The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions after ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ bid for a historic third successive championship in emphatic, ruthless fashion.

“This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody – offense, defense, special teams,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We didn’t really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.”

The teams met in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons, but this time it was the Eagles who emerged victorious to claim their first NFL title since the 2017 season. Their last championship came in thrilling fashion in a nailbiter against the New England Patriots, but the result on Sunday was never in doubt as the Eagles’ superb defense harried Patrick Mahomes time and again, intercepting him twice in the first half, including a pick-six from cornerback Cooper DeJean on his 22nd birthday. At the break, the Eagles led 24-0. In the fourth quarter his team was 40-6 down – the largest deficit Mahomes had faced in his career. There would be no comeback.

“We had a special group this year, we were able to learn from the past,” said Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was named the game’s MVP. “Defense wins championships. We saw how [our defense] played today. We saw the difference they made in the game. They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we’re able to do what we do.”

The game in New Orleans was billed as the best player in the world – Mahomes – against the best overall roster. It was strength in depth that ended up being decisive as the Eagles ran out easy winners and it was their quarterback, Hurts, who looked like the best offensive player on the field. He finished with 221 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also added 72 yards rushing yards, the best of anyone on the field.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid admitted his team were second best for the entire game. “Today was a rough day all around. Nothing went right. I didn’t coach well. Proud of our guys for fighting. We will learn from this,” Reid said. “Too many turnovers, too many penalties. Against a good football team, can’t do that.”

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