Super Bowl LIX was one for the ages and the most enjoyable experience I have ever had as an Eagles fan. I never got to see the first Super Bowl between the Eagles and Patriots–I wasn’t born yet–and so I was too young to comprehend the importance of the revenge that was enacted on them in 2018 in our first Super Bowl victory. In fact, I didn’t really get into being a football fan or even a hard-core Eagles fan until just a few years ago, so I now have not only that appreciation that wasn’t present for the first Super Bowl but also my own satisfying revenge on the team that beat us in the same game two years ago, not to mention the joy of stopping that same team from cementing themselves in NFL history with a “three-peat.” It was also special to see a win in what was most likely Brandon Graham’s last season, and with the half-time show as great as it was, Sunday night was just the all-around best sports experience I have ever had since becoming a sports fan. 

Sunday’s game was an exhilarating experience for some and a lackluster one for others. For Eagles fans, it was exciting to see the Eagles get their revenge on the Chiefs after losing to them two years ago. For others, it was a sort of boring, one-sided affair for the majority of its duration. It was evident the Chiefs had gone into the game too confident that when the Eagles got ahead, they were confused and thrown off their game. It wasn’t until the game was nearing its end that the Chiefs had finally begun getting points, but by that point, the Eagles win was inevitable. There were similar reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s performance as well, with many people online feeling like it was itself lackluster and not as impactful as some of the more iconic performances that have come before it. But if you took a step back and truly analyzed his performance, you could see that there is more to it. Lamar started the show by saying, “The revolution will be televised. You picked the right time, but the wrong guy,”  throwing shade at a certain leader who was in attendance at the game (a first for a US president). Samuel L. Jackson’s performance as “Uncle Sam” symbolized society’s view of black culture through his comments like, “Too loud, too ghetto, too reckless,” and his preference for certain songs over others. Such details have easily flown over the minds of the show’s critics who can’t appreciate the art that Kendrick presented live for all. Despite whether or not people appreciated Kendrick’s symbolism, no one can deny that the “Not Like Us” performance was truly iconic. I hope Drake also agrees!

Defense wins championships. This is proven true year after year. The Eagles were led by key defensive plays from Josh Sweat, Zach Baun, Cooper Dejean, and the one, the only, most underappreciated, best player on the defense, Milton Jawaun Williams. With a crucial strip-sack late in the game, Williams uncut the ropes, leaving the Chiefs’ chances of winning an impossibility. This key play wasn’t Williams’ only sack of the game though, as he had one earlier, certifying him as a dominant pass-rusher who should surely see a hefty contract coming soon. Williams was a menace for the Eagles defensive line this year. Though often overshadowed by pro-bowler Jalen Carter, Williams still found ways to break out in his career year with five sacks and 40 quarterback pressures. Before praising the big-name guys for helping with the Super Bowl win, give Williams the due he deserves, as he played a vital role in bringing this city its second Super Bowl victory in just six years

This game definitely proved that the Chiefs aren’t the unstoppable force people think they are. It was quite obvious that their game plan was to just stop Saquon Barkley from getting any yards, and maybe here and only here the win is theirs. But the “unstoppable force” wasn’t prepared for the #1 defense in the NFL and a quarterback that literally does it all. As an Eagles fan, I genuinely got secondhand embarrassment watching the Eagles absolutely demolish the Chiefs. Patrick Maholmes getting sacked back to back all while Travis Kelce makes a fool of himself in front of his precious Taylor Swift and President Trump was a sight I never thought I would see. The Eagles did what they’ve been doing the whole season: playing to win. There’s really nothing else people can say about them. So on a scale of 22 – 40, the Eagles deserved this win 100%.

In Sunday’s game, the Eagles completely embarrassed the Chiefs, shutting them out 24-0 in the first half. Philadelphia was out for revenge in this game and made it clear that they weren’t going to miss out on their chance to expose the Chiefs. Their defense forced three turnovers, including a pick-six from Cooper Dejean, and kept the Chief’s offense from crossing midfield until late in the third quarter. The Eagles offense scored three touchdowns by then, finishing the game 40-22 and securing their second Super Bowl title while snatching the Chiefs’ hopes for a three-peat.