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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Glenn Erby

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl LVII: 10 takeaways from first half as Philadelphia holds a 24-14 lead

The Eagles were the NFL’s top team for the bulk of the 2022 regular season and they established themselves as the more physical team through 30 minutes of football in Super Bowl 57.

Buoyed by three total touchdowns from All-Pro quarterback Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia jumped out to a 7-0 lead and overcame a fumble to lead 24-14 at the end of one half.

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The Eagles were 6-10 on third downs and converted one crucial fourth down to finish off a scoring drive.

Patrick Mahomes reaggravated his ankle injury and his condition going forward in Glendale will be something to watch.

With the second half underway, here are ten takeaways from the first half of action in Super Bowl LVII.

1
Eagles made a statement on the first drive

2
Travis Kelce dominated his first drive

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We talked about the Eagles using man-zone combination concepts to neutralize Kelce and they doubled the Chiefs’ star tight end twice on the first drive, but still ended up with confusion.

On the first drive, Kelce had two catches for 38 yards and one touchdown, capping a 6-play, 75-yard drive.

Rookie Isaiah Pacheco ran for 29 yards on 3 carries.

Kelce finished the first half with three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, but he can’t dominate if he’s not on the field.

3
Super Bowl shootout

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

4
Chiefs want Hurts on the run

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

If Frank Clark can continue to get pressure on Hurts off the left side where Jordan Mailata is blocking, things could get interesting.

5
Miles Sanders limited

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Sanders had one carry on the first drive for -1 yards and promptly headed indoors after taking a hard blow while running out of bounds.

6
Chiefs playing copycat

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Doug Pederson’s Eagles loved to utilize 12 and 13 personnel and Kansas City is having success running two and three tight end packages just like Philadelphia likes to do.

7
Jalen Hurts is the true MVP

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Mahomes won the regular season MVP award, but it won’t matter if Jalen Hurts is able to lead his team to another dominant first half of offense.

Hurts overcame a late second-quarter fumble to lead his team on four scoring drives, as the All-Pro was 17 of 22 passing for 183 yards and a touchdown through the air.

As a runner, Hurts logged 11 carries for 63 yards and 2 TDs (and a fumble).

8
Not this time DeVonta

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

In the NFC title game, Smith had a long catch rule complete after San Francisco chose not to challenge the ruling.

On Sunday in the second quarter, Smith had a catch overturned.

9
Patrick Mahomes update

Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow/The Republic via USA TODAY Sports

The regular season MVP was 8-13 passing in a first half that saw the time of possession dominated by the Eagles, as Philadelphia held the football for 21:54 in the first half, limiting Kansas City to 8:06 time of possession with 20 total offensive plays.

10
Random notes

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia held Isaiah Pacheco to 28 yards on five carries in the first half.

Kenneth Gainwell filled in for Miles Sanders, logging 18 yards on six carries, along with three catches for 15 yards.

A.J. Brown led the Eagles in receiving with 74 yards on 3 catches and a touchdown.

DeVonta Smith led Philadelphia with six catches in the half, totaling 55 yards.

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