Superbowl LIX - Jalen Hurts' search for redemption against the winning juggarnauts of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Moments. That’s what makes a football match.

A near-perfect game can be forgotten in a flash if one defining moment results in a loss.

70 rushing yards racked up through 15 carries, 27 passes amounted to 304 yards, three rushing touchdowns and an arrowed pass to A.J Brown who put the Philadelphia Eagles ahead in the second quarter. Those were Jalen Hurts Super Bowl stats two years ago.

But among all that, there was a fumble and that was Hurts’ moment. One that, no matter the level, will play on your mind. His drop into the path of Nick Bolton allowed the Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton to race away and level the Super Bowl, with the Eagles on top in the second quarter.

On Sunday, the rematch. Patrick Mahomes vs Jalen Hurts. Mahomes and Co. are looking for an unprecedented three-peat, which started with that win against the Eagles in 2023, Hurts is looking for a validating maiden Super Bowl ring.

Only this year, it isn’t just Hurts. There is more to the Pennsylvanians' armoury and an all-around threat that should make this side the favourites. However, the Chiefs are the kings of digging deep, and the more difficult the circumstances, the more alive they feel. So the odds are irrelevant.

Unwavering ability against a consistent winning juggernaut. However, the Eagles had been questioned at the start of the campaign.

Hurts’ stock in the game diminished after a dismal 2024 campaign. Head coach Nick Sirianni was facing the heat after a dubious squad selection in pre-season, and a new offensive strategy was used.

Those qualms have vanished. Okay, their passing game hasn’t been up to scratch but it hasn’t needed to be with the mercurial Saquon Barkley wreaking havoc from all areas of the pitch.

The free agent, who joined from rivals New York Giants, has been breathtaking. 18 touchdowns, 2,447 rushing yards and seven scores that started over 50 yards away from the end zone. This threat hasn’t required Hurts’ arm, and it has shown the dual-ability of the Eagles’ quarter-back.

This double-edged sword was on display in the NFC Championship final against the Washington Commanders, when he opted to throw more often, a rarity throughout this season.

Barkley’s presence was missed during their campaign in 2023, with the infamous fumble caused by Hurts delaying an offload, and against the Commanders Hurts has shown that even if Barkley is startled, he can deliver for the team.

But that’ll mean nothing to the 26-year-old if he doesn’t perform on the biggest stage in New Orleans. The pressure isn’t on Barkley to perform after one of the greatest NFL campaigns of all time, the eyes will be on Hurts and his ability to shine among the rest.

His quarter-back opponent has become the master of turning up in testing times for his team, and Hurts nearly showed that two years ago but ended up on the losing side.

Bouncing back has been Hurts' whole career. When dropped at Alabama for Tua Tagovailoa, he transferred to Oklahoma, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy to Joe Burrows. His NFL career has also had struggles from being the fifth quarterback drafted, to in 2021 at the Eagles where there were talks of him being replaced, then that fumble in front of the world two years later.

Hurts is back at the Super Bowl though, redefined and more focused than ever and just like negative moments can be remembered, positive ones often go a lot further.

Next stop Superdome - Chiefs vs Eagles, Superbowl LIX.