Mahomes Under Pressure: How the Eagles’ Defensive Line Exposed the Chiefs’ O-Line Weakness in Super Bowl LIX
The Kansas City Chiefs entered Super Bowl LIX with dreams of a historic three-peat, but those aspirations were crushed by a dominant Philadelphia Eagles team. The final score of 40-22 doesn’t fully reflect the Eagles’ dominance, particularly in the first half, where they shut out the Chiefs 24-0. A major factor in this lopsided victory was the relentless pressure applied by the Eagles’ defensive line on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
A Disastrous First Half for Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP, endured one of the worst halves of his career in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles’ defensive line, featuring stars like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, and Josh Sweat, consistently pressured Mahomes, leading to a series of negative plays. According to TruMedia, Mahomes had the lowest expected points added (EPA) per drop-back in a Super Bowl since 2000 during the first half, with a dismal -1.45. He completed just 6 of 14 passes for 33 yards and threw two interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of just 10.7.
One particularly brutal sequence in the second quarter saw Mahomes sacked on first and second down, followed by an interception to Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, who returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. On the very next offensive play, Mahomes threw another interception to linebacker Zack Baun, which led to an A.J. Brown touchdown reception.
The Eagles’ Defensive Strategy: Four-Man Rush Dominance
The Eagles’ defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, devised a game plan that focused on generating pressure with just the front four, without blitzing. This strategy allowed the Eagles to drop more defenders into coverage, limiting Mahomes’ options downfield. According to TruMedia, the Eagles did not blitz Mahomes on any of his 42 dropbacks, yet they pressured him on 42.9% of those dropbacks and sacked him six times.
Milton Williams, a star defensive tackle for the Eagles, emphasized the team’s confidence in their matchups up front. “We liked our matchups up front,” Williams said. “We came in and dominated like we set out to do… we watched film, and we liked what we saw. We knew we were gonna be able to get ours.”
Chris Simms of NFL on NBC highlighted the Eagles’ defensive line’s dominance, noting that they generated 16 pressures and sacked Mahomes six times without blitzing. This performance was reminiscent of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LV loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Mahomes was also under constant duress.
Chiefs’ Offensive Line Struggles
The Eagles’ dominant performance exposed significant weaknesses in the Chiefs’ offensive line, particularly at the left tackle position. Throughout the season, the Chiefs had struggled to find a consistent solution at left tackle, with rookie Kingsley Suamataia and second-year player Wanya Morris both failing to solidify the position. The Chiefs even signed veteran D.J. Humphries, but he too struggled and eventually succumbed to injury.
In Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs were forced to move All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to left tackle, with Mike Caliendo filling in at left guard. While Thuney performed admirably, Caliendo struggled, and the rest of the offensive line had difficulty containing the Eagles’ relentless pass rush.
Mahomes Takes Responsibility
Despite the offensive line’s struggles, Patrick Mahomes took responsibility for the loss. “They played better than us from start to finish,” Mahomes told reporters. “We didn’t start how we wanted to. The turnovers hurt. I take all the blame for that. Those turnovers swing the moment of the game, and they capitalized on them.”
Mahomes finished the game with 257 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, most of his production came in the second half when the game was already out of reach. He acknowledged that he needs to improve his ability to combat what defenses are doing to him.
Looking Ahead
The Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss highlighted the importance of a strong offensive line in protecting Patrick Mahomes and allowing him to operate effectively. As Jane Slater of Good Morning Football noted, Mahomes’ “Achilles’ heel has been his offensive line.” The Chiefs have committed to improving their offensive line, and they are in better shape now than they were in 2021. Creed Humphrey has become the highest-paid center in the NFL, and Trey Smith has established himself as a top offensive lineman.
However, the Chiefs still need to find a long-term solution at left tackle. The team is hoping that either Josh Simmons or Jaylon Moore can step up and fill that role. With a revamped offensive line and a determined Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs will look to bounce back in 2025 and reclaim their spot at the top of the NFL.