*(CNN) — First issues first. Since political conservatives made one thing out of nothing so far as hating on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs as a result of their star tight finish, Travis Kelce‘s girlfriend, famous person Taylor Swift will most likely endorse Joe Biden over Donald Trump within the upcoming presidential election, they needed to witness Taylor and Travis swap spit as a result of the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers to win Tremendous Bowl XLVIII.
Sorry conservatives, San Francisco (town that’s normally your whipping boy ’trigger you hate its liberal methods and also you all of the sudden fell in love with) misplaced to Taylor and Travis. Oh effectively. Now you’ll need to create one thing else to whine about. Anyway, as TMZ famous, “Swift simply planted one on Kelce and it was a smooch for the ages, ’trigger she and TK have been wrapped up in one another for some time.”
OK, now that we’ve acquired that out of the day, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday turned the primary group to win back-to-back Tremendous Bowls in 19 years, downing the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in time beyond regulation in Las Vegas. Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have gained Tremendous Bowls in three of the previous 5 seasons.
Kansas Metropolis quarterback Patrick Mahomes, voted Most Worthwhile Participant in two earlier Tremendous Bowl victories, was 34 of 46 for 333 yards with two touchdowns – together with the game-winner – and one interception. Mahomes additionally had 66 yards dashing, together with a 19-yard scramble on the sport’s last drive.
49ers quarterback second-year quarterback Brock Purdy regarded calm and picked up within the pocket and was 23 of 38 for 255 yards and one landing. All-Professional working again Christian McCaffrey had 80 yards dashing and 80 receiving. Vast receiver Jauan Jennings turned the second individual in Tremendous Bowl historical past to throw and catch landing passes.
Veteran tight finish Travis Kelce, who solely had one catch for one yard within the first half, completed with 9 receptions and 93 yards however didn’t discover the tip zone.
49ers kicker Jake Moody kicked three subject objectives, together with one which briefly held the Tremendous Bowl document because the longest, however he missed an additional level in regulation when it was blocked.
The sport was a rematch of the Tremendous Bowl 4 years in the past when the Chiefs pulled away within the fourth quarter to win 31-20.
Gradual begin turns right into a nail-biter
Sunday’s contest started slowly – very slowly – with the primary factors not coming till Jake Moody booted a Tremendous Bowl-record 55-yard subject objective 12 seconds into the second quarter. The primary 4 drives of the sport had ended with a San Francisco fumble, then three consecutive punts by the 2 groups.
The sport didn’t open up till the second quarter-hour, when the 49ers acquired their 3-0 lead and the Chiefs gave the impression to be able to reply after a 52-yard go, however a Kansas Metropolis fumble just a few performs later was recovered by the Niners at their 8.
After the Chiefs fumble got here two extra punts, however then the 49ers took a 10-0 lead because of a sensible trick play. Vast receiver Jauan Jennings, a star quarterback in highschool, took a pass-like lateral on the left facet of the sector after which threw throughout the sector to All-Professional working again Christian McCaffrey, who discovered a gap within the Chiefs’ protection and a path for a 21-yard dash to the tip zone with about 4:30 left within the half.
The Chiefs have been in a position to get a short-field objective simply earlier than intermission. Harrison Butker’s 28-yard boot minimize the 49ers result in 10-3 with 20 seconds left within the second quarter. It capped a 15-play drive by the Chiefs. Not one of the 13 groups failing to attain within the first half has ever gained the Tremendous Bowl.
What little scoring momentum had appeared within the second quarter disappeared early within the third and the particular groups had the extra noteworthy performs.
Moody’s longest subject objective document additionally vanished when Butker hit from 57 yards with 5:01 left within the interval to get the Chiefs inside 4 at 10-6.
With 2:32 left within the third quarter, one other particular groups play helped the Chiefs nab their first lead. San Francisco’s Darrell Luter Jr. tried to choose up a punted ball that hit a teammate’s foot nevertheless it slipped by means of his fingers and the Chiefs grabbed the ball on the 49ers’ 16-yard line. On the subsequent play, Mahomes zipped a go to a wide-open Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a landing and a 13-10 lead.
The Chiefs’ protection, usually stingy within the fourth quarter of a playoff sport, gave up a landing with 11:22 left within the contest when Purdy hit Jennings for a 10-yard rating. The additional level was blocked, nonetheless, and San Francisco had solely a subject objective lead, 16-13.
Butker tied the rating 5 and a half minutes later, capping a 13-play Kansas Metropolis drive with a 24-yard subject objective.
Moody put the Niners forward 19-16 with one other subject objective from past 50 yards, a 53-yarder with simply 1:53 left.
The sport headed to time beyond regulation when the Chiefs drove 64 yards and Butker nailed a 29-yard subject objective with three seconds left.
It was solely the second time the Tremendous Bowl went to time beyond regulation. Within the 51st Tremendous Bowl in 2017, the New England Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit and gained by a landing.
The 49ers scored on the primary drive of time beyond regulation, settling for a 29-yard subject objective with a fast go rush from the Chiefs brought on Purdy to overthrow his receiver on third and 4 on the Kansas Metropolis 9-yard line.
Needing at the least a subject objective to increase the sport, Mahomes labored his magic, mixing key completions with a giant run for a primary down. On the profitable play he discovered Mecole Hardman Jr. open on the objective line for a landing.
How did we get right here?
Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs are in acquainted territory, in search of their second consecutive NFL title and making their fourth Tremendous Bowl look in 5 years. Regardless of their profitable pedigree, this time they’re the underdogs.
The Chiefs’ highway to this specific Tremendous Bowl wasn’t as clear as seasons previous. For almost all of the season, they struggled to get right into a rhythm offensively. Frustrations confirmed on the sector, they usually suffered the results by ending the season with the franchise’s worst document since 2014.
Regardless of the ups and downs, they managed to win when it mattered most, defeating the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Payments, and No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens on their approach to the NFL’s greatest stage.
The 49ers, in the meantime, have been among the many league’s high groups for almost all of the season.
They completed the common season 12-5, incomes the NFC’s No.1 general seed and a first-round bye. Within the postseason, they battled to 2 come-from-behind victories over the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, cruising into the Tremendous Bowl somewhat unscathed. Their subsequent problem is to defeat the Chiefs and win the franchise’s first Tremendous Bowl title in practically 30 years.
Sunday’s matchup would be the second time in simply 4 years that these two groups will meet in a Tremendous Bowl. When the rivals squared off in Tremendous Bowl LIV again in 2020, Kansas Metropolis got here again from a 10-point deficit within the fourth quarter to earn its first Tremendous Bowl title since 1970.
The epic comeback marked each Mahomes’ and head coach Andy Reid’s first Tremendous Bowl titles. It additionally marked the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in Tremendous Bowl historical past, proving that Mahomes and Co. are by no means to be underestimated.
Whereas the win kicked off the Mahomes period for Kansas Metropolis, the loss started an unlucky development for San Francisco. The Niners have been playoff regulars ever since, however by no means made it to the mountaintop. Now gearing as much as face their rivals as soon as once more, followers can anticipate the rematch to be much more thrilling than the primary go-around.
David vs. Goliath quarterback matchup
One of the crucial attention-grabbing storylines to return out of this Tremendous Bowl is the polarizing quarterback matchup.
Mahomes was drafted tenth general by Kansas Metropolis again in 2017. Since then, in simply his sixth yr as a beginning quarterback, he has amassed a laundry record of accolades that the majority athletes may solely dream of. He’s gained two Tremendous Bowl titles, two Tremendous Bowl MVP awards, and two league MVP awards – all earlier than his thirtieth birthday.
Niners quarterback Brock Purdy, in the meantime, was the final decide within the 2022 draft. At 24 years previous, the previous “Mr. Irrelevant” is in search of his first Tremendous Bowl title in his first season as a starter. Whereas Purdy’s resume isn’t practically as sturdy as Mahomes, his play this previous season proves he isn’t to be underestimated.
Purdy posted a league-best EPA this season, reaching numbers just like legendary quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Joe Montana. Throughout the playoffs, his bend-but-never-break fashion of play proved sufficient to emerge victorious in opposition to among the fiercest defenses within the league.
Alternatively, Mahomes posted career-worst metrics this season, although he flipped the script within the postseason. His efficiency during the last three video games was extra constant together with his playoff performances of current reminiscence, and people numbers are staggering.
He’s led the Chiefs to victory in 14 of 17 postseason matchups. Throughout these 17 video games, he has 5,260 yards mixed passing and dashing, and has accounted for 44 touchdowns by means of the air. His 14 wins within the postseason – earlier than turning 29 – are already tied for the third most of any quarterback, trailing solely Montana (16) and Brady (35).
Although these quarterbacks are extremely completely different in story, fashion, and stature, there’s little doubt they’ve each earned their spot on this high-stakes matchup. Will Mahomes do what he does finest and earn his third ring? Or will Purdy’s Cinderella story grow to be full?
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