Hurts and the Eagles answered back, going 75 yards for a punch-in QB sneak and a two-point conversion (35-35). And on the Chiefs’ final possession, Mahomes was magic once more. He scrambled for a 26-yard scoot on his injured ankle and put Kansas City in the red zone before a third-down holding penalty on the Eagles that essentially ended the game. The Chiefs slid at the goal line and proceeded to kneel out the clock before Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning field goal with eight seconds left (38-35).

Photo: Christian Peterson / Getty Images

The Call to Decide Them All

That penalty will be the topic of discussion all week long in NFL circles. Eagles CB James Bradberry held Chiefs WR Juju Smith-Schuster on a 3rd-and-8, making for a sad ending to an otherwise scintillating game. A nit-picky penalty on a potentially uncatchable ball took the air out of a fantastic finish and essentially decided the winner. Was it a hold? I think so. Was it much of a hold? Absolutely not. You could make that call on almost every passing play, and it was a relatively flag-free game in the secondary. Bradberry got away with one on Smith-Schuster that was much worse in the first quarter.

Was it the right call? You be the judge.

James Bradberry Called for Holding (Video)

The Field of Nightmares

Another catastrophe for the NFL’s product was the playing surface. Players were slipping left and right, and it became a topic of discussion for commentators, players and viewers alike. Most of the Eagles players switched cleats by the second quarter. The league spent $800,000 on the special turf field that turned into a slip-n-slide. They also reportedly spent two years creating it at a local sod farm just for the occasion. It might have been the worst field in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl LVII MVP: Patrick Mahomes

Just three days after winning league MVP, Mahomes became the first player since Kurt Warner (1999) to to win the league MVP and the Super Bowl in the same season. He capped it off with the Super Bowl MVP award after going 21-for-27 for 182 yards and 3 TDs.

Big Red Rolls Into History

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid joins an exclusive list of just 13 head coaches to win multiple Super Bowls. He’s just the third coach to win a Super Bowl against his former team.

Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images

Super Bowl LVII Stats

Mahomes Was Magical

Patrick Mahomes has a .584 win percentage — the highest ever — when trailing by 10-plus points in his NFL career. For reference, Tom Brady (.378) and Joe Montana (.370) are second and third on the list.

Hurts Was In The Zone

Jalen Hurts became just the second player to rush for three TDs in Super Bowl history, and the first quarterback to do it (Terrell Davis, SB XXXII). He also threw for 304 yards and another touchdown as the Eagles scored the most points ever by a losing team in Super Bowl history.

QB Comparison

P. Mahomes (KC): 21/27, 182 yards, 3 TDs (44 yards rushing)

J. Hurts (PHI): 27/28, 304 yards, 1 TD (70 yards rushing, 3 TDs)

Top Performers

RB I. Pacheco (KC): 15 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD

TE T. Kelce (KC): 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD

WR D. Smith (PHI): 7 receptions, 100 yards

WR A. Brown (PHI): 6 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

LB N. Bolton (KC): 9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery TD

Team Stats That Told the Story

While the Chiefs found a way to pull out the win, the Eagles led in the box score on 1st downs (25-22), 3rd down efficiency (61%-50%), total plays (72-53), total yards (417-340) and time of possession (35:47-24:13). Kansas City beat Philly in two areas where the Eagles normally dominate — rushing yards (158-115) and turnovers (1-0). Another notable stat? The Eagles recorded a league-best 70 sacks this season. The Chiefs didn’t allow a single sack in SBLVII.

No sacks allowed. No turnovers. A second-half comeback like only Mahomes can. After an unbelievable NFL season came down to the final seconds, the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl LVII champions.

Fun Fact: Super Bowl LVII was the first Super Bowl in NFL history where both teams scored 35 points.

Watch: Chiefs def. Eagles (38-35) to Win Super Bowl LVII

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: The 7 Wildest Moments From Super Bowl LVII

B/R: Super Bowl LVII Locks Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes in as NFL Dynasty Status

SI: Andy Reid’s Mind, Patrick Mahomes’s Gut Win 2nd Super Bowl Together

USA Today: Chiefs Top Eagles 38-35 Thanks to Late-Game Magic From Mahomes

Yahoo! Sports: Late Holding Penalty Lets Chiefs Run Out Clock, Prompts Outrage From Eagles Fans

📊 READER POLL

The Penalty of Super Bowl LVII

Do you think the defensive holding penalty on James Bradberry should've been called? (click to vote)

NBA

NBA Weekend Highlights

Jokic Posts 20th Trip-Dub: Nikola Jokic carried the Nuggets past the Hornets (119-105) with a 30-16-10 night for his league-leading 20th triple-double of the season on Saturday. Only four players have ever posted more in a single season (Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and James Harden).

Thunder Storm Back With SGA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (44 points) continues to shine for Oklahoma City as the Thunder topped the Blazers (138-129) for their third win in four games. OKC has snuck into the West playoff picture this month.

Bucks Streak Hits 10: Milwaukee has ascended in the last few weeks after Giannis Antetokounmpo and company won their 10th straigh game by downing the Clippers on Friday (119-106). Giannis had a 35-8-6 outing, and he’s averaging 37.2 ppg in the month of February. The Bucks are 14-1 in 2023 when Giannis is healthy.

🎥 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

🏒 NHL: Panarin’s 4-Goal Game Leads Surging Rangers

The Rangers extended their league-best win streak to five straight on Saturday with shellacking of the Hurricanes (6-2) behind a career game for Artemi Panarin (4 goals, 1 assist). The Rangers are suddenly six points back of first place in the Metropolitan race.

⛳️ PGA: Scheffler Retakes No. 1 at Phoenix Open

Scottie Scheffler (-19) was the low man on Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to win the Phoenix Open over a star-filled leaderboard. Scheffler outlasted Nick Taylor (-17), Jon Rahm (-14) and Justin Thomas (-13), and he reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking in the process.

🏀 NCAA: Northwestern Takes Down #1 Purdue

For the second time this month, the No. 1 team in college hoops lost on the road in the Big Ten. Northwestern shocked Purdue Sunday afternoon with a late comeback (64-58). The Wildcats outscored the Boilers 17-3 in the final four minutes to shake up today’s AP Poll.

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ MLB Rumors: The Last Few Free Agents

Pitchers and catchers report in just a few days, so spring training is nearly here. That means the only movement left before the spring would be housekeeping-type things and signing the few remaining big-league free agents. (CBS Sports)

🏈 Predicting the NFL Offseason

The moment NFL free agency opens, franchises will be spending many, many millions of dollars. During the 2023 cycle, star quarterback Lamar Jackson will be the headliner. But there are three more quarterbacks set to land hefty contracts. (Bleacher Report)

🏀 NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch 2023

There's still a good deal of basketball to be played before Selection Sunday, but it's fair to say certain trends have already emerged in the bubble picture. One such feature is the relatively small number of mid-major programs competing for at-large bids in 2023. (ESPN+)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Colts Plan to Hire Eagles Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen as Next Head Coach (SI)
• Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Out Through All-Star Break After Hamstring Injury (ESPN)
• New Mexico State Basketball Team Under Investigation for Hazing (USA Today)
• Broncos Interview Former NFL Coach Rex Ryan for Defensive Coordinator Job (B/R)
• Jets Reach Out to Packers to Inquire About Availability of Aaron Rodgers (Yahoo! Sports)
• Warriors Sent Complaint to NBA Over Blazers' Handling of Gary Payton II Trade (B/R)

• Longtime ESPN Producer Barry Sacks Dies of Heart Attack at 63 (MSN)

Please consider supporting The Sportsletter, an independently operated and bootstrapped publication, and you'll receive our exclusive Sunday edition. Many thanks to everyone who already supports us!

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2023 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103