Mahomes had ’em right where he wanted them
San Francisco was rolling in Super Bowl LIV.
The 49ers’ plan to bludgeon the Chiefs into submission was working for three and a half quarters. The defensive line was feasting on Kansas City’s offensive line, they were stringing together long scoring drives, and they appeared to have Patrick Mahomes completely flustered.
Then Patrick Mahomes turned back into Patrick Mahomes.
With 7:17 left in the fourth quarter, trailing by 10, Mahomes found wide receiver Tyreek Hill wide open 44 yards down the field. A few plays later, Mahomes threw a strike to Travis Kelce for a one yard touchdown that cut the 49ers’ lead to three.
After a quick three and out by the 49ers, Mahomes completed five straight passes, including a 38-yard bomb to Sammy Watkins, and threw a touchdown to running back Damien Williams that gave Kansas City a four-point lead, which it never relinquished en route to a 31-20 victory. Mahomes completed 26-of-42 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on his way to the
MVP.
While the Chiefs have been storming back from deficits all postseason, this one didn’t feel as certain as their comeback wins over the Texans and Titans. The 49ers appeared to be just too much for the Chiefs as they repeatedly knocked down Mahomes and made him run around the backfield like a madman.
But the otherworldly talent of the 2018 Most Valuable Player prevailed. It was a relentless, gutsy performance on the biggest stage by the best quarterback in the league. The Chiefs needed the future of their franchise to be the man in crunch time and he absolutely delivered.
Mahomes was like a rollercoaster throughout the game. He scored a touchdown on the ground in the first quarter, but was completely shut down until he caught fire at the end. Part of the reason the Chiefs were even in a hole was because of Mahomes. He threw two brutal interceptions and was rattled by the constant pressure the 49ers defensive line was putting on him.
But he composed himself and remembered that he is unequivocally the baddest man playing quarterback in the world. This game required him to dig deep against an elite defense on the toughest stage possible.
He grew up as the game progressed. He was composed at the perfect time after spending the majority of the game just trying to survive.
In just two years as a fulltime starter, Mahomes has an MVP trophy, Offensive Player of the Year trophy, and now a Lombardi trophy. He’s pulled off what many never accomplish in a career by the age of 24.
Let that sink in. Mahomes is the new face of the league. Get ready for the next decade because he’ll be on this stage more often than not.