We’re firmly in “defensive player wins Super Bowl MVP” territory if the second half of this game is much like the first.
But it’s really been a full team effort from this Eagles defense. Josh Sweat, the Eagles’ regular-season sack leader, has 1.5 sacks and essentially backed up Pro Bowl offensive lineman Joe Thuney straight into Patrick Mahomes to force Mahomes’ second interception late in the first half. Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist Cooper DeJean and First Team All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun are responsible for the two interceptions, with DeJean returning his for a pick six.
The rest of the Eagles’ secondary has shown out as well. Safeties Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson have two tackles each, including a key one by Blankenship on a play set up for a catch-and-run to speedy Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy. Quinyon Mitchell also has just one tackle, but it was a similar hit on a short pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster that the Eagles’ other star rookie cornerback ensured went nowhere.
