Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the betting favorite to win MVP of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday as he pursued a record third straight championship, but by the end of the first half, the records he was setting were hardly a testament to his greatness.
The Philadelphia Eagles tormented Mahomes throughout the game en route to a 40-22 victory, and they got to him early and often. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts won MVP.
Mahomes found some success in the second half when the game was out of reach. He finished 21-for-32 for 257 passing yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, plus a fumble.
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Mahomes’ 17 passing yards were his fewest in a first quarter this season. He was averaging 57 entering the game.
The Chiefs had 14 yards on their first five drives, the fewest yards they’ve had on their first five drives of any game started by Mahomes, playoffs or regular season.
Mahomes threw his first postseason pick-six. Cooper DeJean’s TD on the 38-yard interception put the Eagles ahead 17-0 with 7:03 left in the first half.
Mahomes became the first QB in Super Bowl history to take consecutive sacks before throwing a pick-six in a span ofthree plays.
For the first time in his career, Mahomes threw two interceptions in the first half of a playoff game.
Mahomes’ 43% completion percentage in the first half was the second-lowest rate in a first half in his career, better than only his 42% completion percentage versus the Chargers in Week 2 of 2020.
Mahomes finished the first half with 33 passing yards, the fewest he’s had in the first half of any game in his career.
Mahomes was 1-of-6 with two interceptions on passes of more than 5 air yards. He was 14-of-22 with a touchdown on those throws for his career in the postseason prior to Sunday.
He became the second QB in Super Bowl history to throw an interception on consecutive pass attempts. Craig Morton did it twice, first with the Dallas Cowboys and then with the Denver Broncos.
The Chiefs didn’t cross midfield until their 10th drive, snapping a nine-drive streak, the longest by any team in Super Bowl history.
The Chiefs’ stretch of nine possessions without scoring was their longest with Mahomes starting, regular season or playoffs.
Mahomes was sacked six times, the most he has taken in any game of his career (regular season or playoffs).
Mahomes is the second QB in Super Bowl history to take six sacks against four or fewer pass rushers. The Cowboys’ Roger Staubach took six in Super Bowl X against the Steelers.
Patrick Mahomes had 42 dropbacks without being blitzed, the second most in Super Bowl history. A starting QB has faced zero blitzes in a Super Bowl five times previously, but none since the Chicago Bears’ Rex Grossman in Super Bowl XLI.
Mahomes was 3-of-8 for 43 yards with a touchdown and an interception while under pressure.
