The Kansas City Chiefs came from 10 points down to secure a thrilling late 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers to claim Super Bowl LIV in Miami.
Many Super Bowls have failed to live up to the hype over the years, but this one proved to be a fitting celebration of the NFL’s 100th season as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led his side to a victory that looked well out of their grasp until the final six minutes of the game.
The 49ers pass rush swarmed all over Mahomes all night and the pressure really told as he threw interceptions on back-to-back possessions as San Francisco opened up a ten-point gap with touchdowns from Kyle Juszczyk and Raheem Mostert.
However, the Chiefs, who were our pre-season Super Bowl selection, have proven through the play-offs that they’re never beaten, having already won from 10 and 24 points behind just to get to the Super Bowl.
And they became the first team in history to erase double-digit deficits in every play-off game with three late touchdowns – one from Travis Kelce and two from Damien Williams – to claim a thrilling victory.
Popular head coach Andy Reid finally claimed the Lombardi Trophy that his illustrious career deserves, while Mahomes took another big step toward becoming the face of the NFL with his 286 yards, two passing TDs and a rushing one of his own.
For all his thrilling big-play ability and flashy quarterback play, this Mahomes performance was more about heart and courage as he finally found a way to beat a San Francisco defence that had hassled, hurried and basically bullied him for 54 of the 60-minute game.
San Francisco defence dominates
A field goal put the 49ers ahead early before Mahomes and the Chiefs scored the first touchdown of the game with the quarterback himself running in from a yard out, after also setting up the score with a quick-footed scamper of his own.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also surprised many by going for it on fourth down from close range instead of simply kicking the field goal to tie the game.
Kansas City then picked off Garoppolo as the Chiefs really got on top, with Bashaud Breeland catching the interception for the Chiefs, which they turned into a field goal after a fine stop from the 49ers defence.
That stand proved crucial when San Francisco then began to impose their will on the game with their power run game opening up gaps for Deebo Samuel, who secured a record for rushing yards by a receiver and Raheem Mostert.
Garoppolo then capped a fine response to his interception by throwing a touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk – who became just the seventh full-back to score in the Super Bowl as the big game finished at 10-10 at the break.
San Francisco took charge in the third quarter, as they kicked a field goal before then stifling Mahomes with a sack and interception – which they clinically turned into a touchdown to open up a ten-point gap at 20-10.
Garoppolo was surgical with three short passes over the middle before Mostert burrowed over to leave the Chiefs in deep trouble, which worsened when the Niners defence stepped up yet again on the ensuing Chiefs possession.
The Chiefs couldn’t contain the relentless San Francisco pass rush and as the pressure grew he was intercepted again when his throw was behind Tyreek Hill and came off the receiver’s hands and into the arms of Tarvarius Moore.
The Comeback
Mahomes finally found some magic late on when he found Hill on a 44-yard bomb before hitting Kelce for a touchdown to cut the gap down to three points with 6.13 left in the game.
Suddenly, the momentum had switched and now it was Garoppolo who was struggling to move the chains as the Chiefs defence had showed up, and forcing them to punt quickly gave Mahomes another chance to shine.
He didn't need telling twice as he led a quick 65-yard drive culminating in a five-yard pass to Williams to put the Chiefs ahead for the first time since the end of the first quarter.
The Niners had to go for broke, but the Chiefs stood firm again and a turnover on downs led to Williams scampering through a big hole for a 38-yard rushing score the effectively iced the game with just over a minute left.
Kansas City saw out the time easily to claim their second Super Bowl crown, 50 years after they last won the big one in Super Bowl IV - and with Mahomes, who was crowned MVP, at the helm they could be challenging for the Lombardi Trophy for the next few years to come.
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