The Philadelphia Eagles just announced themselves as the NFL’s new measuring stick
CNN
To be the man, you have to beat the man, and the Philadelphia Eagles just announced their arrival as the NFL’s best team by snuffing out the league’s latest dynasty.
To be the man, you have to beat the man, and the Philadelphia Eagles just announced their arrival as the NFL’s best team by snuffing out the league’s latest dynasty. The version of the Eagles that showed up and stomped the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX was a football machine running at peak efficiency. The league’s best defense in the regular season put on a performance for the ages, holding Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense to 275 total yards. At the same time, Jalen Hurts used his legs and his arm to great effect – the Kansas City defense simply had little answer for the star quarterback. It was as well-rounded of a performance as the Eagles have put up all year. Earlier in the season, Saquon Barkley – the team’s All-Pro running back – carried them when the passing game struggled. Despite having a league-leading defense, the Eagles’ pass rush was middling. They ranked 13th in sacks and dead last in quarterback hurries during the regular season. On Sunday, the Eagles proved how far they had come from their 2-2 start and why the NFL’s hottest team – the Eagles won 16 of their last 17 games – is now Super Bowl champion. “Big shoutout to the defense. They came out and set the tone,” Barkley said. “We don’t win that game without them. Offense, we came out. Had a game plan. We knew that the focus would be on the run game, and we took advantage of it. We took advantage of it in the pass game. Jalen came out, played big and it took a team effort. Coaches, everyone in the Eagles organization, it takes all of us.” It was Hurts that led the team in rushing, not Barkley. He also passed efficiently and effectively. The Eagles’ pass rush absolutely went off, sacking Mahomes six times – the most he’s ever been sacked in a game during his career. Defensive tackle Milton Williams put the cherry on top with a strip sack of Mahomes in the fourth quarter, causing a fumble that allowed the Eagles to put up another field goal and get the party started in earnest.
