LAS VEGAS – The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers posed for the cameras and the press at Opening Night when Super Bowl week began last Monday. It was a chaotic and, at times, strange couple of hours, but Patrick Mahomes managed to find a moment of solitude.
Amidst the chaos, Mahomes stood beside the Lombardi Trophy that will be presented to the World Champions on Sunday evening. He took a selfie with his teammates and the trophy.
And then he took one by himself with the trophy.
“I had to do it,” Mahomes confessed later.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 5: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs gazes at the Vince Lombardi Trophy during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
The quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs hopes that the photo will serve as a lasting memory of his time with the trophy.
And that is the essence of this Super Bowl.
For days, you have been inundated with various storylines and narratives surrounding the Super Bowl:
It is Brock Purdy’s opportunity to rise from his low draft status.
It is potentially Andy Reid’s final game (though it is unlikely).
It is being called the marriage proposal game because Taylor Swift flew all the way from Tokyo to Vegas on Saturday night to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce play on the NFL’s grandest stage. And maybe, if the Chiefs win, a championship ring and wedding might be in their future.
All of these stories have been circulating around this game.
But at its core, this is the Patrick Mahomes Bowl. He is in the spotlight.
This is his time.
HENDERSON, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 07: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 and tight end Travis Kelce #87 warm up during Kansas City Chiefs practice ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on February 07, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“He is the reason why we are here and why we keep coming back,” Kelce said. “He instills a certain sense of urgency and confidence in his team that we can achieve greatness.
“He is a once-in-a-lifetime player.”
That is true. One of the reasons this is the Mahomes Bowl is because without him, the Kansas City Chiefs would not be here.
Remember, last year, nobody expected the Chiefs to become Super Bowl champions after losing Tyreek Hill. Yet, they defied the odds and won it all. And this year, when their receivers led the NFL in dropped passes and struggled at times, nobody expected them to reach this stage. But here they are.
All because of Mahomes.
The quarterback who threw 50 touchdown passes in his first season as an NFL starter in 2018 has evolved. This season, he excelled in shorter passes to accommodate the limitations of his teammates.
Patrick Mahomes MVP awards
He had the most completions (320) and touchdowns (19) on passes that traveled less than 10 air yards during the regular season. In the AFC championship game against the Ravens, he completed 26 of 28 passes for 159 yards on such attempts.
It is worth noting that from 2018-2021, Mahomes led all quarterbacks with 44 deep touchdown passes. However, since 2022, he has only added two more. Mahomes accepted the situation and made the most of it.
The Chiefs are determined to address this “issue” in the offseason, regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game. A team source revealed that one of their priorities will be to provide Mahomes with a stronger receiving corps in 2024.
But the fact that the Chiefs have made it to this game with their current set of receivers is a testament to one person: Mahomes.
“When you have that guy on your team,” Kelce said, “he elevates everyone around him.”
Mahomes is currently the best in the NFL. And he is not just trying to maintain his position in a league that boasts dominant quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson.
Mahomes is at this Super Bowl to chase the legacy of Tom Brady and his illustrious career. Brady has won seven Super Bowls, and if Mahomes wins on Sunday, he will have three at the age of 28.
So the chase for Brady is on. Everyone understands that.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 28: Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo converses with Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs and Brittany Mahomes after the AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
“I think one of the great things for Patrick Mahomes and his career is that there is a Tom Brady out there,” CBS Super Bowl LVIII game analyst Tony Romo said. “The Super Bowl is everything when you are a kid. It’s the ultimate achievement. If you don’t win a Super Bowl, you haven’t fulfilled your life goal.
“But Patrick is not just chasing a Super Bowl. That is his focus this week. He is not thinking beyond that. But he has someone to look up to, someone who is on a pedestal, and he is striving to reach that level. I think that is a unique gift for him.”
Romo draws a parallel with Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Each major tournament was an opportunity for Woods to get closer to Nicklaus and his record of winning 18 major titles.
So each major victory was significant, but it was not the ultimate goal.
Mahomes has that with Brady and his seven Super Bowl rings.
“Having Brady as a benchmark will prevent Mahomes from becoming complacent,” Romo explained. “He will never take an offseason off. Mahomes is a hardworking individual with a strong competitive drive. He is naturally gifted and knows how to maximize his abilities. And he is still chasing Brady. This Super Bowl is another step in that journey, and Mahomes is well aware of that.”
HENDERSON, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 08: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs addresses the media during Kansas City Chiefs media availability ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa on February 08, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Romo was correct in stating that Mahomes is pursuing two goals – winning this game and catching up to Brady. But he is taking it one step at a time.
“My goal is to be the best player I can be,” Mahomes stated. “Right now, my focus is on doing whatever it takes to beat the great 49ers team and win my third ring.
“…Ask me that question in 15 years, and I’ll see if I can come close to seven, but seven seems like a long way off. You want to play for as long as you can. It requires a lot of hard work – taking care of your body, eating healthy, trying to get rid of the ‘dad bod’ that I have – doing everything possible to stay healthy.
“If I can continue to have success, enjoy the game every single day, and put in the time and effort, I will keep playing. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that this is not the last Mahomes Bowl.”
According to the Source outkick.com