Super Bowl first half: Philadelphia QB Jalen hits Chiefs with big play, helps Eagles control ball
It was all about a first half mistake. Wide-open receiver. Returned a fumble for a touchdown. A reliable kicker hits the uprights. And in perhaps the worst moment, Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes re-injured his left ankle on an ill-advised run.
The Philadelphia Eagles built a 24-14 lead early in the first half, a game that saw the Eagles more than double the Chiefs’ time of possession, leaving the dangerous Mahomes on the sideline.
The Eagles did so while racking up 270 yards of offense. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had 63 yards rushing and 183 passing alone, equating to a complete game.
Philadelphia struck quickly on its opening drive, running like a hot knife through butter on the Chiefs, leading a drive of 11 plays for 75 yards before Hurts dived for the first of his two touchdowns. No team has ever trailed by a minute in the playoffs before.
Mahones led the Chiefs by hitting tight end Travis Kelce for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Later in the half, kicker Harrison Butker hit the uprights on a 43-yard field goal attempt.
But Hearts continued to punish Chiefs. He hit AJ Brown for a 45-yard touchdown pass, sitting in the pocket with great protection.
He followed it up with his single mistake, bumping the ball and then kicking it. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton eagerly scooped it up and returned it 36 yards for a TD and a 14-14 tie.
From there, it was all eagles and hits. On 4th and 5, a quarterback draw by Hurts went for 28 yards and a first down. He lured Casey into a neutral zone violation on 4th and 2, leading to first-and-goal. Hurts ran it in from four yards out for his second TD of the half.
The Chiefs saw Mahomes slip out of the pocket as the half drew to a close, and they paid for it. He rolled his already injured ankle and walked off the field. The big story in the second half will be whether he can return and be anywhere near effective. A 29-minute halftime won’t help that.
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