By Steve Keating
GLENDALE, Ariz (Reuters) – Jalen Hurts ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as the Philadelphia Eagles led the Kansas City Chiefs 24-14 at halftime of the Super Bowl on Sunday.
An entertaining opening half ended in a cliffhanger when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appeared to re-injure his right ankle that had been a major worry entering the National Football League championship game.
The NFL’s Most Valuable Player got up grimacing after a tackle and hobbled off the field, slamming his helmet to the turf as he got to the bench.
The game got off to an explosive start with both teams scoring on their opening drives.
The Eagles got the ball first and Hurts, showing no signs of jitters on the big stage, engineered a clinical 75-yard drive with the 24-year-old powering over from the one for the touchdown.
Kansas City answered right back with Mahomes hitting his favorite target Travis Kelce with an 18-yard pass to cap their own 75-yard drive.
The fireworks continued into the second when Hurts, on the first play of the quarter, spotted A.J. Brown breaking free in the endzone and connected on a 45-yard touchdown.
After a brilliant start to the game Hurts made a major flub when the ball slipped out of his hand near mid-field and the Chiefs’ Nick Bolton scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown.
On the very next possession Hurts atoned for his howler, scampering four yards for another touchdown to cap off a drive he set up with 28-yard run.
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the half to send Philadelphia into the break 24-14.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Glendale. Editing by Peter Rutherford)
