By Andrew Rosario
Miami Gardens, Fla. – Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs had to overcome a double digit deficit when they faced the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday in Miami for Super Bowl LVI (54). They were down 24 to Houston, didn’t blink. Down 10 to the Titans, didn’t flinch. Tied at the 10 at halftime was no cause for concern. Then, the 9ers took charge in the third quarter going up 20-10 giving them pause for concern.
They did fall behind 3-0 after the Niners Robby Gould kicked a 38 yard field goal the first time they touched the ball. After going 3 and out in their first possession, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes responded getting his team in the end zone taking the team downfield in 15 plays ending in him running it in from 1 yard out giving them a 7-3 lead. Kansas City extended the lead (10-3) after a Harrison Butker kicks a 31 yard field goal. Then San Francisco started to establish the running game that dominated the Green Bay Packers en route to their NFC championship.
The Forty Niners put their three headed running back tandem of Deebo Samuel, Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman in action to tie the game at 10. They combined for 49 of the 80 yards which culminated in a Jimmy Garoppolo 15 yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. The 9ers might have added more right before the half if not for a offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Greg Kittle nullifying a 42 yard completion. It came after Garoppolo connected with wide receiver Jeff Wilson for 20 yards.
The momentum San Francisco established carried over to the third quarter as they took their second lead of the game after another Gould field goal of 42 yards. Then, Mahomes would throw his first interception of the night leading to 1 yard touchdown (6 plays, 55 yards) run by Mostert putting them up 20-10.
Kansas City and the offense continued to sputter and when Mahomes throws his second interception of the game, things looked bleak. But as he has done in his short career, Mahomes showed why he is a special player. He begins by engineering a 10 play, 83 yard drive completing a 44 yard pass to Tyreek Hill down to the 9ers 21 yard line. Mahomes then looks for tight end Travis Kelce who is tied up by Chiefs J Moore who gets flagged for pass interference. 1 yard later, Kelce pulls in the Mahomes pass to get them within 20-17.
It was now time for the Chiefs “D” to step in which they did. For the first time all night, the Chiefs would force a San Fran 3 and out opening the door for the comeback. 7 plays and 65 yards later, Damien Williams takes a 5 yards pass from Mahomes as he stretched for the pilon putting them ahead for good at 24-20. Williams would ice the game sprinting 38 yards for the final score when all they needed was to make sure the Niners would not get the ball back.
Patrick Mahomes was the youngest player to win league MVP last year. After the win Sunday, he became the youngest player to win Super Bowl MVP. With that, he helped head coach Andy Reid win his first Super Bowl trophy 15 years after taking the Philadelphia Eagles to the big game only to lose to New England. The only consolation the Niners can take away is the young core of players on their roster led by Garoppolo. They will be a force in the NFC next year.
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