EDITOR’S NOTE: Deseret News sports writer Brandon Judd has been in Phoenix this week covering 10 Utah ties at this year’s Super Bowl and is at at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, today for the Super Bowl, where he’s providing live coverage of the event.
Final: Chiefs 38, Eagles 35
Kansas City is your Super Bowl champions.
The Chiefs scored on every second-half possession — including three touchdowns before a game-winning 27-yard field goal from Harrison Butker with eight seconds remaining.
Kansas City drove 66 yards in 12 plays on the game-winning drive and took more than five minutes off the clock. A costly holding penalty on the Eagles on a third-down play by James Bradberry with just under two minutes left helped the Chiefs run the clock down before the winning kick.
Kansas City scored 24 points in the second half, overcoming a 24-14 deficit at halftime and earning Andy Reid his second Super Bowl championship as a head coach.
Eagles bounce back
We have a tie game again at 35.
Spurred by a 45-yard DeVonta Smith catch on the sidelines, Philadelphia went on a touchdown drive when it needed it.
Smith’s catch was down to the 2-yard line, and on the next play Hurts scored his third rushing touchdown of the night with 5:15 to play.
That sets a new record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a Super Bowl.
Then, Hurts scored on a 2-point conversion to tie it.
This one is going down to the wire.
Kansas City takes control
A Super Bowl record 65-yard punt return put the Chiefs in prime position to add to their lead, and they did so quickly.
Kadarius Toney returned the punt to the Philadelphia 5 and nearly had the first punt return for a touchdown in Super Bowl history before getting stopped.
That set up the Chiefs with a short, short field, and Patrick Mahomes hit Skyy Moore two plays later for a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-27.
Chiefs in front for the first time
Kansas City takes its first lead, after going 75 yards in nine plays and Kadarius Toney catching a 5-yard pass that, combined with the PAT, puts the Chiefs up 28-27 with 12:04 to play.
Patrick Mahomes and that Kansas City offense just showed their Super Bowl experience of playing in the NFL title game for the third time in four years.
Can Philadelphia respond?
Eagles double their lead to 6
There have only been two possessions in the third quarter and the period is almost over.
Philadelphia just upped its lead to 27-21 on a short Jake Elliott field goal, after driving the ball 60 yards in 17 plays and taking more than 7 minutes off the clock.
The Eagles have a 16-minute edge in time of possession right now, and they continue to convert fourth and short situations.
What kind of financial bonus will Britain Covey get from Eagles’ Super Bowl run?
Former University of Utah wide receiver and return specialist Britain Covey will have a sizable bonus to go along with his rookie contract that netted him $705,000 in his first season, according to Spotrac.
Each year, NFL players who are on the active roster during postseason games receive a share for every playoff game they are on the active roster.
This year, Covey has played in three, including Sunday’s Super Bowl — and with the Eagles earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC, he also receives a share for the wild-card round.
If Philadelphia wins the Super Bowl, Covey will take home $314,000 in playoff earnings, according to Spotrac, and he will collect $239,000 with a Super Bowl loss.
Either way, that’s a sizable financial chunk for the undrafted first-year to take home, as he and wife Leah await the birth of their first child in March.
Chiefs trim the lead to 3
Kansas City makes it a one-score game again, going 75 yards in 10 plays to score on a 1-yard Isiah Pacheco run on the opening drive of the second half.
That makes it 24-21.
Perhaps more importantly for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes looks a lot better than he did near the end of the first half, when he limped off the field.
Utah ties dot practice squads for both teams
There are five Utah ties who are on the practice squad for the two Super Bowl participants.
While you aren’t seeing these guys in the game during the Super Bowl — except former Layton High wide receiver Marcus Kemp, who is playing on special teams for the Chiefs as a practice squad elevation — rest assured these guys have been busy helping their teams prepare for the Super Bowl.
In addition to Kemp, the Chiefs have former BYU and Stansbury High safety Zayne Anderson and former BYU tight end Matt Bushman. The Eagles have former Hunter High tight end Noah Togiai and former Weber State and Stansbury High offensive tackle Sua Opeta.
“Our job is basically to make sure they’re ready to play — we do everything they do besides play in the game. We’re in every meeting, every lift, every practice, everything,” Togiai said. “We’re there every game, we just don’t play. Our job is to make sure they’re ready to play, imitate guys they are about to play.”
Eagles up 10 at the half
Philadelphia was able to tack on three more points on its final drive of the half and go into the locker room up 24-14.
Britain Covey’s 27-yard return helped put the Eagles into good field position to start that drive, and then Jalen Hurts and the Philly offense made big plays when they needed — like A.J. Brown gaining 22 yards on a third and 5 pass to give the Eagles into field goal range.
Britain Covey showing his punt return skills
Britain Covey’s second punt return of the game — right before halftime — picks up 27 yards after he found a seam in the Kansas City coverage and slipped through for the long return.
That play is overshadowed in the stadium right now, though, by the fact Patrick Mahomes just limped badly off the field after being tackled on a third-down stop.
It will be interesting to see how that limits Mahomes.
Also, Covey set the Eagles up at their own 43 with 1:22 until the half. Can Philadelphia capitalize on the good field position?
Another Jalen Hurts score
Jalen Hurts shook off that fumble nice and well.
The Eagles quarterback led a touchdown scoring drive that covered 75 yards in 12 plays, included two fourth-down conversions (one on a penalty) and was capped by a Hurts 4-yard draw.
He is stepping up on the big stage, and has accounted for three touchdowns in this first half to give the Eagles the 21-14 lead.
A quick defensive touchdown
The game’s first turnover leads to a quick touchdown: Jalen Hurts fumbled the ball on a QB draw — he just lost the handle on the ball — and Kansas City’s Nick Bolton picks up the fumble and takes it 36 yards for the touchdown.
Just like that, it’s tied up again at 14-14.
Britain Covey with his first touch
Former Utah receiver/return specialist Britain Covey gets his first touch in this one: an 8-yard punt return to start the second quarter.
That’s his first punt return since the regular season. Prior to this, he had seven fair catches and no returns during the playoffs.
That sets up Philadelphia with the ball at their own 33 with a 14-7 lead.
What a catch by Brown
The Eagles are back in front 14-7 after Jalen Hurts just connected with A.J. Brown on a 45-yard bomb, where Brown did a great job keeping track of the ball — something the Kansas City defender struggled with on that play.
We’re seeing some brilliant play from receivers and tight ends alike so far in this Super Bowl.
Tied through one quarter
After the opening touchdown drives from both teams, this one has quieted down a bit offensively. A missed field goal by Harrison Butker would have given the Chiefs the lead, but thus far, it’s been a well-matched game.
A beauty of a touchdown
Kansas City had an answer for the Eagles’ first-drive touchdown, going 75 yards in just six plays to score.
It was a beautiful play — Patrick Mahomes rolled right and lofted a pass to star tight end Travis Kelce, putting that ball where only Kelce could make a play. And then, Kelce still made a phenomenal grab.
It’s 7-7 halfway through the first quarter, and a good start for anyone who loves offense.
Eagles strike first
Philadelphia takes the first drive of the game for a touchdown — Jalen Hurts scored on a 1-yard run — and it’s 7-0 Eagles with nearly five minutes gone in the Super Bowl.
DeVonta Smith had three catches on the drive for 41 yards, including a third-down catch that extended the drive early on.
You can see Eagles QB coach Brian Johnson talking with Hurts on the sideline after that score. The former Utah QB has done an excellent job in Philadelphia, and he’s gotten recognized for it a lot this week.
From social media
Former Utah and Timpview High star Britain Covey arrived at the stadium in a Vince Papale jersey, a shoutout to the former Eagles tryout legend.
Former BYU defensive back Jack Damuni shared he will be in the stadium cheering on some former Cougars.
Utah ties to watch for in the Super Bowl
While the number of Utah ties playing in today’s Super Bowl is limited — most are on practice squads — there are several Utah ties who can win a Super Bowl ring today.
A little under 90 minutes to kick off, the Eagles announced their inactives list, and former University of Utah star Britain Covey wasn’t on it. He was listed as questionable heading into the weekend with a hamstring injury, but will be active for the Super Bowl in his rookie season.
Here’s every Utah tie — player or coach — on the two Super Bowl teams:
Chiefs Utah ties
- Former BYU and Stansbury High safety Zayne Anderson (on practice squad)
- Former BYU tight end Matt Bushman (on practice squad)
- Former Layton High wide receiver Marcus Kemp (on practice squad, elevated to active roster for Super Bowl)
- Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, a former BYU player and grad assistant
- Chiefs offensive quality control coach Porter Ellett, a BYU graduate
- Chiefs defensive quality control coach Alex Whittingham, a former Utah linebacker
Eagles Utah ties
- Former Utah and Timpview High wide receiver/return specialist Britain Covey (on active roster and the team’s primary punt returner)
- Former Weber State and Stansbury High offensive guard Sua Opeta (on practice squad)
- Former Hunter High tight end Noah Togiai (on practice squad)
- Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, former Utah quarterback and assistant
Pregame coverage
There are several angles the Deseret News has covered on the game this week. Here they are, divided into different subjects:
- Britain Covey
- Brian Johnson
- Andy Reid
- Other BYU and Utah ties
- General coverage