Super Bowl LVII: Eagles and Chiefs knotted at 7-7 after scoring on opening drives

The Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts struck first in Super Bowl LVII, scoring a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, only to have Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs answer on their first possession. 

The NFC champs started with Hurts working exclusively out of the shotgun, perhaps in a nod to Kansas City’s celebrated pass rush. Chiefs defenders did get some pressure on the Eagles signal caller, but he proved elusive, connecting on 4 of his first 5 passes for 54 yards The Eagles thought they scored on the 10th play of the drive, with a four-yard run by Kenneth Gainwell. However, the score was overturned on review.

No matter: Hurts punched it in from the 1-yard line for the early 6-0 lead. Jake Elliott would add the point after for a 7-0 lead.

But that lead wouldn’t last long. Mahomes engineered his own 75-yard drive on the ensuing possession, capping the drive with a 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce. Isiah Pacheco chipped in with a 24-yard run on the drive, while Mahomes added his own eight-yard scamper. 

The Chiefs would have a chance to take the lead later in the opening frame, but placekicker Harrison Butker hit the left upright on a 42-yard field goal.  

Reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes is playing in his third Super Bowl after splitting his first two appearances

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

The Chiefs won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the second half.

The retractable roof is open and the weather is essentially perfect, with temperatures in the 70s. The Chiefs and Eagles both have plenty of fans in Arizona, but it’s a decidedly pro-Philadelphia crowd.

Country musician and songwriter Chris Stapleton performed the national anthem for Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl might be known for its extravagance, but the anthem was anything but fancy. All that was needed was a Stapleton’s smooth baritone voice and a guitar. Deaf actor Troy Kotsur — who won an Oscar for the movie ‘CODA’ — signed the anthem alongside Stapleton.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and starting center Jason Kelce both had tears in their eyes during Stapleton’s emotional performance.

Before Stapleton stepped to the microphone, Grammy Award winner Babyface performed ‘America The Beautiful.’

The series of pregame canonical songs began with ‘Abbott Elementary’ star Sheryl Lee Ralph performing ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ a song that’s been dubbed the Black national anthem.

Ralph, wearing a flowing red velvet gown, began the song as a reflective ballad, and it became a soaring hymn as it went on, with military-style drums joining her and a choir dressed all in white chiming in behind her.

Chris Stapleton performing the national anthem ahead of kick-off Philadelphia Eagles v Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LVII

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs makes a 18 yard touchdown catch during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

Philadelphia Eagles’ Miles Sanders in action with Kansas City Chiefs’ L’Jarius Sneed and Nick Bolton

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

The Eagles entered Sunday as 1.5-point favorite over the Chiefs, but it’s the all-star cast of players in the trenches who should decide the Super Bowl champion.

Sure, quarterbacks Mahomes and Hurts will make their share of plays. But Sunday’s game should come down to which team controls the line of scrimmage.

The Eagles (16-3) reached this point mainly because of a dominant offensive line that allowed Hurts to thrive. He developed into an AP NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year finalist playing behind a line that features All-Pro center Jason Kelce and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson.

Kelce, Johnson, left tackle Jordan Mailata, Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson and right guard Isaac Seumalo have excelled in the playoffs, helping the Eagles rack up 416 yards rushing in two lopsided wins. The Eagles outscored the Giants and 49ers by a combined margin of 69-14.

A defensive line featuring four players with at least 10 sacks roughed up opposing quarterbacks throughout the season. Haason Reddick was a game-wrecker against San Francisco, knocking Brock Purdy out of the game.

The Chiefs (16-3) know what it’s like to face a fearsome pass rush in the Super Bowl. Behind a banged-up offensive line, Mahomes looked ordinary in a 31-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the big game two years ago.

They’re healthy this time around and have a pair of second-team All-Pros: left guard Joe Thuney and center Creed Humphrey.

On the opposite side, All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones was a nightmare for opponents this season. Jones had 15 1/2 sacks. If Philly’s O-line can’t slow him down, it could be a rough day for Hurts.

Besides the 73,000 fans, halftime performer Rihanna, and both teams, Damar Hamlin is also in attendance.  

The Buffalo Bills safety made his third appearance in Phoenix during Super Bowl week, this time on the field at State Farm Stadium prior to Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s another milestone in Hamlin’s recovery. It’s been a little more than a month since Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati. He also appeared on stage at ‘NFL Honors’ on Thursday night after the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals training and medical staffs, along with the staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, were recognized.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin walks on the sideline before Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before playing against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12

AP NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes leads Kansas City against the MVP runner-up, Jalen Hurts. It’s the first matchup between two African-American quarterbacks, and the significance isn’t lost on Mahomes

US singer Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds performs ‘America The Beautiful’ ahead of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday

Sheryl Lee Ralph performs Lift Every Voice and Sing prior to Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

The NFL’s brightest stars arrived early, and none stood out more than Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. 

Often known for his contrarian fashion sense, the former Pittsburgh Steeler wore a green kilt matched with a white shirt with large checkered pockets, a rounded hat and leather high-top boots. 

Smith-Schuster surprising fit headlined the arrivals of both Eagles and Chiefs players ahead of the 6:30pm EST kick off. Though, Fletcher Cox may have taken that away from the Chiefs pass-catcher after arriving on the FOX broadcast in a silver suit and what looked to resemble a blouse. 

Mahomes was dressed a little more formally, in a plaid suit with a nice navy touch with the tie. He also rocked AirPods alongside his typically sleek wraparound sunglasses.

Sunday’s opposing quarterback, Hurts, had a comparably relaxed look with a mauve button-up to go with some mulberry pants and large headphones as he locked in alongside Eagles teammates. 

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Swoop, the Philadelphia Eagles mascot, runs onto the field at the Super Bowl LVII Pre-Show held at State Farm Stadium

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs hugs his brother, Jason Kelce #62 of the Philadelphia Eagles, before Super Bowl LVII

Fans gather in a concourse prior to Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles fans cheer before Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

Philadelphia Eagles fan watches during warm ups before the NFL Super Bowl LVII

Juju Smith-Schuster was catching looks & he’ll hope to haul in some passes when out of the kilt

Both quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (L) & Jalen Hurts (R) look stylish upon arrival for the game

Fletcher Cox stunned fans when he pulled up to State Farm Stadium in a silver suit and blouse

The Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason, who will create history as the first siblings to play against each other in a Super Bowl, naturally arrived on different buses and in very contrasting styles. 

The Eagles’ Jason rocked a yellow t-shirt with ‘Cleveland Heights’ – the Kelce’s high school – emblazoned on the front. 

Meanwhile Travis, an All-Pro tight end for Kansas City, had a grey camouflage look which looked far more New York Fashion Week than the woods. Alongside a matching bag he sported sleek, squared white sunglasses.

With kick off just hours away, fans may not be matching their favorite players in the fashion stakes but they adorned their jerseys and other team gear with both sides hoping it will be their franchise lifting the Lombardi come Sunday night. 

Both teams have won a Super Bowl in recent years, with Kansas City defeating San Francisco in 2020. 

While Philadelphia ended its drought with a shock defeat of Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in 2018. 

The Kelce brothers, Travis (L) and Jason (R) had very contrasting styles walking into the SB

Kansas City Chiefs fans are already getting excited for their team ahead of the 6:30 ET kick off 

Ever passionate, the Philadelphia Eagles fanbase has been getting loud in sheer anticipation

All week, fans have been gathering outside State Farm Stadium before the Eagles-Chiefs game