The Eagles built a wagon and they're only getting started

The kings have been dethroned. And they didn't so much as put up a fight.

Super Bowl LIX was supposed to be a heavyweight battle - Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs against the most talented team in football. The Philadelphia Eagles had no interest in being the latest victim of a dynasty, with a 40-22 result barely doing justice to the extent of the drubbing that took place on football's biggest stage.

Philly denying the three-peat in such convincing fashion is, first and foremost, sweet revenge for the heartbreaking defeat from two years ago. But it's also the culmination of a historic effort in roster building - a reminder that nobody does it like Howie Roseman.

It's a team game, after all. And while an all-time great quarterback certainly has the potential to elevate his team beyond its means, there's only so much Mahomes can do when the other side has such an overwhelming talent advantage everywhere else on the field.

The beatdown started up front, with the defensive line putting together a performance reminiscent of the 2007 New York Giants team that battered Tom Brady and the undefeated New England Patriots. Mahomes was made uncomfortable from the jump, leading to one of the worst first-half efforts in Super Bowl history. His 33 passing yards through the first two quarters represent the fewest since Rex Grossman's 32 in 2006, and the total output made for the worst single-half EPA/dropback of his entire career.

By the end of the game, Philadelphia had pressured Mahomes on 38.1% of dropbacks - the fifth-highest rate of his career - while forcing him into a career-worst six sacks, according to Next Gen Stats. With all attention on sophomore Pro Bowler Jalen Carter, the rest of the group went to work. Josh Sweat stole the show with 2.5 sacks off the edge, Milton Williams added a pair from the interior, and both Jordan Davis and Jalyx Hunt also got in on the action.

The early frustrations had Mahomes desperately looking to spark the offense, but that only allowed more of Roseman's most savvy additions to make their presence felt. Second-round rookie Cooper DeJean capitalized on a ball forced into coverage midway through the second quarter, running it back 38 yards to give the Eagles a commanding 17-0 lead.

Breakout star Zack Baun, who put together an All-Pro season after joining the Eagles on a one-year deal, joined the party with a pick of his own deep in Chiefs territory two possessions later. That set the stage for an A.J. Brown touchdown that would effectively wrap this one up before half.

And then there's the Eagles quarterback. The Chiefs were content to live with the results of forcing the ball into Jalen Hurts' hands, clearly doing anything and everything they could to shut down Saquon Barkley. It was a reasonable plan, all things considered, and part of it was successful - the 2024 rushing champion finished with 57 yards on 25 carries, easily his worst outing of the year.

But Hurts is earning something of a reputation for doing exactly what's needed of him. He always seems to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments. This game was no different, and now he's a Super Bowl MVP.

The Eagles quarterback was nearly perfect against the Chiefs, going 17 of 22 for 221 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing a team-high 72 rushing yards, a new record for a QB in a Super Bowl. Big plays down the field to Brown and DeVonta Smith were a reminder of how dangerous this group can be when needed. That the offense doesn't always require such performances is a feature, not a bug.

The Eagles almost let things fall apart after the previous Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, but the front office stayed the course. Roseman continued to stack talent as he always has - highlighted by the splash addition of Barkley - while standing by Nick Sirianni and supporting him with some outstanding coordinator hires.

He'll have to recreate some of that magic this offseason, with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore seemingly set to depart for the Saints head coaching job. But it'll be pretty tough for his successor to mess this thing up with Hurts, Barkley, Brown, and Smith - all in the midst of their primes - starring alongside the NFL's best offensive line.

Vic Fangio, the architect of Philly's league-best defense, isn't going anywhere. At 66 years old, having already been a head coach, he could be content to work as a coordinator from here on out. Carter, DeJean, Nolan Smith, and Quinyon Mitchell, among others, should only continue to ascend under one of the game's premier defensive minds.

We have every reason to believe that Roseman will continue to be the NFL's premier drafting general manager, and the way he's managed the salary cap could even put the Eagles in a position to remain aggressive as they set out to defend their title next year. Myles Garrett, anyone?

The NFL's newest powerhouse has officially arrived and may only be getting started.