Chiefs Wins Consective Superbowls by Defeating 49ers

Mahomes Clutch touchdown drive in OT results in Chiefs 25-22 win over 49ers

With Chiefs winning Back to Back titles even those who find it difficult to understand its intricate playbooks and systems, the NFL is becoming a simple league to follow. Really, all you require to understand is that the winning team almost certainly features Patrick Mahomes. And so it was in Las Vegas on Sunday. Against the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes guided the Kansas City Chiefs to their 3rd Super Bowl championship in five years with an exciting 25-22 overtime victory.

The Chiefs’ chances of making it to the Super Bowl appeared little to none for the majority of the season. Mahomes was accompanied by receivers who had two traits, aside from rookie Rashee Rice and favorite target Travis Kelce: they couldn’t get open and couldn’t catch. As a result, Chiefs fans witnessed something unprecedented in the Mahomes era: a defense-heavy squad led by the talented coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

The 49ers had the opening possession after the Chiefs won the toss and decided to kick. The Chiefs may have believed that their strong defense would be enough to oust the 49ers and gain an early psychological lead. It did so shortly after: Christian McCaffrey, who had just been named the NFL’s offensive player of the year, forced a turnover in the Chiefs’ half due to pressure from George Karlaftis, an American-Greek mother born in Athens. At that point, Mahomes gained possession of the ball. The 49ers’ run defense, which has struggled thus far in the playoffs, had a boost when it stopped Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs’ percussion-happy running back, for a three-yard loss. Mahomes’ quick completions proved insufficient to sustain the drive, and the Chiefs punted.

Although Brock Purdy, Mahomes’ opposite number, has benefited this season from having excellent offensive teammates in McCaffrey, receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and offensive tackle Trent Williams, he is far from the game manager his detractors have made him out to be.

In the regular season, he led the league in passer rating, threw the third-most touchdowns, and showed an appetite for big, risky plays. Purdy had less than ten minutes to try one in this game: on the 49ers’ next possession, he scampered about before he threw the ball across his body to George Kittle, who gained eighteen yards. Quarterbacks are advised against doing this since it throws off their perfectly timed throwing mechanics. Although a holding penalty caused it to be brought back, Purdy had already demonstrated that he would play the game as he wanted to.

The fact that the first quarter ended scoreless was evidence of both defenses’ strength. Soon after, San Francisco’s Jake Moody scored the first Field Goal of the game with the largest field goal in Super Bowl history, measuring 55 yards.

Mahomes connected Mecole Hardman for a 53-yard gain, taking Kansas City to the 49ers’ nine-yard line. It was a rare instance of the 49ers pass rush affording Mahomes enough time to make a throw of more than ten yards. The Chiefs were ready to respond immediately. However, Decommodore Lenoir slapped the ball out of Pacheco’s hand, forcing a fumble that the 49ers also forced, which Javon Hargrave recovered from.

It was safe to conclude that the game had not been a classic, with the most thrilling moment occurring when the cameras cut to Jeff Goldblum in the audience, making a heart-shaped symbol with his hands. As Kelce stormed off the field and yelled on his head coach, Andy Reid, standing on the sidelines, the Chiefs didn’t appear to be having much fun either.

Something unique was needed to turn the tide of the game, and that something arrived in the form of a devious move. Purdy tossed the ball to Jauan Jennings, the receiver, who then passed it to McCaffrey. The pass seemed to flutter in the air for an eternity, and it was as nasty as you’d expect from a man who makes his living as a ball receiver. However, McCaffrey’s sudden disorientation put him in space, which he mercilessly takes advantage of, and he raced into the end zone to provide the 49ers a 10-0 lead.

Aside from the lengthy reception to Hardman, Mahomes’ issue was that he just didn’t trust his receivers to produce huge plays. This allowed the 49ers defense to minimize Mahomes’ danger and force him to settle for short completions. At the end of the first half, Mahomes did lead a drive that resulted in a field goal to make the score 10-3, but the fact that he was unable to find the end zone spoke volumes about how well he had been controlled.

Mahomes’s annoyance may have increased after halftime as he made a deep pass early in the third quarter that dipped between two receivers and ended up in the hands of 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown. Although that was a poor pass by most quarterbacks’ standards, Mahomes thought it was terrible. But the 49ers offense was barely making an impression either, as their next two drives resulted in punts. But soon after, there was another Super Bowl record: Harrison Butker’s 57-yard field goal interrupted Moody’s brief reign as the record holder, cutting the 49ers’ lead to 10-6.

The 49ers’ carelessness played a major role in the Chiefs’ eventual lead, though. Deep in his own territory, Darrell Luter Jr. botched a punt play. The Chiefs recovered, and Mahomes found Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a touchdown pass. For a receiver who has made a lot of mistakes this season, it was a wonderful moment. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were ahead 13–10.

At this moment, Purdy and Mahomes, who had been underwhelming for the majority of the game, reached a new height. The 49ers had a chance to tie the score with a field goal on fourth and three during the subsequent drive. Nevertheless, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan chose to put his faith in Purdy, who had excelled in the closing moments of San Francisco’s previous two games, and his quarterback rewarded the gamble with a short connection to Kittle. Following that, Purdy found Aiyuk for a touchdown throw; but, Moody’s extra point attempt was blocked, putting the Chiefs within a field goal at 16–13. This was a critical difference as Mahomes led his team down the field to tie the game at 16–16 with 5:46 remaining.

With 1:53 remaining, Moody was put in the spotlight when he had a field goal opportunity from 53 yards, which is a difficult distance for any kicker, much less a rookie whose previous effort had failed. With the game on the line, he made it through to give his side a 19-16 lead. Now, Mahomes had the ball. With three seconds remaining, of course, he guided his team to a field goal that tied the score. The Super Bowl was headed into overtime for the second time ever, and for the first time after the 2016 season.

After winning the toss, the 49ers got the ball first. Although it appeared as though their drive had stopped, they were given another opportunity when a defensive holding call was made on third down. The 49ers led 22-19 after Moody’s field goal after the Chiefs stopped the 49ers on their nine-yard line after a few great plays by McCaffrey appeared to be headed for a score.

Naturally, that was insufficient to defeat Mahomes. Mahomes scored first downs with his legs twice when it appeared that the Chiefs would not be able to continue the drive. The final blow that occurred was a pass to Hardman near the goal line. A Chiefs receiver did not drop it this time.