Jalen Hurts: Eagles’ Super Bowl 57 Loss to Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs ‘Lit a Fire in Me’

Preparing to start his second Super Bowl in three seasons, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts still thinks about the 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57.

Speaking to reporters during Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday, Hurts said that defeat “lit a fire in me” that has made him a better player:

“I’ve learned so much. It’s the same as any other game and, you know, I think the moments are the moments. But ultimately, you know, every game has its lessons — good, bad or indifferent. So, just being able to become wiser, grow and mature and take all these lessons in for the next season and the next games. It’s had a great driving force. It lit a flame, lit a fire in me, and to have this opportunity again is exactly what you work for.”

Hurts played one of the best games of his career in that Super Bowl. He finished 27-of-38 for 304 yards with one touchdown through the air and 70 rushing yards with three touchdowns on 15 carries as a runner.

It was a historic individual performance, as Hurts joined Steve Young and Joe Montana as the only players in Super Bowl history to account for at least 370 yards and four touchdowns.

The Eagles’ 35 points were the most ever for a team that lost the Super Bowl, surpassing the previous record of 33 by the New England Patriots in their loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl 52.

Philadelphia joined a long list of teams that has also blown a double-digit lead to Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. The Eagles took a 24-14 lead into halftime before the Chiefs stormed back in the second half.

The game had a somewhat controversial ending when Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was flagged for defensive holding on JuJu Smith-Schuster on a third-and-8 play that gave Kansas City an automatic first down with 1:54 remaining deep in Philadelphia territory.

Harrison Butker’s 27-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining gave the Chiefs a three-point lead. Hurts had one last desperate pass attempt as time expired that landed incomplete.

After a down 2023, the Eagles bounced back in a big way this season. They won 14 games in the regular season and set a record for most points in a conference title game with their 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders.

Hurts will have plenty of help around him from a loaded Eagles roster as he looks to win his first Super Bowl, but this game could easily come down to how well he’s able to throw the ball against a Kansas City defense that has allowed a total of 414 passing yards in two playoff games.