In a thrilling end to the 2023/2024 NFL season, the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a gritty 25-22 overtime win against the San Francisco 49ers, securing their second championship in as many seasons.
First Half Problems
Although it ended with some exciting late-game theatrics, both offences started out slowly as neither team managed to score in the first quarter. Early into the second quarter, the 49ers rookie K Jake Moody got the scoring started with a record-breaking 55-yard bullet through the uprights, giving SF a 3-0 lead. Only a few plays later, the Chiefs appeared ready to retaliate as Mahomes uncorked a 52-yard bomb to fifth-year WR Mecole Hardman, setting his team up at the SF nine yard line.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, their momentum was quickly turned on its head as KC RB Isaiah Pacheco coughed up his second fumble of the playoffs, putting the ball back into the hands of Brock Purdy and the 49ers.
Two drives later, with four minutes left in the half, SF would score the game’s first touchdown thanks to some clever play calling. What appeared to be a blown-up screen pass to SF WR Jauan Jennings ended in a 21-yard catch and run by their star RB Christian McCaffery. Jennings, putting on his best Joe Montana impression, delivered the ball to McCaffery who slipped through a bewildered KC defense into the endzone for a touchdown. 10-0 49ers.
With limited time remaining in the first half, the Chiefs again carved their way down to the SF 10-yard line. Although they avoided a turnover, KC couldn’t find the endzone as SF’s stout defensive front earned their second sack of the game, forcing KC to kick a 28-yard field goal and leave the first half trailing 10-3.
Second Half Heats Up
As play resumed after halftime, Chiefs fans hoping for an opening-drive score were quickly disappointed as a 21-yard pass (likely intended for Travis Kelce) was airmailed directly into the hands of SF safety Ji’Ayir Brown for an interception.
Luckily for KC, the turnover didn’t result in any damage and both teams spent most of the third quarter trading unsuccessful drives. Half-way through the third quarter however, a 22-yard scamper from Mahomes took the Chiefs within striking distance as Harrison Butker broke Moody’s short lived field goal record with his own score, this time from 57 yards, pulling the game within 4 (10-6 SF).
After some defensive back and forth, the game got more interesting late into the 3Q as a 46-yard KC punt bounced off the foot of SF CB and special teams blocker Darrell Luter Jr, leaving punt returner Ray-Ray McCloud III (the intended recipient) scrambling to secure the football. Despite his efforts, the ball found its way into the hands of Chiefs gunner Jaylen Watson, setting the Chiefs up at the SF 16 yard line.
With as good a field position as you could ask for, Mahomes needed only one play to find WR Marques Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard touchdown, giving KC their first lead of the game (10-13 KC).
After falling behind for the first time all game, SF responded immediately, taking themselves 75 yards downfield where Brock Purdy found Jauan Jennings yet again, this time on a 10-yard slant pass over the middle for a touchdown of his own.
Although the touchdown gave SF the lead, Moody’s extra-point attempt was blocked by KC LB Leo Chenal, keeping the score within three (16-13 SF).
In true back-and-forth fashion, KC answered with a 24-yard field goal of their own, briefly tying the game until another 50+ yard boot from Moody put SF back ahead by three with less than two minutes remaining (19-16 SF).
With 1:53 left on the clock and two timeouts, Patrick Mahomes did what Patrick Mahomes does; carving up SF’s zone coverage all the way to their 11 yard line where Butker nailed his fourth field goal of the match, tying the game with only six seconds remaining (19-19).
With only three seconds on the clock, Purdy and the 49ers opted to play it safe, kneeling it out and sending the Superbowl to overtime for just the second time in its 58-year history.
After a short break, SF won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive, a decision which sparked some debate in light of the NFL’s new overtime rules.
After the first three plays, it seemed like SF had indeed made the wrong decision and some ineffective passes and an untimely penalty left them staring down 3rd and 13 at their own 22-yard line. With his team’s season on the line, Purdy’s short pass over the middle fell incomplete, forcing SF to punt, giving the ball to the NFL’s best QB with advantageous field position.
That is, if KC’s CB Trent McDuffie hadn’t been called for defensive holding resulting in a five-yard penalty, a SF 1st down and most importantly, a second life.
Trying not to waste their luck, the 49ers started their assault downfield, using McCaffery extensively as the star RB racked up 50 all purpose yards in a matter of moments. Despite his heroics, one man can only do so much and SF’s drive stalled at the KC nine-yard line. Taking what they could, SF settled for a 27-yard chip shot attempt from Moody, which he gladly sent through the uprights, putting his team up and the pressure on.
Starting at his own 25-yard line, Mahomes found himself yet again, needing to make a game-winning drive. It wouldn’t be easy, but that hadn’t stopped him before.
The drive started with two short gains, taking the Chiefs to their own 34-yard line for a nerve racking 3rd and 1 attempt. Expecting a Pacheco run, SF’s defence clogged up the front lines, stopping the young KC RB short of the line. On 4th and 1, with his own team’s season now on the line, Mahomes took matters into his own hands, slipping past SF’s defensive front en route to an eight-yard gain and a monumental first down.
With a fresh set of downs, Mahomes got to work, slicing and dicing the SF defense with a series of short passes and another QB scramble, this time for 19 yards, taking his team within 13 yards of the endzone.
On 1st and 10, Mahomes handed the ball to Pacheco for a three-yard gain, moving to the SF 10-yard line. On 2nd and 7, Mahomes found his most trusted weapon, Travis Kelce, bringing them within three yards of the endzone.
Sealing the Victory
With only nine feet between the NFL’s best quarterback and the next accolade on his path to greatness, the writing was on the wall, and everybody knew it.
With a quick snap, Mahomes rolled out to the right and took two SF defenders with him. Before they realized their mistake, Mahomes let the ball loose in front of him, over the head of star LB Fred Warner and right into the hands of Mecole Hardman for the game winning touchdown!
The Kansas City Chiefs, for the third time since 2018, when Patrick Mahomes became their starting QB, have won the superbowl.