The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are as soon as once more Tremendous Bowl champions after a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night time.
All of the discuss main as much as Sunday’s recreation revolved round every workforce’s high-powered offense — and rightfully so. The groups placed on a present, combining for 73 complete factors. That was third-most in Tremendous Bowl historical past.
The Eagles’ offense began the sport with two consecutive scoring drives — together with one which ended with a 45-yard bomb from Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts to wideout A.J. Brown. However the Kansas Metropolis protection then got here by with one of many greatest performs of the night time: a second-quarter scoop-and-score fumble restoration by linebacker Nick Bolton that tied the sport at 14-14.
“Quite a lot of gamers made some huge performs,” defensive sort out Chris Jones advised the reporters after the sport. “Whether or not it was Nick Bolton scooping and scoring — or the massive hits tonight — these guys got here to play and have been resilient.
“I’ve been saying all of it yr: we confronted adversity loads this yr. All through that, we have been capable of construct character alongside this workforce. It is a younger workforce proper now. We acquired like 4 starters on protection. [Because we] have that kind of workforce, we’re at all times counted out. However these guys proceed to combat.”
Regardless of the defensive landing, the Chiefs nonetheless discovered themselves on the flawed aspect of a 10-point halftime deficit. The protection had been unable get off the sphere because the Eagles extended drives with short-yardage quarterback sneaks and a number of unforced defensive errors. The protection wanted a spark — and Jones was the person to ship it.
“I feel within the first half we needed to cease taking pictures ourselves within the foot,” Jones mentioned of his second-quarter sideline outburst. “Third-and-6, third-and-5? Frank Clark jumps offsides, they get a primary down which [leads to] to a landing. Second quarter, it’s fourth-and-4 with [a] sneak protection — and our nostril sort out jumps offsides. It’s fourth down, we’re off the sphere — after which the quarterback draw.
“I feel we moreso had self-inflicted wounds that stopped us from being within the lead. Particularly on the D-line’s half, we have been capable of clear that up. The again finish tightened up — and we made just a few changes.”
After intermission, the protection pressured Hurts out of the pocket as a lot as attainable — particularly to his left, the place he was much less comfy making performs. That allowed Kansas Metropolis to decelerate the Philadelphia offense sufficient for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense to beat the deficit. Jones credit defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the changes.
“Spags made changes,” he famous. “Spags needed to battle you guys all yr speaking about us, sadly — however we’re tremendous grateful to have him on this group.”
Sunday’s victory offers Kansas Metropolis its second championship in 4 years. Jones has been one of many workforce’s stars all through his seven-year profession — however believes the 2022 squad has felt slightly extra particular than some others.
“It’s a particular group of men that I used to be lucky sufficient to play with this yr within the [defensive lineman] room,” he remarked. “Received my fingers crossed that we will carry all people again, however I nonetheless need them to receives a commission and achieve success on their very own.
“Any such factor? That is the bittersweet half about it — as a result of you already know you might have a particular room and also you guys win it, however you already know you’re at all times altering, at all times evolving. Gamers are at all times coming in and popping out.
“I simply need to say right here, on file, that I’m tremendous grateful for the D-Line this yr. In all probability probably the most unselfish group that I’ve been part of.”
