Former Patriots did little to help Chiefs secure NFL’s first Super Bowl three-peat

Joe Thuney and JuJu Smith-Schuster had a night to forget for the Chiefs on Sunday.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) didn't make much of an impact in the loss for Kansas City. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

February 10, 2025

3 minutes to read

A win for the Chiefs on Sunday night against the Eagles would have put them in rarified air as the only team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Such a triumph in Super Bowl LIX for Kansas City would have spelled bad news for Tom Brady and the Patriots’ dynasty, who would have had to continue to hear talk about their 20-year run being challenged less than a decade after it shuttered.

But that talk should quiet on Sunday following the Chiefs’ lopsided 40-22 loss to the Eagles in New Orleans, with Philadelphia dominating in all three phases of the game.

Tough performances from franchise stalwarts like Patrick Mahomes (6-of-14, 33 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions in the first half) and Travis Kelce (four catches, 39 yards) loomed large over Kansas City’s no-show performance.

But a Chiefs roster featuring several former Patriots did little to pull on the rope with another Lombardi Trophy on the line.

Some of those ex-Patriots like Josh Uche (inactive) and Tyquan Thornton (practice squad) did not factor into the results on Sunday.

But standout offensive lineman Joe Thuney had a night to forget against Philadelphia’s defensive line.

Thuney has been a foundational piece of Kansas City’s dynasty since signing with the Chiefs in free agency after the 2020 season. After winning two Super Bowls as Tom Brady’s left guard in New England, Thuney’s arrival in Kansas City shored up the Chiefs’ O-line en route to another two Super Bowl victories.

“On the field, he’s one of the best to ever do it, which is why he’s experienced the incredible success he has. There’s nothing more that can be said about his game. He’s had an incredible career,” Julian Edelman said of Thuney at Super Bowl Media Day. “No one deserves this more than Joe, potentially getting out there and winning his fifth Super Bowl.”

Along with earning three All-Pro nods since joining the Chiefs, Thuney’s switch to left tackle this season kept the Chiefs’ O-line afloat, with the 32-year-old guard not giving up a single pressure in KC’s win over the Bills in the AFC Championship Game.

But Sunday’s game against the Eagles was another story, with Thuney struggling all night long against Josh Sweat and the rest of Philly’s defense.

Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense were stuck in the mud all night due to the pressure generated by the Eagles, with KC’s QB sacked six times in the loss.

The Eagles did not blitz once on 42 dropbacks by Mahomes, but Philly still managed to take down Mahomes six times and pressure him 16 total times — according to Next Gen Stats.

Even during instances where Thuney wasn’t beaten clean by the likes of Sweat for a sack, that consistent pressure still led to several critical miscues by Mahomes.

During Mahomes’ second interception of the first half, he was forced to throw after Sweat pushed Thuney right into him in the end zone — with that ill-advised pass getting snagged by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun for the turnover.

Look at Josh Sweat push Joe Thuney into the lap of Patrick Mahomes. Zack Baun with another pick pic.twitter.com/v5d2U5LGmW
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) February 10, 2025

Thuney has been a model of consistency for both the Chiefs and Patriots over the course of his impressive career. But both he and the rest of a strong Chiefs O-line picked the worst possible time to completely implode against an elite Eagles defense.

Elsewhere, former Patriot wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster finished with just two catches for 16 total yards in the loss.

Smith-Schuster helped KC beat the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII two years ago, catching seven balls for 53 yards while also drawing a hold in the fourth quarter that led to a game-winning field goal from Harrison Butker.

But on Sunday, just about the only Chiefs pass-catcher to have a strong night was rookie Xavier Worthy — who reeled in two touchdowns and finished with 157 of Mahomes’ 257 total passing yards.