(CNN) Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said his team will turn the pain of defeat into “strength” after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
It was the smallest margin that ultimately doomed the Eagles to a 38-35 loss at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium — a controversial holding call to cornerback James Bradberry with about 90 seconds remaining.
That allowed the Chiefs and NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes to run down the clock before Harrison Butker kicked the go-ahead field goal.
Soon after, Sirianni had to find the words to comfort his heartbroken players.
“I was just reminding her that all the things we’ve been through in our lives were adversities,” he told reporters. “We will overcome that too.
“The kind of guys we have in there – we’re going to use that to motivate us. We’re going to use that pain – we’re going to use that failure – to motivate ourselves so we can turn it into a strength.”
Philadelphia was looking to win its second Super Bowl after winning its first championship against the New England Patriots five years ago.
Nick Sirianni speaks to reporters after the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss in the Super Bowl.
Sunday’s thrilling conclusion to the NFL season saw the league’s two standout teams square off, although it was the Eagles who dominated much of the game.
They had a 10-point lead in the third quarter and a 6-point lead in the fourth, only for an injury-stricken Mahomes, who found Kadarius Toney with a touchdown pass 12 minutes from time to give the Chiefs a first-time lead bring .
Moments later, after Toney hit the longest punt return in Super Bowl history, Mahomes delivered again and found Skyy Moore with a touchdown pass.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had a stellar performance in his first Super Bowl appearance, closed the game with a record-breaking third rushing touchdown of the night.
But Chiefs kicker Butker had the last word as he scored the winning 27-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.
In addition to his three rushing touchdowns, the 24-year-old Hurts also passed for a score and completed 27 of his 38 passes for 304 yards.
The best photos from the Super Bowl 2023
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 12. The Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gets dodged with Gatorade after win
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts after the game.
Confetti falls after the final whistle.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce hugs his brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce during post-game celebrations. This was the first Super Bowl in history where two brothers played on opposite teams.
Mahomes celebrates at the end of the game.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicks the field goal that turned out to be game-changing.
Hurts score a two-point conversion to keep the game at 35-35 in the fourth quarter. Hurts finished the game with three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.
Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore runs in for a touchdown that gives Kansas City a 34-27 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs’ Kadarius Toney made a punt in the fourth quarter for a Super Bowl-record 65 yards. Moore got his touchdown shortly after.
Mahomes celebrates with Toney after they connected with a 5-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. After the extra point, the Chiefs had their first lead of the game, 28-27.
Toney goes into the end zone on his touchdown.
An Eagles fan watches the game in the second half.
Hurts hands off running back Kenneth Gainwell in the second half.
Mahomes is hit by Jordan Davis on a passing play in the third quarter.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni gestures in the second half.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco runs for a 1-yard touchdown on the opening second-half drive.
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert collects a pass late in the first half. Philadelphia led 24-14 at halftime.
Mahomes reacts on the bench after appearing to aggravate an ankle injury late in the first half. However, he came back early in the second half.
Mahomes was in pain after that tackle from TJ Edwards.
Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith attempts a pass late in the first half. Officials reviewed the game and decided it wasn’t a catch.
Hurts runs for a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was Hurt’s second rushing touchdown of the first half, and the Eagles led 21-14 after the extra point.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (No. 32) is chasing a Hurts fumble that he ran back for a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Hurts throws a pass in the second quarter.
Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown catches a 45-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter.
Butker missed a 42-yard field goal attempt in the first half. It bounced off the left post.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is seen in the second quarter.
Travis Kelce catches an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. After the extra point it was a 7:7 draw.
Kelce celebrates with JuJu Smith-Schuster after the touchdown.
Fans are watching the action in the first quarter.
Mahomes rolls out of his pocket on his team’s opening drive.
Hurts scores with a quarterback sneak to give the Eagles an early lead.
Donna Kelce, the mother of Travis and Jason Kelce, wears a jacket showing her support for her two sons’ teams.
The Chiefs take the field before the game.
Mahomes is cheered on before the game.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin walks on the touchline before kickoff. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on January 2 during a game against Cincinnati and collapsed on the field.
The Eagles enter the field.
An Eagles fan wearing a cheesesteak hat gestures for the camera during a pregame warm-up.
Sheryl Lee Ralph performs “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before the game.
Fans watch as the teams warm up for the game.
Hurts runs onto the field to warm up.
Kansas City Chiefs fans gather before a Super Bowl Watch party in the Power and Light entertainment district.
“Jalen played the best game I’ve seen him play in the two years we’ve been together,” Sirianni said.
“I really thought he was in complete control. He did things with his legs in the running game, he did things with his arm in the passing game, made some incredible throws, incredible reads. I thought he played superbly.”
Perhaps the only blemish in Hurts’ performance was a fumble in the second quarter that allowed Kansas City linebacker Nick Bolton to run in for a touchdown and end the game 14-14.
To his credit, Hurts reacted almost immediately to put his team ahead at halftime.
“I always hold myself to a very high standard in everything I do,” Hurts told reporters when asked about sales. “I’m trying to control the things that I can… It hurt us.
“You look back and you’ll think about the things you might have done. Maybe you could have tried to do something to change the outcome of the game. It was like this.”
Hurts (center) has had a stunning season with Philadelphia despite losing the Super Bowl.
Like Sirianni, he is determined to be motivated by defeat.
“It’s a difficult feeling to come up short, it’s a very difficult feeling. But I know the only direction is to move up and that will be the mentality going forward,” added Hurts.
“Look at yourself in the mirror and learn from everything. You win or you learn.”
So there’s little chance that Hurts and the Eagles, who are likely to be a new-look team next season, will spend any time fumbling or making that crucial holding call against Bradberry.
Despite the painful loss, it was the highest score by a losing team in Super Bowl history, thanks to Hurts.
“I don’t think we know what Jalen’s blanket is,” Sirianni said. “He left everything out there. He led us to 35 points. I told him I was happy for him.”
CNN’s David Close contributed coverage.