Super Bowl 2023: Jalen Hurts brilliant effort falls short

PHOENIX – Whether in the air or on the ground, Jalen Hurts offensively dominated the Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles.

It just wasn’t enough to trump Patrick Mahomes.

Hurts put on a record performance on football’s biggest stage, throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown, running for 70 yards and three points, and adding a game-winning 2-point conversion.

But Hurts could only watch from the sidelines as Mahomes propelled the Chiefs to the go-ahead field goal with 8 seconds left in Sunday’s 38-35 win.

“It’s tough,” Hurts said. “We worked really hard to get this opportunity and it’s hard to fall short. There is always much to learn to have the opportunity to reflect on some of the things that we have not done and could not have done. There is a lot to learn from tonight.”

Despite the loss, Hurts put on one of the most productive games in Super Bowl history but became the first QB to lose the big game while leading his team to at least 35 points.

He set the record for most yards all-time by a quarterback in a Super Bowl, he equaled Terrell Davis’ record for most TD runs by any player, tied James White’s mark with 20 points scored, and entered the Hall of Famers Steve Young and Joe Montana became the only players to ever rush for at least 370 yards and four TDs (rushing and passing) in a Super Bowl.

“Jalen played the best game I’ve ever seen him play in the two years we’ve been together,” said coach Nick Sirianni. “He was outstanding. I really thought he was in full control and he’s doing things with his legs in the running game, he’s doing things with his arm in the passing game, making some incredible throws, incredible reads. I thought he played superbly.”

But the breakthrough season that ended with Hurts finishing second to Mahomes in the MVP vote also saw him finish second in the Super Bowl, as Hurts became the first player to lose a Super Bowl despite having four touchdowns.

Hurts started the game fast and never slowed down – but couldn’t win it in the end thanks to a defensive holding call on James Bradberry that gave the Chiefs a first down in field goal range and helped them go out almost the entire clock .

MORE: How much will a Super Bowl ad cost in 2023?

Hurts had one last chance and his desperation pass fell far short and he woke up from the field dejected.

It was a crushing way to end a brilliant performance.

“Jalen played a hell of a game,” said center Jason Kelce. “On the ground through the air. He obviously made some big throws. Both offenses came ready to go. It was such a thing where probably whoever had the ball last would be in a good position. We knew if we give it back with five minutes (remaining), hope someone makes a game. But that is a difficult task. Patrick Mahomes is MVP for a reason.”

Hurts hit one of his patented sneaks on the opening drive, delivered a 45-yard scoring strike to AJ Brown in the first game of the second quarter, added a four-yard run late in the second quarter, and then engineered a signature drive into the fourth quarter.

He connected with a 45-yard pass with DeVonta Smith and then finished the drive with a 2-yard run. He then ran it into himself for the game-winning 2-point conversion but was mostly a spectator after that.

“That was a special performance that I wouldn’t want to miss because of the defeat,” said Mahomes.

The only thing Hurts didn’t get right was when he fumbled while switching hands holding the ball, resulting in a 36-yard fumble return TD for Nick Bolton in the first half.

“I touch the ball every game, so you obviously want to protect it,” Hurts said. “It hurt us. You never know which piece it will be, but it hurt us.”

But that one mistake did little to slow Hurts, who converted a 28-yard run to a fourth-down keeper on the next drive to set up his second TD run of the game from 4 yards.

RELATED: How much does Rihanna get paid for the Super Bowl halftime show?