Today’s biggest NFL matchup was quite a spectacle—depending on who you were cheering for, at least. Now, if you were rooting for Travis and Taylor or even backing good ol’ Andy Reid, I’m sorry to say that those who bet on the reigning champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, were left disappointed. However, if you were pulling for the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles decked out in green, then you were in for a treat tonight. Like my dad always says, “If you wanna be the best, you gotta beat the best,” and the Eagles finally did just that.
With star-studded quarterback Jalen Hurts leading the charge, they absolutely rocked the Superdome tonight in New Orleans—not only with a stunning offensive performance but with an equally impressive display on defence. Unfortunately for the previous champs, their hopes of a historic three-peat took a major hit.
The Shock
The first quarter started with immediate dominance from the Eagles, as they scored within the first minutes of play. And that dominance didn’t fade—it was relentless throughout the entire game. It felt like watching the possible end of an era for the Chiefs. I have never seen them look so defeated; the last time I saw them struggle this much was when they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship, with Joe Burrow leading the Bengals to a 27-24 win in the 2021 AFC title game.
But in this game, there was absolutely no action from the Chiefs when they needed it most. Just to give you some perspective: six sacks and three turnovers. Patrick Mahomes seemed to run out of his magic, and the hardest part was watching the light fade from the Chiefs’ team. It’s always surreal to see consecutive champions get bested. It reminded me of when the Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. They were also on the brink of a three-peat, but Colorado fought hard and ultimately took the series in Game 7.
Regardless, it was definitely surprising to see this kind of performance from Kansas City, considering their outstanding record throughout the season. At least from my perspective, no one expected the scoring to be this low, especially since both teams had been so evenly matched this season.
The Halftime Show
To take a break from the drama of the game, the Halftime Show was something you didn’t want to miss. Kendrick Lamar put on an amazing performance and executed it flawlessly. Special guests like Samuel L. Jackson and SZA added an incredible touch to the show. Samuel L. Jackson, acting as a sort of narrator, kept viewers engaged and created a cinematic experience.
Kendrick performed hits from his most recent album GNX, including Squabble Up, TV Off, Luther, and even the Grammy-nominated song Not Like Us. Sometimes, being a hater pays off—you can have millions of fans dissing a certain Canadian rapper and still make a hit. SZA was a phenomenal addition; she’s an incredible performer in her own right and can completely command the spotlight. Bringing her on was the perfect choice, especially considering that she and Kendrick are also going on tour together in the upcoming months.
Kendrick has performed at the Super Bowl before, back when Dr. Dre was the headliner alongside many artists he helped put on the map. Because of that, we missed out on some songs from his previous performance, but nonetheless, the show was still outstanding—especially if you’re a big Kendrick fan like me. His musicality is out of this world, and even his dancers were true stars, elevating the show and conveying his message. I’d rank this Halftime Show high on my list of favourites.
The Second Half
Before we get into the second half, I need to give some context. My dad is a big New York Giants fan, which generally means he hates the Eagles. So, imagine his reaction when he said, “If the Eagles score again, I’m walking away”… and walk away he did.
After a series of incredible plays from Philly, the score sat at 40-0. The Chiefs made some attempts to get back in the game, but penalty flags weren’t in their favour—especially one call at first and goal. Eventually, the Chiefs managed to pull off some last-minute plays to avoid a complete blowout, ultimately ending the game with a final score of…
Eagles 40 – Chiefs 22
The Game MVP was awarded to Jalen Hurts, who, along with his prolific teammates, had an outstanding game. Hurts threw for 221 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while also rushing for 72 yards and scoring another touchdown on the ground.
You never know what’s going to happen in the Super Bowl, and this one was a hit or miss. If you’re a die-hard Philly fan, you were on cloud nine. But if you put all your money on the Chiefs—sorry to break it to you, but this just wasn’t your year. The Green Bay Packers still hold the record as the only team in NFL history to achieve a three-peat.
What’s Next?
Now, moving forward—what’s next? Which teams will dominate next season? And more importantly, who will headline the 2026 Halftime Show? Only time will tell.
I’m personally hoping to see the Cincinnati Bengals climb back to the top, and I wouldn’t mind seeing the Buffalo Bills make a deep playoff run either. Seeing Josh Allen and Joe Burrow lead their teams back to the big stage would be a treat.
Overall, this matchup was something special, and I can’t wait to see what next season has in store. Now, it’s time to shift my focus back to hockey and basketball.