Patrick Mahomes achieved his third Super Bowl victory under challenging circumstances that would cause most competitors to falter. Mahomes, also known as Hat-trick Mahomes, earned this nickname by securing his third championship before the age of 30, despite having his worst statistical season since his freshman year at Texas Tech.
Mahomes’ overall numbers are astronomical, but one particular data point highlights his resilience. When trailing by a touchdown or more in postseason play, Tom Brady (10-11), Joe Montana (4-6), John Elway (6-7), and Drew Brees (6-8) all have winning percentages below .500. However, after Sunday’s game, Mahomes boasts an impressive record of 9-2 in such situations.
The Kansas City Chiefs can be considered a dynasty, primarily due to Mahomes’ unwavering determination. Coaches Kyle Shanahan and Purdy abandoned the conventional rules for surviving a trilogy, as depicted in Wes Craven’s movies, and instead gave Mahomes an opportunity to achieve his Super Bowl treble. In the words of Randy Meeks, the first rule to defeat Mahomes is not to stab or shoot him; instead, one must resort to extreme measures such as cryogenically freezing his head, decapitating him, or blowing him up.
Kyle Shanahan is all too familiar with the feeling of Mahomes relentlessly pursuing his team, much like the antagonist in a slasher film. Shanahan witnessed Mahomes’ abilities firsthand four years ago when the MVP led the Kansas City Chiefs to a comeback victory in Super Bowl 54, scoring 14 points in the final seven minutes. However, Shanahan failed to learn from that experience.
During the first half of the game, San Francisco had numerous opportunities to secure a significant lead over Kansas City before their defense could adjust. However, the Chiefs’ punt-pass-kick competition during the first three quarters dampened the Niners’ spirits. Just two weeks after Chase Young was criticized for his lackluster effort in the NFC Championship Game, he displayed exceptional performance in the first half. Mahomes’ attempted pass, which resulted in an intentional grounding penalty, was influenced by Young’s pressure as he escaped the pocket.
Self-inflicted mistakes, fumbles, and San Francisco’s aggressive pass rush hindered Mahomes, while the Chiefs’ defense, along with a couple of special teams errors, kept the game within reach. Unfortunately for the Niners, if they aimed to overthrow the Chiefs dynasty, they needed to do so convincingly, similar to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ dominant victory over Mahomes in Super Bowl LV.
During Sunday’s game, Mahomes followed in the footsteps of Purdy and the Niners, slowly gaining momentum in the first half. After a relatively uneventful start, Mahomes tapped into his killer instincts and took charge. Despite the Niners leading for a significant portion of the second half, Mahomes seemed unstoppable, generating a total of 400 yards in offense. While the connection between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift garnered attention from casual fans, it was Mahomes’ partnership with the future Hall of Famers that proved crucial, thanks to Andy Reid’s strategic planning.
Whenever a big play was needed, Mahomes either carried the offensive burden himself or relied on Kelce for support. Kelce’s 22-yard catch-and-run set up a field goal for Harrison Butker. Throughout the Chiefs’ game-winning drive, Kelce served as a decoy, creating opportunities for his teammates to gain yardage. On the penultimate play, Kelce’s efforts brought the Chiefs within five yards of the end zone. Overall, Kelce’s outstanding performance included nine catches for 99 yards.
We have witnessed Mahomes activate this level of play before. Four years ago, the Chiefs scored 21 points in seven minutes to overcome a two-possession deficit against San Francisco. This time, however, Purdy demonstrated more fight than Jimmy Garoppolo did in 2019.
Purdy’s performance in the first half was mediocre, but when the Niners needed him to excel beyond expectations, he delivered. His leadership led the offense down the field during the final drive of regulation, although Spagnuolo’s well-timed disguised blitz ultimately halted their progress, resulting in a field goal with approximately two minutes remaining.
In overtime, Purdy continued to extend plays with his agility and arm strength. However, Chris Jones’ unblocked tackle on 3rd and 4 ended San Francisco’s first possession of overtime with another field goal. Knowing that a touchdown would secure victory, Mahomes entered the field with a mix of determination and composure reminiscent of Michael Jordan. On a crucial 4th-and-1 play, Mahomes executed a deceptive handoff and sprinted outside the right tackle to secure the first down. A few plays later, he connected with Rashee Rice for a 13-yard gain on 3rd and 6. On 3rd and 1, Mahomes surprised everyone by rushing for 19 yards.
Inside the 5-yard-line, Andy Reid implemented a play from his playbook, known as “Corndog,” for the third time in two Super Bowls. Mecole Hardman’s pre-snap motion towards the middle of the field, followed by a sudden change in direction towards the sideline, resulted in a Super Bowl-winning touchdown, similar to Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney’s success against the Eagles last year.
The peripheral subplots, such as the Taylor Swiftification of Chiefs broadcasts, the Mahomes family’s personal struggles, and receivers with unreliable hands, were overshadowed by Mahomes’ ability to deliver dramatic Super Bowl victories. It is now undeniable that Mahomes possesses a Terminator-like streak, leaving the Niners on the wrong end of his dominance. While the talk of a dynasty after the Chiefs’ first title may have seemed premature, their third championship is the appropriate moment to recognize their greatness. Mahomes defied the odds throughout the postseason, winning two crucial away games.
As if burying San Francisco six feet under wasn’t motivation enough, Mahomes now sets his sights on joining the elite club of quarterbacks with four Super Bowl victories, alongside Montana and Terry Bradshaw. It would be unwise to bet against him.
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According to the Source deadspin.com