Super Bowl 2023: Kansas City Chiefs beat Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in controversial finish
The Super Bowl dreams of Aussies Jordan Mailata and Arryn Siposs have ended in heartbreak after a controversial late call. Keep up to date with all the action
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs overcame the inspired Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to win their second Super Bowl in four years with a 38-35 win in a magnificent contest on Sunday.
Hurts produced four touchdowns, three of them rushing, and threw for 304 yards but ended on the losing side with a late field goal from Harrison Butker settling a ding-dong battle in Arizona.
It was heartbreak for Philadelphia left tackle Jordan Mailata and punter Arryn Siposs, who had earlier made history by suiting up for the Eagles — the first time two players from Australia have played on the same team in America’s biggest sporting event.
Mahomes threw for three touchdowns and 182 yards but the Chiefs had game-winning displays across the field as they came back from ten points down at half-time to hand head coach Andy Reid a victory over his former team.
The game got off to an explosive start with the Eagles scoring a touchdown on the opening drive — Hurts crossing with a quarterback sneak at the end of an impressive an 11-play, 75 yard drive.
But the Chiefs struck back swiftly with Mahomes connecting with Travis Kelce and Isiah Pacheco as he led the team down the field before crowning the drive with a perfectly floated pass to Kelce in the end-zone.
It was only the second time in Super Bowl history that both teams had scored on their first possession and that set the tone for the game.
Butker then missed a chance to put the Chiefs ahead with his 42-yard field goal drifting left and striking the post.
Hurts opened the second quarter in spectacular fashion with a brilliant 45 yard pass deep to A.J. Brown, who collected for the touchdown after his clever route left Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie flailing.
But Hurts gifted away the seven-point advantage on the next possession, dropping the ball without being challenged and Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton scooped up the fumble and ran 36 yards into the end-zone to level the game at 14-14.
The mistake didn’t deter Hurts from running with the ball however and after his 28-yard rush for a first down took the Eagles into the red zone, he restored the Eagles lead with a four-yard run into the end zone.
There was though a reminder of Mahomes’ recent ankle injury when, running out of the pocket, he was tackled by T.J. Edwards and limped off the field.
The Eagles added a field goal before half-time, after more impressive running from Hurts, to go in 24-14 up at the interval.
Chiefs fears over Mahomes’ ankle allayed when he came out for the second half and promptly led a 75-yard touchdown drive, including a 14-yard rush from the quarterback and ending with a one-yard run from Pacheco.
The Eagles added a field goal to go into the fourth quarter with a six-point lead but then the Chiefs came roaring back.
Philadelphia left Kadarius Toney wide open to collect a five=yard pass from Mahomes and put Kansas City 28-27 up and then Toney produced a brilliant 65-yard punt return to set up a near identical play on the other side, with Skyy Moore the gleefully wide-open receiver.
But the Eagles responded again with Hurts hurling a 46-yard pass deep left to DeVonta Smith and the quarterback completed the drive with a two-yard run for his third rushing touchdown before adding a two-point conversion for good measure.
It was the first time a quarterback had scored three rushing touchdowns in a Super Bowl.
The two-point conversion levelled the score at 35-35 with 5:15 left in the game but the Chiefs managed the clock masterfully.
A controversial late holding call against the Eagles James Bradberry gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs near the Philadelphia line, and when after Butker’s 27-yard field goal, there were just eight seconds left on the clock.
There was no time for a miracle and Mahomes, the two-times MVP became a two-time Super Bowl winner.
.
2.09PM: EAGLES 35 CHIEFS 38
Wow, what a controversial finish ... a huge holding call goes against the Eagles with time left of the clock and Kansas City set to settle for a field goal. Instead the Chiefs win a fresh set of downs and with the Eagles out of time-outs are able to wind down the clock to 11 seconds. Harrison Butker steps up and slots the field goal to put the Chiefs up 38-35 with eight seconds remaining. The Eagles have one Hail Mary play to win it ... but Jalen Hurts’ pass goes to ground. The Chiefs are Super Bowl LVII champions! Heartbreak for Aussies Jordan Mailata and Arryn Siposs.
Sorry but I don’t like that call! Not for the Super Bowl man! 🤦ðŸ¾â€â™‚ï¸
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023
A reminder: three days ago we were told the NFL officiating has never been better.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 13, 2023
That’s such a crappy way to decide a Super Bowl man
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) February 13, 2023
This was called holding
— PFF (@PFF) February 13, 2023
Do you agree?
pic.twitter.com/9FzVFXkD9Q
1.50PM: EAGLES 35 CHIEFS 35
Wow, this game has it all. Just when the Chiefs looked to have landed a massive blow after Philadelphia’s special teams disaster the Eagles hit straight back. Jalen Hurts finds his star wide receivers AJ Brown and then DeVonta Smith — who reeled in a bomb — before sneaking over himself for his third rushing touchdown. The Eagles go for the two-point conversion and Hurts converts — we’re all tied up at 35-apiece with five minutes and change to play.
Jalen Hurts: New Super Bowl record for rushing TDs by a QB (3)#SBLVII@JalenHurts
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2023
JALEN HURTS DOING IT ALL! @JalenHurts
— NFL Australia (@NFLAustralia) February 13, 2023
TIED GAME IN #SBLVII#ChiefsKingdom#FlyEaglesFly
📺🎧: #SBLVII on @ESPNAusNZ, @Channel7, @1116sen & https://t.co/sSU0MeBy9Vpic.twitter.com/VjF0eFPjWh
1.42PM: EAGLES 27 CHIEFS 35
Huge drama for Arryn Siposs and the Eagles as the Chiefs extend their lead in the fourth quarter. The Aussie’s punt from inside Philadelphia’s own half is not the best and then Chiefs speedster Kadarius Toney rips off an incredible 64-yard return that almost ends in a touchdown. Sippos ends up helping tackle Toney short of the endzone, but the Chiefs make them pay three plays later with a Skyy Moore touchdown to make it an eight-point lead.
Kadarius Toney with the longest punt return in Super Bowl history. 🤯pic.twitter.com/37OE6ndbDq
— betway (@betwayusa) February 13, 2023
1.33PM: EAGLES 27 CHIEFS 28
Two drives, two touchdowns ... Patrick Mahomes is putting on a second half masterclass. All those injury concerns coming out of the interval have been cast aside with the Chiefs quarterback powering his side into the lead as we hit the fourth quarter. Mahomes hit a wide open Kadarius Toney for a TD and Harrison Butker squeezed home the PAT to put the Chiefs on top by one point with
1.20PM: EAGLES 27 CHIEFS 21
It’s still a one-score game as we head towards the final quarter. An action-packed Eagles drive has ended with a Jake Elliot field goal to put the Eagles up by six. Patrick Mahomes gets the ball back now and has the chance to put his Chiefs in front.
12.56PM: EAGLES 24 CHIEFS 21
Patrick Mahomes is back ... and so are the Chiefs! The star quarterback has shrugged off any injury concerns to lead a superb touchdown drive on the opening series of the second half. On the drive Mahomes threw an incredible pass to Travis Kelce while under pressure and even managed to scramble for a first down before running back Isiah Pacheco powered over from close range.
12.45PM: RIHANNA WOWS SUPER BOWL CROWD
Rihanna has performed a hit-filled set for the Super Bowl halftime show, marking her first live performance since 2016.
You can read more about Rihanna’s performance here
12.18PM: EAGLES 24 CHIEFS 14
Jake Elliot’s field goal right as time expired has given the Philadelphia Eagles a 10-point lead over Kansas City Chiefs at half-time of the Super Bowl.
It’s been a frenetic opening stanza, with both sides scoring on their opening drives and both quarterbacks showcasing their incredible skills.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has rushed for two TDs while in a worrying sign for the Chiefs, MVP Patrick Mahomes was left reeling after coming out of a tackle. His status remains uncertain heading into the second half.
Australia’s Jordan Mailata has been prominent up front for the Eagles while former AFL player Arryn Sippos has been called on once for punting duties.
GOOD things happen when you run behind @Eagles offensive lineman @jordan_mailata & @JasonKelce_ 🔥#ChiefsKingdom#FlyEaglesFly
— NFL Australia (@NFLAustralia) February 13, 2023
📺🎧: #SBLVII on @ESPNAusNZ, @Channel7, @1116sen & https://t.co/sSU0MeBy9Vpic.twitter.com/c8YvFgJmFG
12.03PM: EAGLES 21 CHIEFS 14
Drama! Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has limped off the field and looks in real pain after being taken down in the open field. This would be a disaster for the Chiefs if he’s hurt. Mahomes was forced to scramble on third and long and was eventually tackled, and came out of the contact reeling. Mahomes had overcome a high ankle sprain to lead the Chiefs into the Super Bowl, we will have to wait for an update on his situation.
That's a different look and mood from Pat than the last one. I saw part frustration, part exhaustion, and part exasperation that he either re-tweaked it and/or hurt it worse. Last time it was defiance at the injury itself. This looks more worrisome because of his reaction.
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) February 13, 2023
11.53AM: EAGLES 21 CHIEFS 14
Jalen Hurts, take a bow! Minutes after his costly fumble, Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts has totally redeemed himself to put his side back in front. First he went for it on fourth down and ripped off the longest rush from a quarterback in Super Bowl history. Then he scooted over for the touchdown to put the Eagles back in front as the clock counted down towards half-time.
JALEN. HURTS.
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2023
Eagles convert on 4th down!
📺: #SBLVII on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/d8gBDzRt2mpic.twitter.com/d2kWestnR2
11.38AM: EAGLES 14 CHIEFS 14
Has Jalen Hurts dropped the Super Bowl? Probably not, but he’s come up with an all-time error to gift the Chiefs a free touchdown. The Eagles quarterback was looking to run but inexplicably dropped the ball, allowing Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton to scoop it up and run unopposed to the end zone. Incredible, scores now level just when it looked like the Eagles might go further ahead.
END TO END #SBLVII action! @Chiefs@_nickbolton2 races away to tie the game 🇦🇺#ChiefsKingdom#FlyEaglesFly
— NFL Australia (@NFLAustralia) February 13, 2023
📺🎧: #SBLVII on @ESPNAusNZ, @Channel7, @1116sen & https://t.co/sSU0MeBy9Vpic.twitter.com/56j2JT1Mcz
11.26AM: EAGLES 14 CHIEFS 7
What a play! The Eagles have a second touchdown and it’s a scorcher, with Jalen Hurts unleasing a deep ball to star wide receiver AJ Brown. Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie was all at sea and coverage and Brown made no mistake with the catch in the end zone. The Eagles open the second quarter as they did the first, with a touchdown. Meanwhile, Australia’s Jordan Mailata has been making his considerable presence felt for the Eagles ... watch below.
Check out 🇦🇺 @jordan_mailata during the @Eagles opening drive 😤
— NFL Australia (@NFLAustralia) February 13, 2023
As @BaldyNFL says 'MAN MOVER' 💪#ChiefsKingdom#FlyEaglesFly
📺🎧: #SBLVII on @ESPNAusNZ, @Channel7, @1116sen & https://t.co/sSU0MeBy9Vpic.twitter.com/Yr9POGMNcl
11.16AM: EAGLES 7 CHIEFS 7
Doink! Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker makes the first real error of the game when he is called on for a 42-yard field goal attempt. His kick goes left and hits the post and bounces away, leaving the scores level with a tick over two minutes left in the opening corner.
11.08AM: EAGLES 7 CHIEFS 7
Australia’s Arryn Sippos is called into action for the first time as the Eagles’ second drive of the game stalls. He gets a 57-yard punt away as the Eagles turn the ball over to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
11.01AM: EAGLES 7 CHIEFS 7
Anything you can do, Patrick Mahomes can do better? It certainly seems that way as the Chiefs quarterback and league MVP responds to Philadelphia’s opening drive touchdown with a TD of his own. A Mahomes scramble and a big run from Isiah Pacheco got them in good position and then Mahomes went to his trusted man in Travis Kelce with a casually superb throw for the TD. Game on.
10.53AM: EAGLES 7 CHIEFS 0
What a start for Philadelphia, who score a touchdown on the opening drive! All the pre-game talk was about their awesome running game, but wide receiver DeVonta Smith came up big on two occasions for quartberack Jalen Hurts as they marched down the field. Then the running game took over inside the red zone, with Hurts eventually scoring through a quarterback sneak. Over to you Patrick Mahomes.
10.45AM SUPER BOWL STARTS: EAGLES V CHIEFS
Here we go! Country music star Chris Stapleton has performed the national anthem and we are ready to go for Super Bowl LVII. Kansas City have won the toss and elected to defer, which means the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts will have the first series as they look to get off to a flying start.
SIPPOS LOCKED IN AS AUSSIES MAKE SUPER BOWL HISTORY
More Aussie arrivals @MattLeo91 & @Sippa02 🇦🇺#AussiesDoItBetterpic.twitter.com/AMmKsMUvdS
— NFL Australia (@NFLAustralia) February 12, 2023
Former St Kilda player now NFL punter Arryn Siposs will play in the Super Bowl after the Philadelphia Eagles confirmed their game-day roster.
Siposs, who has not played since Week 14 against the New York Giants, will play in the biggest game of the year, taking back his job from Brett Kern.
On Sunday Siposs was elevated off the injury list onto the Eagles’ active roster and this morning it was confirmed that Siposs will suit up with fellow Aussie Jordan Mailata, making history as the first time two Australians have played on the same team in America’s biggest sporting event.
Siposs averaged 45.6 yards per punt this season with a 40.5-yard net average.
Ben Graham and Mitch Wishnowsky are the only two other Aussies to have punted in the NFL’s pinnacle encounter.
MAILATA’S PRE-GAME TRIBUTE TO NRL GREAT
By Dean Ritchie
Is this Jordan Mailata’s Super Bowl superstition that he secretly pinched from Freddy Fittler’s Blues?
Mailata, the former Souths under 20s player and now Philadelphia Eagles NFL left-tackle, has taken to barefoot visualisation before each game – a ritual made famous in rugby league by Fittler’s NSW side.
A 166kg and 203cm giant, Sydney-born Mailata routinely whips off his shoes and socks and walks on the playing surface of every major US stadium before his Eagles go into battle.
It’s a tradition that’s raised plenty of eyebrows in the US, where he’s been labelled the “Barefoot Bird”.
And he will do the same again today as he prepares for the biggest match of his life – the Super Bowl against the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs in Arizona.
Mailata was invited into the NSW camp in 2018, and Blues officials are now curious as to whether he may have collected the barefoot visualisation trait from Fittler’s State of Origin side.
While Mailata cannot essentially be ‘earthing’, given the US stadium’s lay artificial turf, NSW head of performance, Hayden Knowles, offered up reasons why the ex-Bankstown Bulls and Five Dock RSL forward undertakes his pre-game custom.
“I think it’s about getting the most focused benefits of mental preparation and visualisation; getting into a relaxed state is the key,” Knowles said.
“If being barefoot does it for him, along with whatever he’s listening to, then it obviously works. The elite know investing time into your mental preparation is the difference.
“He’s just investing in that part of his preparation. It’s a habit of very successful athletes. The best in the game do that. It’s focus time. He is getting around doing some visualisation.
“That’s what we do (with NSW). We find parts of the field, we walk and visualise certain parts of the game. Walking barefoot can make you relaxed and calm. I don’t think there’s any scientific evidence but I think it grounds and calms you.
“I can’t say for sure but I’d like to think he picked it up by visiting our NSW sheds in 2018. I wonder if he got it in our dressing room?”
Mailata spoke about his pre-game habit in the lead up to Super Bowl LVII.
“I have a barefoot routine before every game to kind of ground me,” he said.
“I might wear socks this time because there will be about 50,000 cameras out there. I do that to ground me. I listen to the same song over and over again.
“Don’t ask me what song it is, because I’m not going to tell you. I’m very superstitious. On game day, I’ve got to eat the same breakfast, sit on the same bus – left-hand side of the bus.
“To me, the Super Bowl dream only started four or five years ago.
“For my fellow teammates, it’s different. They’ve been dreaming about this since they were little kids, since they were running around in nappies. If you don’t know what a nappy is, look it up. You guys call them diapers, or pampers.’’
Mailata grew up dreaming of State of Origin instead of the Super Bowl.
“I have always been a massive Blues fan growing up,” Mailata said when he visited the Blues in 2018.
“I grew up playing rugby league and always watching the great ones, Freddy, (Danny) Buderus. It was one of my goals to put on the (Blues) jersey.”
DRAKE REVEALS HIS SUPER BOWL CURSE BETS
The Drake Curse is something to be feared, and if you are a Kansas City Chiefs fan, it’s OK to be frightened right now.
Drake revealed he’s betting a tidy US$700,000 on the Chiefs this Sunday when they take on the Eagles in Super Bowl 2023.
“My psychotic bets for Sunday are in @Stake”, said Drake in his Instagram caption. “Pls do not analyse the logic behind these bets there is none.”
The OVO honcho and award-winning Canadian rapper has been infamous for jinxing teams and athletes on multiple occasions. He backed NFL flame-out Johnny Manziel and ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor when they were at their height, both falling from grace soon after his public approval. He was also notoriously rooting for Serena Williams in the finals of the 2015 U.S. Open and the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. Both lost.
Drake announced his partnership with the cryptocurrency betting platform Stake last year, which continued his tear of throwing ridiculous amounts of money on sporting events. He has won — and lost — quite a bit of money while betting, though it all seems to be good fun for the billionair.
The US$700k was not the only bet he placed for Sunday’s big game. He threw $50,000 each on both Patrick Mahomes and Juju Smith-Schuster to be the first Chiefs touchdown scorer, another US$50,000 on the Chiefs to win both halves, US$30,000 on Chiefs to win each quarter, US$25,000 for Travis Kelce to be Super Bowl MVP, and finally US$60,000 for the position of the Super Bowl MVP to be a tight end. That’s nearly a million US dollars being placed on the game.
Last year, Drake also put huge sum of money on the Super Bowl. Unlike this year, he rode the favourite Rams and it paid off, big time. This year, he’s going with the underdogs. Take at your own risk.
THE STARS: As ever in the NFL, the two quarterbacks are the main men for their teams. Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes is returning for his third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons, while Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts is making his debut in the decider.
Mahomes has been battling an ankle injury, which hampered him in the AFC Championship win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but is adamant he has improved and is ready to give his all against the Eagles.
“You won’t know until you get out there in the game (but) I’m gonna push it. I’ll try to leave it all on the line. I think you all saw that in the last game that I played,” he said.
“But it’s about relying on your teammates — and I got a lot of great teammates around me — and not trying to do too much. But I’ll definitely be in a better spot than I was last game,” he said.
Both sides have plenty of attacking arsenal, with the Chiefs led by tight end Travis Kelce and the Eagles powered by star wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith.
THE AUSSIES: Australia could have two players feature in this year’s Super Bowl. Former rugby league player Jordan Mailata will line up in the all-important left tackle position for Philadelphia while he could be joined by punter Arryn Sipposs who is hoping for an Eagles call-up after recovering from an ankle injury.
THE COACHES: The Chiefs are led by veteran Andy Reid who is gunning for his second Super Bowl triumph after leading the Chiefs to their 2017 victory. He previously coached the Eagles, guiding them to Super Bowl XXXIX when they lost to the New England Patriots. Eagles coach Nick Sirriani is just 41-years old and the game will be his 38th as a head coach.
HALF-TIME SHOW
After a long hiatus from the music scene, Rhianna will make her much anticipated return.
She has not toured since 2016 and only recently gave birth to her first child.
Initially “scared” to accept the offer, the 34-year-old said it was important that she get back on stage.
“I haven’t been on stage for seven years,” she said.
But she said that it was important to her to be “representing for immigrants, representing for my country, Barbados, representing for black women everywhere”.
Originally published as Super Bowl 2023: Kansas City Chiefs beat Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in controversial finish
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