Las Vegas, NV. – You expect a great show in Las Vegas; you got one in Super Bowl LVIII.
The seventh-longest game in Super Bowl history featuring the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will be one of the most memorable.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes willed his team to a win with his arm and legs on the NFL’s biggest stage in America’s showcase capital.
Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the 49ers 25-22, becoming the NFL’s ninth repeat Super Bowl champs.
“It means a ton, the adversity we dealt with this year, to come through the guys never faltered,” Mahomes stated. “I give God the glory; he challenged us to make us better; I’m proud of my guys; it is legendary.”
Chiefs became the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years and were down by as many as 10 points again to win another Super Bowl.
“Corn dog was the call; we brought the call at the right time; Coach Reid is a legend for that call; he brought it back at the right time,” Mahomes added. Hardman battled through adversity this year, giving me that moment making that play that is special.”
The 28-year-old Mahomes becomes the fourth starting quarterback to win three Super Bowls — joining Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, and Troy Aikman — and second-youngest.
Tom Brady added Super Bowl No.7 it is the most significant one if it is his last
Mahomes passed for 333 yards. Allegiant Stadium’s address is 3333 Al Davis Way; Mahomes has never lost at Allegiant Stadium.
The Chiefs (15-6) trailed 22-19 after Jake Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime for the 49ers, but Mahomes rallied the Chiefs, completing another impressive comeback in a rematch of the Super Bowl four years ago.
“I blacked out when I caught the ball but it feels awesome,” Hardman said. “When I saw Patrick run towards me, I thought it was time to celebrate.”
The Chiefs beat both number-one seeds in the postseason to make them Super Bowl champions. Pop star Taylor Swift has been watching and supporting boyfriend Travis Kelce from a suite along the way; the Chiefs captured their third title in five years, a run that puts them among the league’s most significant franchises—a dynasty.
“The goal has always been to get three, but we could not get here without getting the two with the target on our back all year,” Kelce said. “I love these guys right here; the men we just won this title with are family forever; I can’t be more proud of these guys, and we get a chance to do it three times in a row.”
It is a dynasty for the Chiefs, who were underdogs in the last three games of the postseason.
“It is a great win because I know how hard it is to do,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “They are passionate players, and I love that.”
Reid becomes the fifth head coach to win at least three Super Bowls. All three of his Super Bowl wins have come since turning 60.
The 49ers (14-6) did not lose the game; Mahomes won it.
Brock Purdy led his team respectively but couldn’t make enough plays, denying Mr. Irrelevant an opportunity to go from last pick in the 2022 NFL draft to Super Bowl champion.
“I have to be better, in terms of leading the guys, and how I handle things in the huddle and telling them what to expect,” Purdy said. “We have the team the offense to score touchdowns. I failed to put our team in position to do that.”
Purdy finished with 255 yards passing and one touchdown.
The 49ers became the fifth team to lose three straight Super Bowl appearances.
“I don’t care how you lose when you lose Super Bowls, especially ones you think you can pull off, it hurts,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.
The 49ers are 0-4 versus the Chiefs under Shanahan.
49ers combined 4 of 13 on 3rd and 4th down conversions.
Purdy’s poise in the game was remarkable; he was a good decision-maker and played calmly. He led two game-leading drives in the fourth quarter to take the lead and did it again in overtime on the Super Bowl stage against Mahomes. He is talented enough to win a Super Bowl in the future.
Mahomes is arguably the best quarterback I have seen. Tom Brady beat him in the Super Bowl head-to-head, but when you look at Brady, he had a consistent, healthy offensive line and offensive pieces around him. Mahomes had two tackles who could not play; he did not have a number-one receiver this season; Kelce went through a spell where he dropped the football; overall, it did not matter. The 49ers were the better team; however, number 15 plays for the Chiefs.
Mahomes has won three Super Bowls in five years, and he is 28 years old. The possibility of breaking Brady’s seven Super Bowl titles is possible if he plays until he is 40. It is the best start to a football career that we have ever seen from a player.
Fans will get to celebrate the Chiefs on Wednesday, Valentine’s Day. The Kansas City Sports Commission released the official route and timing late Sunday night, KMBC-TV reported. The parade will begin at 11 a.m.
The Chiefs were champions of the world again; their route here was different. The parade route would be the same.
Photo/KansasCityChiefs/X
6 thoughts