The last time an NFL team won back-to-back Super Bowls was in 2004 and 2005 when the New England Patriots were able to accomplish the feat. No other team had accomplished the feat since, but on Sunday, February 11, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to make history. The team faced off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII and won an overtime thriller by a final score of 25-22. With the victory, it would be Kansas City’s second consecutive Super Bowl, and third since 2020.
Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl LVIII MVP Patrick Mahomes joined an exclusive club consisting of Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, and Troy Aikman as the only starting quarterbacks in NFL history to win at least three Super Bowls. In addition, his Super Bowl MVP would be the third of his career, an achievement only Brady and Montana have been able to match.
The game overall was a nail-biter throughout the entirety of the game, starting off with a scoreless first quarter, as the defenses for both San Francisco and Kansas City would shine, not letting any team get any momentum. It would remain that way until the second quarter, where 49ers kicker Jake Moody would connect for a 55-yard field goal to give them the lead 3-0. On the team’s next drive, San Francisco would run a trick play, leading wide receiver Jauan Jennings to throw a pass to running back Christian McCaffrey and score the game’s first touchdown and extend their lead to 10-0.
A Harrison Butker 28-yard field goal would give the Chiefs first points of the game to end the first half with the 49ers leading 10-3. The event also featured a halftime show headlined with a performance by popular R&B and pop artist, Usher, who performed some of his well-known hits including “Turn Down for What,” “Yeah!,” and “My Way.” Other well-known artists, including Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, and Ludacris would make surprise guest appearances during the performance as well.
Entering the second half of the game, Mahomes and the rest of the Kansas City team entered familiar territory being at one point down by double digits, something that has happened in each of their previous Super Bowl victories. The team needed some answers and would gain momentum thanks to a 57-yard field goal by Butker and Mahomes finding wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Chiefs’ their first lead of the game 13-10. In addition, Butker’s field goal would also set a new Super Bowl record for longest field goal in a game.
Mahomes would throw his first ever Super Bowl interception of the game to San Francisco cornerback Ji’Ayir Brown, but the defense was able to contain quarterback Brock Purdy and the rest of the 49ers defense scoreless in the third.
San Francisco would come back in the fourth quarter with Purdy finding Jennings for his second total touchdown of the game and giving the lead back 16-13. However, Moody would miss the extra point kick and it would be costly, as both teams would trade off field goals and would enter an overtime finish tied at 19 all. Had he made it, the 49ers could have iced the game away, but ultimately, it would lead to a thrilling finish.
With this being only the second ever Super Bowl to go into overtime, The 49ers would win the coin toss and elect to receive and were able to take advantage of the drive with Moody notching his third field goal of the game and taking the lead 22-19. However, Kansas City had a chance to respond, and despite at one point being at fourth down and one, the team was able to continue their drive and make it all the way to the red zone.
With just seconds remaining, Mahomes would run a screenplay and find wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. wide open for a walkoff three-yard touchdown and the Chiefs would win the game 25-22.
The win for Kansas City has cemented Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, and head coach Andy Reid as all-time greats, as well as creating the NFL’s newest Dynasty.
“Really just the whole game, just our whole entire season, it was the defense keeping us in there, and the offense making plays when it counted,” said Mahomes in an interview with CBS Sports.
Mahomes would finish throwing for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, with Kelce serving as his main target collecting nine catches for 93 yards on the night. On the 49ers side, Purdy finished with 255 yards and a touchdown, with McCaffrey carrying the bulk of the offense with 22 carries for 80 yards, along with eight catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.
“The goal’s always been to get three. But we couldn’t get here without getting the two. And having the target on our back all year,” said Kelce in an interview with CBS Sports.
The NFL is expected to release the 2024 schedule for all teams within the month of May, with games slated to return beginning September 5.
