Mahomes leads Chiefs to OT thriller over 49ers
LAS VEGAS: Patrick Mahomes conjured another Super Bowl comeback on Sunday (Monday in Manila) as the Kansas City Chiefs snatched a thrilling 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers to win their third NFL championship in five seasons.
In a perfectly scripted finale before a celebrity-studded Las Vegas crowd including pop icon Taylor Swift, Mahomes found Mecole Hardman in the end zone with just three seconds remaining in overtime to seal a dramatic win in what was the longest Super Bowl in history.
The victory makes Kansas City the first team to win back-to-back Lombardi Trophies since the New England Patriots in 20032004, cementing the franchise’s right to be regarded as the NFL’s newest dynasty.
“It means a ton,” said Mahomes, who was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player for the third time after the win. “With the adversity we dealt with this year and to come through, the guys never faltered.”
Mahomes, meanwhile, warned the Chiefs’ rivals that their latest win was just the start of their reign of dominance.
“We’re not done,” he said. “We’ve got a young team. We’re going to keep this thing going.”
For long periods, however, it looked as if Kansas City would be denied by San Francisco’s ferocious defense.
Chiefs star Travis Kelce, whose romance with Swift has captivated the NFL this season, had a nightmare start to the game, at one stage blowing up on the sidelines at Kansas City head coach Andy Reid in an extraordinary outburst.
But with Mahomes pulling the strings, the Chiefs finally battled through a below-par performance to deliver when it mattered once more.
It marked the third time that Mahomes has led Kansas City back from double-digit deficits to win the Super Bowl, sealing his reputation as the heir apparent to the legendary Tom Brady.
It was also the third time that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has finished on the losing side in a Super Bowl after seeing his team go 10 or more points ahead.
“We all hurt,” Shanahan said. “Everyone knows how it feels. Don’t have a lot of words for it. Obviously we’re hurting. Our team’s hurting. That’s how it goes when you put yourself out there.
“Real proud of our guys,” he added. “No regrets with our team, the guys played so hard today, not everything was perfect by no means. But if we’re going to lose with a group of guys, I’ll take those guys any time.
“We’ll take some time and get over this and come back next year ready to go.”
The 44-year-old coach, regarded as one of the most innovative minds in the NFL — has now seen three Super Bowl chances slip away.