Mahomes Is Mr. MVP
Photo: Michael Henriquez – NY Beacon
Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas Nevada
By Andrew Rosario
Las Vegas, Nevada – You can now put the Kansas City Chiefs in the same category at the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys as one of the all time great football franchises. In coming from behind to take out the San Fransisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime, the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in the last five years. They became the first team to win consecutive Vince Lombardi trophies since the Patriots did it 20 years ago. The franchise’s fourth Super Bowl ties them with the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants. The win did not come easy.
The defense for both teams were relentless as neither team could get on the score board in the first quarter. It was much of the same to begin the second with Kansas City punting twice and San Fransisco punting once. The Niners broke the ice going down field resulting in a 10 play, 48-yard drive ending in a Jake Moody 55 yard field goal giving them a 3-0 lead. San Fran would then pull out a trick play catching the Chiefs totally off guard. Brock Purdy takes the snap and throws a pass to wide receiver Jauan Jennings who is lined up all the way on the left side. Jenning then throws a pass to running back Christian McCaffery who is on the opposite side of the field catches the pass and scampers 21-yards untouched into the end zone extending the lead to 10-0. Patrick Mahomes gets Kansas City on the board right before halftime going 63 yards in 10 plays as Harrison Butker kicked a 28 yard field goal.
Getting the ball to start the third quarter and looking to close the gap, KC commits the second turner of the day (the first when running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled as the team was looking score a touchdown in the first quarter.) Mahomes was trying to connect on a long pass to wide receiver Marquez-Scantling Valdez when Ji’Ayir Brown steps in front for the interception. It did not hurt as both teams punted 2 more times before Butker nails another field goal, this time 57 yards getting them within 4-points 10-6. The fun was just about to begin.
Both teams exchanged punts once again and the next 5 possessions resulted in scores with the Chiefs scoring last in regulation after Butker kicked his third field goal of the day (29 yards) tying the score at 19 sending the game into overtime. Then Mahomes showed why he took home the MVP trophy.
The Niners won the coin toss and marched downfield that ended when Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal. All they had to do was stop the Chiefs or hold them to a field goal thus getting the ball back to win the game with any score. Mahomes had other plans. 13 plays and 75 yards later, Mahomes connects with Mecole Hardman pulling in the 3-yard pass sealing the victory. Mecole admitted after that he didn’t realize his catch ended the game. “I ain’t gonna lie man. I caught that pass and blacked out.”
Mahomes did it with his arm and legs. Aside for running for 66 yards, he threw for 333 yards completing 34 of 46 passes. Mahomes now goes into the NFL history book as the only African American quarterback to win back-to-back Super Bowls as well as multiple MVP honors. Fitting it came during Black History Month.
