The San Francisco 49ers gave Patrick Mahomes two alternatives to drive for the successful landing within the Tremendous Bowl. They need to have identified — who doesn’t at this level? — that it was one too many.
Mahomes gamely led the Chiefs downfield late in regulation, solely to accept a tying area aim with 3 seconds left, earlier than answering a area aim by the 49ers to begin time beyond regulation with a landing drive to recollect.
Mahomes scrambled for a pair of first downs, together with one on fourth down, earlier than hitting Mecole Hardman with a 3-yard go for the 25-22 victory Sunday.
Mahomes celebrated by sprinting like mad into the tip zone, then wheeling round and heading all the way in which again to Kansas Metropolis’s sideline, the place he collapsed on the yellow-painted turf in what appeared to be elation and a little bit of disbelief.
“That is superior,” Mahomes stated. “Legendary.”
It was merely extra Mahomes Magic, giving the 28-year-old quarterback his second straight ring and his third general. He’s solely the sixth quarterback to win three Tremendous Bowls and the second youngest, and his three championships places Mahomes behind solely Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for essentially the most by a beginning QB in NFL historical past.
Montana and Bradshaw are actually inside attain with 4 apiece, and given how shortly Mahomes is stacking up Lombardi Trophies in Kansas Metropolis, it’s arduous to imagine — even for him — that Brady’s file of seven is untouchable.
The Chiefs are the primary repeat Tremendous Bowl champions for the reason that Patriots in 2003 and ‘04, and their third championship in 4 journeys over the previous 5 years places them in rarified air.
Requested whether or not they had achieved dynasty standing, Mahomes replied: “It’s the beginning of 1.”
Mahomes struggled for a lot of the sport Sunday, particularly because the 49ers refused to convey the blitz, which the two-time league MVP tears aside with ease. However he began to warmth up within the fourth quarter, when he drove Kansas Metropolis for a area aim to tie it 16 with 5:46 left, then when he drove for one more area aim that despatched the sport to time beyond regulation.
He completed with 333 yards passing and two touchdowns, an early interception lengthy forgotten when he discovered Hardman extensive open ultimately zone to ship pink and yellow confetti raining down from the rafters of Allegiant Stadium.
“Simply know that the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are by no means underdogs,” Mahomes stated. “Simply know that.”
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