Another Season, Another Mahomes and Co. Victory

Last year on Sunday, February 12, 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale, Arizona for Super Bowl LVII. The game was a barnburner and while either team was capable of holding up the trophy, it was the Chiefs who came out on top as kicker Harrison Butker knocked down a 27-yard field goal at the end of regulation to give quarterback Patrick Mahomes his second Super Bowl ring and the Chiefs organization its third all time. Going into this season it was without question the reigning Super Bowl Champions would be a threat once again, but could they become back-to-back NFL Champions? That question was put to rest on February 11, 2024, as the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas, Nevada for Super Bowl LVIII. While some things were different such as the state the game was played in or musician Taylor Swift being shown every other play in the stands, the end result was the same as Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, Head Coach Andy Reid, and Co. took home back-to-back Super Bowl trophies, their third in five years. This is also the third time they have returned from a ten-point deficit in the Super Bowl together, twice against the 49ers (2020 and 2024) and against the Eagles last year, thus being crowned, “Comeback Kings.” Let’s take a look at how the Chiefs won this one.

When you are playing the biggest game on the biggest stage with 61, 629 people watching you in person and millions more online, there is going to be a little more pressure on you than the typical person is accustomed to. That fact is why we sometimes see players in the Super Bowl make mistakes they would not always make. These mistakes were seen right at the start of the game as the San Francisco 49ers' first drive would go from successful to unsuccessful as running back Christian McCaffrey would turnover the ball with a fumble in the Chiefs’ territory. The fumble was forced by Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal and recovered by Kansas City defensive end George Karlaftis. Fortunately for the 49ers, the Chiefs' offense would not be able to turn this great play by their defense into points on the offensive end and while neither team would end up scoring in the first quarter, the 49ers would be the first to put points on the board in the second quarter.

They would score their first points in the second quarter as their offense was able to set up a 55-yard field goal attempt for kicker Jake Moody. After Moody made the field goal it was announced that it had passed Buffalo Bills kicker Steve Christie’s 54-yard kick in 1994 in Super Bowl XXVIII to become the longest-made field goal in Super Bowl history to put the 49ers up 3-0 early in the second quarter. The 49ers would also get the ball back sooner than expected after this field goal as Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco would fumble the football. The fumble was forced by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and recovered by San Francisco defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. While the 49ers couldn’t score a point off of this turnover they would score on their next drive as McCaffrey ran into the end zone off of a very impressive trick play call and a rare throw from wide receiver Jauan Jennings to make the score of the game 10-0 with nearly four minutes to go before halftime. Fortunately for the Chiefs, they would be able to put some points on the board before heading into the locker room as Butker knocked down a 28-yard field goal to make the score of the game 10-3 at the midway point. 

While the Chiefs would come out of halftime with the mindset they wanted to take the lead and win this one, they would do the opposite of that off the bat as Mahomes threw an interception, a pass intended for wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, into the hands of San Francisco safety Ji’Ayir Brown. While the Chiefs wouldn’t score on this drive they would score a few drives later as Butker knocked down a 57-yard field goal to make the score of the game 10-6 and break Moody’s record previously set in the game for the longest field goal in Super Bowl history. Kansas City would continue to build momentum in the second half as they took their first lead of the game with almost two minutes remaining in the third quarter as Mahomes connected with Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard touchdown to put Kansas City up 13-10. 

The 49ers would regain their lead early in the fourth quarter as quarterback Brock Purdy found wide receiver Jauan Jennings open for a ten-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 16-13 as Moody’s extra point was blocked by Chenal. Both teams would go on to trade field goals in the fourth quarter as Butker knocked down a 24-yarder to tie the game up at 16-16, then Moody knocked down a 53-yarder to put the 49ers up 19-16, and then Butker would make a 29 yarder to tie the game up 19-19 at the end of regulation and thus, we would head to overtime to finish this game. Both these teams would continue to do nothing but battle hard as we got into overtime and while the 49ers would score first as Moody knocked down a 27-yard field goal with nearly seven minutes remaining in overtime to put San Francisco up 22-19, Kansas City would have the last laugh as Mahomes connected with wide receiver Mecole Hardman for a three-yard touchdown to put this game to rest. 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went 34/46 on his pass attempts in the game, throwing for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also led the team in rushing yards in the game finishing with 66 yards off of nine carries. Tight end Travis Kelce led Kansas City in receiving yards for the night finishing with 93 yards off of nine receptions, but wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman each had one of the Chiefs' two receiving touchdowns in the game. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Prudy went 23/38 on his pass attempts in the game, finishing having thrown for 255 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings also threw a receiving touchdown in the game. Running back Christian McCaffrey led the way in terms of rushing and receiving yards having 80 rushing yards off of 22 carries and 80 receiving yards off of eight receptions and one touchdown. Jennings had the 49ers' only other receiving touchdown in the game.