Draft:The Dagger

Submission declined on 12 June 2025 by Sophisticatedevening (talk).

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Declined by Sophisticatedevening 2 days ago. Last edited by Sophisticatedevening 2 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Comment: Unsourced. Sophisticatedevening🍷^(talk) 01:36, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

The Dagger (American football play)

The Dagger is the name commonly used to describe a pivotal play executed by the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LVIII, held on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The play occurred late in the fourth quarter and was widely regarded as the decisive moment that secured the Eagles' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Background

Leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, the Eagles and Chiefs were considered closely matched, with both teams returning from recent Super Bowl appearances and fielding top-ranked offenses. The game itself was tightly contested, with multiple lead changes and strategic adjustments by both coaching staffs.

The Play

The Dagger took place with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Eagles were holding a narrow three-point lead and faced a 3rd-and-7 situation on the Chiefs' 34-yard line. Rather than opting for a conservative run or a short-yardage pass to set up a field goal, Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson dialed up a high-risk, high-reward vertical concept designed to exploit Kansas City's aggressive coverage tendencies.

The play featured a classic "dagger" route combination: the slot receiver cleared out the deep safety by running a vertical seam route, while wide receiver A.J. Brown ran a deep dig (in-breaking route) into the vacated space. Quarterback Jalen Hurts executed a play-action fake before delivering a strike to Brown, who caught the ball at the 18-yard line and evaded two defenders en route to the end zone.

Impact

The touchdown extended the Eagles' lead to 10 points with under 90 seconds remaining, effectively ending Kansas City's comeback hopes. Broadcasters and analysts immediately dubbed the play "The Dagger," both for its route combination and its symbolic finality in sealing the game.

The play has since entered the lexicon of Eagles fans and NFL commentators, frequently cited as one of the most iconic moments in Philadelphia sports history. It has also been analyzed in coaching clinics and film studies as a textbook example of situational aggressiveness and precise route execution under pressure.

Legacy

Following the game, head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed that the team had practiced variations of the Dagger concept throughout the season, but had saved this specific version for a high-leverage moment. The play has drawn comparisons to other legendary Super Bowl moments, such as the Patriots' "Slant and Go" in Super Bowl XXXVIII or the Giants' "Helmet Catch" in Super Bowl XLII, due to its combination of timing, stakes, and execution.

Analysts have credited the play with highlighting Jalen Hurts’ maturation as a passer, A.J. Brown’s reliability in high-pressure scenarios, and the coaching staff’s willingness to remain aggressive in late-game situations.