(Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer)
Super Bowl 57 was played on February 12th, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 to become Super Bowl Champions for the third time in franchise history. It was a high-powered game where some controversial moments hurt the NFL's image on its biggest stage. Here are some of the storylines following the Super Bowl.
1. Is Patrick Mahomes one of the best of all time?
Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes now has two Super Bowl wins at only twenty-seven years old. Pairing that with two MVP seasons (2018 & 2022) thus far and some All-pro nominations, he already has a hall-of-fame resume. The question for many fans now is if he can win a few more Super Bowls and rival Tom Brady in the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) conversation. Mahomes may already be seen as a top-ten quarterback of all time by many but rest assured, he’s not done yet.
2. Jalen Hurts Extension
Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts put up an impressive performance in the Super Bowl with three rushing touchdowns and a rushing two-point conversion. Now Hurts, who just finished his third year in the league after being drafted by Philly in 2020, will look to sign a massive contract extension. Reports have indicated that the Eagles want to extend Hurts before quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert sign new deals this offseason. Hurts is expected to demand around 50 million dollars a year, and the Eagles are expected to pay it. Hurts’ extension is the top priority for the Eagles right now, and the extension is expected to reconfigure the NFL quarterback market.
3. Hosting the Super Bowl in Arizona was a bad look for the league
The Super Bowl was played in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The grass field has taken a lot of criticism throughout the season, with some criticism coming from the Chiefs, who played in Arizona during week one of the regular season. Fanbases from across the country have harped on the Cardinals organization for their poor field maintenance throughout the year. The NFL did little to improve the field conditions during the season, and the field was no better during the big game than in the regular season. Players on both teams lost their footing several times, even prompting the broadcasters to talk about the pile of cleats on the sideline because so many players changed their shoes. Overall, it was not a great look for the NFL.
4. Once again, the refs were a point of focus
The refs have received some scrutiny for a holding call on Philadelphia’s James Bradberry late in the fourth quarter. Although no game can ever be blamed on the referees, the NFL would certainly prefer to keep refereeing out of the spotlight. This comes after a season where fans have become increasingly unhappy with officiating than in past years. Referees have a difficult job, and it is easy to be a couch ref. With that said, it would not be a surprise if the league expands the requirements or training programs for their officiating crews.
5. Kelce Brothers ready for the Hall of Fame
This Super Bowl marked the first time two brothers played against each other in the big game. Travis Kelce, tight end for the Chiefs, and Jason Kelce, center for the Eagles, made history. Jason, who is close to retirement age, is likely a first ballot hall of fame player with one super bowl victory and five first-team all-pro selections in his decorated career. Travis, the younger brother, may have completed his application for Canton by winning his second Super Bowl with Kansas City. The Kelce brothers are considered by many as the best players in their respective position in the league. It seems certain now that both the Kelce boys will end up with the coveted yellow jacket inducted Hall of Fame players wear.
6. The Chiefs do not have a dynasty, yet
The Kansas City Chiefs have become the team to beat in recent years following the arrival of head coach Andy Reid in 2013 and the drafting of Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Since then, the Chiefs have recorded three Super Bowls appearances and won two in 2019 and 2022. Arrowhead Stadium has been one of the toughest places to play, and the Chiefs have been the best in their division every year. Another Super Bowl win could cement the team as a true NFL dynasty, reminiscent of a Tom Brady and Bill Belichick-led Patriots team not so long ago. Kansas City may soon be the new Foxboro, but the Chiefs will have to do it one more time to truly claim that dynasty title.
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