Madden Monday: Steelers 'a million miles' from replicating what the Eagles have done

When evaluating what went wrong with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday night, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X has a very simple explanation.

Look at quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Mahomes absolutely soiled the bed,” Madden said in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “He was awful, not least, early when he blew the game as much as anybody. All of the close games Kansas City won, maybe the bill came due for that (Sunday). Maybe all the luck they got, all the things they figured out in close games, maybe it all backfired on the way to the Eagles winning. The Eagles are a real good team.”

Mahomes did throw for three touchdowns. However, he was intercepted twice, took six sacks, lost a fumble and was nearly picked off a third time early in the game.

“Mahomes and the Chiefs, in general, I thought early on they were really flat,” Madden continued. “I don’t think they underestimated Philadelphia. I think they overestimated themselves. I think by the time they figured out that this was going to be really tough, it was too tough. The game was out of their reach.”

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As for the other quarterback in the game, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts was named the MVP. Personally, I would’ve given it to Josh Sweat after he posted 2.5 sacks and six tackles. But Madden insists Hurts was a worthy recipient.

“The quarterback factor. The story too,” Madden replied. “He outplayed Mahomes. Nobody thought he was this elite quarterback. I still don’t, but he was certainly elite enough (Sunday). He’s my MVP, for sure.”

Of course, Pittsburgh fans are twisting themselves into a pretzel in an effort to turn this result into good news for the Steelers. Many are saying the Eagles are the Super Bowl version of what the Steelers are trying to become.

But, as Madden points out, That is still a long, long way off.

“(The Eagles) dominate on the line. They run the ball very well, and they play bully ball,” Madden said. “That is a noble plan, a great idea. If that’s what the Steelers are trying to be, they better get a lot better at doing it.

“Their big picture is 10-7, made the playoffs. That’s their big picture. ‘We’re not that far away.’ They’re a million miles away. The big picture they need to look at is, ‘OK, eight years without a playoff win. Got crushed the last five games of the season. … They just don’t understand what they’re up against.”

Also, in the podcast, Madden and I discuss the Penguins’ weekend heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off, Sidney Crosby’s injury, offseason Steelers QB chatter and more.