Ah! Ah ah ah! Ahhh!
U.S. Bank Stadium erupted. A tidal wave of sound exploded through the sealed dome, causing the very air to tremble—
The Super Bowl had begun.
In the coin toss, the Kansas City Chiefs won. The experienced and composed Reid chose to defer, giving the ball to the Philadelphia Eagles for the opening drive, opting to start on offense in the second half.
No surprises there.
Pederson gave a slight nod, his eyes bright as he looked toward the field. Calm and seasoned, he was clearly ready for anything.
Victory was his only goal.
And so—
Foles led the offense onto the field.
As Collinsworth had said, a grueling season had taken its toll—injuries, slumps, roster shakeups. Every team faces that. But what the Eagles endured, with so many core players replaced, was nearly unprecedented in league history.
Starting quarterback: switched from Wentz to Foles.
Starting running back: Blount, last season's rushing yards leader who came from the Patriots, still started—but his snaps were slashed in half. Third-year back Jay Ajayi, acquired mid-season from the Dolphins, shared the load.
Starting wide receivers: Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, previously third and fourth on the depth chart, stepped up as lead targets.
Starting tight end: Zach Ertz, who only came into his own in Week 6 this season, now starting in the Super Bowl.
And so on.
Of all the offensive starters, perhaps only center Jason Kelce held his position all season—since 2011, he'd anchored the Eagles' line and was now widely regarded as one of the league's best.
Compared to Week 2 of the regular season, this was practically a new Philadelphia Eagles team. Pederson's tactical planning and in-game adjustments had matured throughout the year, evident right from kickoff—
Now facing his former mentor again, Pederson was reborn—mentally and strategically.
From the start, the Eagles' offense showed Pederson's unwavering will to win.
He put the full weight of the first drive on Foles' shoulders. Though many still doubted Foles—a third-round pick, not seen as elite—Pederson placed complete trust in him.
And Foles delivered. Nine pass attempts, six completions, each to a different target. A dynamic, multi-pronged aerial assault that refused to yield under the Chiefs' intense coverage.
This time, Pederson had learned his lesson and didn't neglect the ground game. Blount and Ajayi rotated like clockwork, giving the offense a steady rhythm and early control of the run-pass balance. It was clear Pederson had done his homework.
But the Chiefs' defense wasn't backing down. Though their pass defense had been criticized all year—and Berry's absence left their secondary exposed—they kept pressure on the front line.
Second down. Third down. They repeatedly pushed the Eagles to the brink. But in the clutch, Foles showed no fear, no hesitation—undaunted on the biggest stage, cool under pressure, converting three crucial third downs.
And he was bold.
A 17-yard completion on 3rd-and-4. A 12-yard strike on 3rd-and-6. Nerves of steel.
From the opening snap, it was a tug-of-war.
Foles led a 61-yard march. But just outside the red zone, the Chiefs defense stood tall and shut the drive down—
Three and out.
The Eagles opted for a field goal from the 25-yard line. Clean hit.
3–0.
The visitors struck first.
Even though the Eagles got on the board, the Chiefs' defense had shown grit and resilience. That single drive ate up 7 minutes and 5 seconds.
The intensity was clear from the very first possession. It wasn't just close—it was tight, relentless. No hesitation. No holding back. Both sides were locked in, and the Super Bowl atmosphere exploded inside the stadium, pulsing with suffocating energy.
Now, the Chiefs' offense answered the call.
Reid was just as prepared.
And clearly, Lance was the focal point of the Eagles' game plan.
After all, Lance had just wrapped up a rookie season for the ages. Ignoring him would be like ignoring Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo—a stupid mistake.
He had torched the Eagles in Week 2 of the regular season, giving Pederson a masterclass in ground-and-pound. That memory still lingered like a scar.
It was rumored Pederson still muttered Lance's name in his nightmares.
No matter what Reid drew up, Pederson couldn't overlook Lance.
But Reid was a step ahead. He had already dissected Pederson's approach and used Lance purely as a decoy on the opening drive. The Chiefs launched an all-out aerial assault, catching Pederson completely off guard.
Anyone familiar with the Chiefs knew their passing game was... predictable.
One: Smith rarely threw long, preferring safe, short passes.
Two: Their targets were limited—Hill and Kelce accounted for 80% of the catches, with Hunt occasionally in the mix.
But now, on the Super Bowl stage, Reid pulled out all the stops. He used Lance to draw defenders away, spreading the field with a full-spectrum attack.
Like the Eagles, the Chiefs broke open their passing game.
Smith went 6-for-6, hitting five different receivers. Like a shotgun blast, he shredded the Eagles' secondary. Hunt added bursts on the ground, and the offense took on a whole new look, spinning the Eagles in circles.
Unbelievable as it seemed—Lance didn't even touch the ball on the first drive, yet the Eagles were on their heels.
The Chiefs marched into the red zone, but the Eagles' defense—ranked fourth in red zone efficiency—held just enough to stop Smith short.
The Chiefs settled for a field goal, unable to punch it in. A minor disappointment. The Eagles' defense stood firm when it mattered and dragged the game back into balance.
3–3.
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Powerstones?
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