The desert heat in Glendale didn't just sizzle because of the Arizona sun. It was the tension. You could feel it through the screen. When people search for the chiefs vs eagles super bowl score, they usually just want the numbers—38-35—but that tiny three-point gap hides one of the most chaotic, high-stakes games in NFL history.
Honestly, the 2023 showdown (Super Bowl LVII) was a bit of a statistical anomaly. The Eagles basically dominated the clock. They had the ball for over 35 minutes. Usually, when you hold the ball that long and put up 35 points, you're planning a parade. But Patrick Mahomes, playing on what looked like a shattered ankle, had other plans.
The Breakdown of that 38-35 Thriller
The first half was all Philly. Jalen Hurts was playing out of his mind, despite that one brutal fumble that Nick Bolton scooped up for a touchdown. That fumble was huge. Without it, the Eagles might have walked away with the ring. Instead, it kept Kansas City breathing while their offense was still finding its rhythm.
By halftime, the score sat at 24-14 in favor of the Eagles. Mahomes was limping. The Chiefs looked stuck. Most of us watching figured the "Birds" were about to run away with it. Then, the second half happened. Kansas City didn't just come back; they were efficient. Scary efficient. They scored on every single possession in the second half.
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Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring
The flow of the game was a total rollercoaster. Check out how the points actually hit the board:
- First Quarter: It started fast. Both teams traded blows, ending in a 7-7 deadlock.
- Second Quarter: This is where Philly flexed. They put up 17 points to the Chiefs' 7. That 24-14 halftime lead felt much bigger than 10 points.
- Third Quarter: The momentum shifted. KC clawed back with a touchdown, while the Eagles only managed a field goal. 27-21, Philly still up.
- Fourth Quarter: Chaos. Pure chaos. The Chiefs exploded for 17 points. The Eagles fought back to tie it at 35 with a "Tush Push" and a two-point conversion, but a late field goal sealed the deal.
Why the James Bradberry Holding Call Still Stings
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The penalty. With less than two minutes left and the chiefs vs eagles super bowl score tied at 35-35, the Chiefs faced a 3rd-and-8. Mahomes threw an incomplete pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. It looked like the Eagles would get the ball back with time for a game-winning drive.
Then the yellow flag hit the turf.
James Bradberry was called for defensive holding. To be fair, even Bradberry admitted after the game that he tugged the jersey. But man, in that moment? Fans were livid. It allowed the Chiefs to bleed the clock down to eight seconds before Harrison Butker kicked the winning 27-yard field goal. It was a technicality that turned a potential classic finish into a "kneel-down" clock-management exercise.
Jalen Hurts vs. Patrick Mahomes: By the Numbers
Looking at the box score is wild because Jalen Hurts actually had the "better" game on paper in many ways. He threw for 304 yards and ran for another 70. He accounted for four touchdowns (three rushing, one passing). That's legendary stuff.
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Mahomes, on the other hand, only threw for 182 yards. That’s low for him. But he threw three touchdowns and didn't turn the ball over. He stayed poised. His 26-yard scramble on a bad ankle late in the fourth quarter was probably the gutsiest play of his career.
Key Performance Stats
- Patrick Mahomes: 21/27, 182 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT.
- Jalen Hurts: 27/38, 304 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT (plus 3 rushing TDs).
- Travis Kelce: 6 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD.
- DeVonta Smith: 7 catches, 100 yards.
The efficiency of the Chiefs' "Corn Dog" play—that little jet motion return that left Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore wide open for touchdowns—was basically the coaching difference. Andy Reid saw something in the Eagles' secondary alignment and exploited it twice. Identical plays. Two touchdowns.
The Field Conditions Controversy
If you remember the game, you remember players sliding everywhere. It looked like they were playing on a slip-and-slide. This was George Toma’s final Super Bowl as groundskeeper, and the "Sod God" faced a lot of heat for the slippery surface.
Players were swapping cleats mid-game. It neutralized the Eagles' historic pass rush, which had 70 sacks in the regular season but recorded exactly zero against Mahomes in the Super Bowl. If the turf had been firm, does Haason Reddick get to Mahomes? We'll never know, but it's a "what if" that haunts Philly fans.
What Really Happened in the Rematch?
Fast forward to 2025. The narrative around the chiefs vs eagles super bowl score took a massive turn when these two met again in Super Bowl LIX. People were calling it the "grudge match."
This time, the outcome was totally different. The Eagles' defense, led by a birthday pick-six from rookie Cooper DeJean, absolutely dismantled the Chiefs. They sacked Mahomes six times. The final score was 40-22 in favor of Philadelphia. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. It stopped the Chiefs' hunt for a three-peat and finally gave Jalen Hurts his ring.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're looking back at these scores to understand team trends or for betting research, here’s the real deal:
- Watch the Red Zone: The Chiefs won LVII because they were perfect in the red zone. They didn't settle for field goals until the very last second.
- Turnovers are King: The Eagles outgained the Chiefs by nearly 100 yards in 2023, but that one fumble return for a TD by KC was the equalizer.
- Turf Matters: Always check the stadium reports. Slippery conditions favor the offense because defenders can't plant and drive, which is exactly what happened in Glendale.
To get the full picture of the rivalry, you should re-watch the second-half coaching adjustments from Super Bowl LVII and compare them to how the Eagles countered in LIX. It's a masterclass in NFL strategy evolution.