Super Bowl LIX wasn’t the battle many projected. The Philadelphia Eagles scored 34 unanswered points on the Kansas City Chiefs and spoiled the three-peat party with a 40-22 decision.
Many were left to question why the Chiefs’ looked so out of sorts given it was their fifth Super Bowl appearance in six years.
Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat offered insight to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane as to which coaching decision by Andy Reid put the Chiefs in a vulnerable position from the get-go.
Offensive lineman Joe Thuney started at left tackle, which is not his usual position.
The Eagles took swift notice.
“He don’t play tackle. He’s a guard,” Sweat said of Thuney, who Reid moved to left tackle in the waning games of the 2024 NFL regular season. “That’s all it was. But we don’t underestimate anybody.”
The Chief’s offensive line had difficulty containing Eagles pass rushers all game. Sweat was one of several beneficiaries that enjoyed pressuring Patrick Mahomes.
Sweat recorded 2.5 total sacks, three quarterback hits, six tackles, and two tackles for loss on the evening.
His second-quarter pressure on Mahomes led to a costly throw that was intercepted by the Eagles while up 17-0. Thuney was responsible for blocking Sweat.
The Eagles would score on the following drive to assume a 24-0 lead heading into halftime.
Finding a reliable situation at left tackle was a recurring issue for Reid all season. As a solution, he had moved Thuney from left guard in Week 15, opting for Mike Caliendo instead.
