What do you probably say after losing out on a dream? The sadness, the feeling of what could have been, stings like nothing else. And in the NFL, you witness plenty of moments like that—the players standing at the podium, unable to muster words. But still, they somehow gather the courage because they have to answer. And today, Kansas City‘s QB Patrick Mahomes found himself in that exact position. All those hopes of securing a three-peat for the team and the fans came crashing down in the city of New Orleans.

The scoreboard was a tough sight today. For Eagles fans, it was a dream come true, but for Kansas City, it felt like a nightmare. The same team that had ended so many others’ hopes was now on the receiving end, trailing 34-0 deep into the third quarter. The Eagles completely wiped the floor with the Chiefs, sealing a 40-22 victory. And putting an end to their spectacular season. And as the game slipped away, all Patrick Mahomes could do was thank his fans for sticking by them through this journey. “I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it. Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me,” said Mahomes. 

The whole team just couldn’t seem to find the rhythm that carried them through the entire season. That sync, that flow -it was like they left it at home. Patrick Mahomes’ first touchdown came in the final seconds of the third quarter. But by then, the Eagles had already sealed their dominance. Was this the Super Bowl the Chiefs Kingdom excitingly waiting for? Patrick did manage to score two more touchdowns in the fourth, but they were nothing more than a footnote in his regular stats. They didn’t change a thing.

But that’s done now. Mahomes, along with thanking the Chiefs fans, also had a message for the rival QB, Jalen Hurts.

Patrick Mahomes gives Jalen Hurts his flowers

The celebration had started early for the Eagles. By the fourth quarter, they knew that when the NFL sent that Lombardi Trophy back to Tiffany & Co., their name would be engraved on it. Their faces shone bright every time they appeared on camera. On the other side, when the camera would show the Chiefs’ sidelines, you could see the heartbroken faces. All of them were in tears, witnessing their legacy being crushed on the fateful night of February 9.

“Congratulations, man. Go enjoy it.” Those were the words of Patrick Mahomes to winning QB Jalen Hurts. It’s the first time Jalen’s lifting the Lombardi Trophy, and who better to understand how he feels than Patrick? Even though the three-time Super Bowl champ was looking clearly devastated, he didn’t hesitate to give Jalen his flowers. 

For Jalen, this was hands down his best season. “I’ve been able to use every experience and learn from it – the good, the bad, and use it as fuel to pursue my own greatness,” he said. The 26-year-old also snagged the Super Bowl MVP this year, adding another impressive trophy to his collection. The Eagles were a great team all season, and so were the Chiefs. But in the end, Patrick and the squad just couldn’t pull off the big win.