As Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts traded second-half scoring drives, it seemed the Chiefs and Eagles were set up for a Super Bowl instant classic finish.
Then, it all changed on one call.
Kansas City was the beneficiary of a critical defensive holding penalty on its final possession of the game, turning what would have been an incomplete pass on third down into a first down on the 11-yard line.
Order SI's Chiefs Super Bowl Championship Commemorative Issue
That enabled the Chiefs to burn nearly all of the remaining time on the clock, kneeling twice to set up the game-winning 27-yard field goal by Harrison Butker. The Eagles got the ball back for one final play, with Hurts coming up short on his Hail Mary attempt.
The penalty was a pivotal turning point in what was a thrilling second half. Philadelphia held a 24–14 lead through two quarters, possessing the ball for over 20 minutes and keeping Mahomes and the Chiefs offense on the sideline. Kansas City flipped the script in the second half, scoring on each of its four possessions.
Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP, finishing the game by completing 21 of 27 pass attempts for 182 yards and three touchdowns and adding 44 rushing yards. The Chiefs have now won two titles in the past four seasons.
