It’s easy to identify the winners from Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX: quarterback Jalen Hurts, every Eagles wide receiver, edge rusher Josh Sweat, halftime performer Kendrick Lamar and head coach Nick Sirriani. But there’s another overlooked group who came out on top – non-Chiefs fans worldwide.

For those already looking for reasons to root against the then-two-time defending champs, the game started with a familiar scene; Kansas City benefitting from a controversial call. 

Facing a 4th-and-2 from the 50-yard line on the game’s opening drive, Hurts lofted a deep pass down the right sideline to Starkville native A.J. Brown for a 32-yard gain. Except, flag on the play. Offensive pass interference (this is a Chiefs’ game, after all). The Eagles were forced to punt, and this one started to look like so many other Kansas City victories over the years, where, much like Ringo Starr and Joe Cocker, the Chiefs got by with a little help from their friends (the officials).

And that’s been the story – or at least the perception – over the past few seasons; when in doubt, the Chiefs get bailed out. Using some mix of talent, scheme, Swift-y-ness and devil magic, they always seemed to prevail despite the circumstances. But the NFL is nothing if not a well-oiled marketing machine, and it had, perhaps, grown leery of the growing criticism of its officials’ seeming favoritism of the Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. And so, on their next offensive possession, the Eagles were gifted a makeup call of an unnecessary roughness penalty that extended Philadelphia’s first touchdown drive. 

By the time Brown reeled in a Hurts’ touchdown pass on a shallow crossing route late in the half, Kansas City’s dream of a three-peat was over, and the rout was on. 

Brown’s touchdown, his second in a Super Bowl, now leaves him in second place behind Jerry Rice on the all-time Oktibbeha County Super Bowl touchdown list. Rice, a Starkville native who attended B.L. Moor High School, finished his career with eight scores in across four games. Sure, I know Brown went to Ole Miss, but can you blame him? When’s the last time Mississippi State sent an All-Pro receiver to the NFL? 

Without the refs in his corner and without a functioning offensive line, Mahomes was left to chuck-and-duck his way to three meaningless second-half touchdown passes and three key turnovers. An ignominious end to a spectacular three-season run of Super Bowl appearances.

But to keen observers, the cracks in the Chiefs’ facade were there all season. They won 14 one-score games and their average margin of victory was a shade over three points. Mahomes, once a gunslinger, became more of a game manager. Their offensive numbers were down across the board, and their defense, composed primarily of young players who haven’t yet gotten paid and MSU legend Chris Jones (who has, handsomely,) carried them throughout.

For the NFL and its year-round calendar, the 2025 season is already upon us. The Chiefs’ seven-year run of AFC Championship appearances is in serious danger of ending. Kansas City will need to rebuild its offensive line on the fly, and Jones’ career is winding down. The Bills and Ravens, led by their own dynamic quarterbacks, have closed the gap, and Joe Burrow and the Bengals can’t possibly be as unlucky and injury-prone as they were in 2024.

So while the Chiefs and their fans are left wondering, “What’s next?” the rest of us are anticipating the passing of the torch. Maybe the dynasty is over, the king has been deposed and the kingdom is teetering. If that’s the case, it’s sad that the Chiefs’ run ended not with a bang but a whimper.

Philip Poe is sports editor.