It didn’t look pretty, and it certainly was filled with ups and downs that tested the faithful in the Chiefs Kingdom who wondered if Kansas City would repeat as Super Bowl Champions. With all the adversity in the game, Patrick Mahomes engineered one comeback after another and defeated the San Francisco 49ers for a 25-22 overtime thriller.
He may not be the GOAT yet, but Patrick Mahomes persevered after a slow start, a red zone turnover, and a terrible interception. Yet despite all that, he made one big play after another in the fourth quarter and overtime.
For most of the game, the San Francisco 49ers controlled the trenches, yet the Chiefs defense held the 49ers offense to just ten first-half points. They were gassed and gave up 12 points in the second half, the most this season. However, in overtime, they forced the 49ers to kick a field goal, setting up the game-winning drive.
The Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl Champions because Mahomes was magical when he had to be and threw a pair of touchdowns to Marquez-Valdez Scantling and Mecole Hardman to win this game.
I marvel at Mahomes and his ability to shake off bad moments and overcome the odds, the doubters who said with this crew, he could not win back-to-back Super Bowls. Yet, he kept throwing the ball, and in the last drive of the fourth quarter, he drove the length of the field to set up Harrison Butker’s chip shot to send the game into overtime.
After the 49ers won the overtime coin toss, they took the football and came up just short near the goal line to settle for a field goal, giving them the lead 22-19. With the new overtime rules, the Chiefs had the opportunity to get the ball with a chance to tie or win the game.
Mahomes led the game-winning drive by converting a 4th & 1, 3rd & 1, and a 3rd and six. He used his arm and legs on the game-winning drive to gash the 49er’s defense, culminating with a short touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman for his third Super Bowl in five years.
He wasn’t the only player who stood out because this team had many unsung heroes in this football game who understood their role and played for the man next to him on both sides of the ball.
Despite a great defense, this was their least talented team on offense in the Andy Reid era. Yet, it does not matter with Mahomes on the field. He never quits and refuses to lose the biggest games.
Since his loss in the AFC Title game to Cincinnati two years ago, he’s not lost a postseason game, going 7-0 with two Super Bowl titles.
I’m unsure what else can be said at this late hour; the Chiefs have entered the Dynasty stage of the Mahomes/Reid era and it feels great!
Next up is the Parade and Kansas City. After that, the quest to be the first NFL team to win three straight Super Bowls.
