My grandfather used to tell me when I was a kid, “Mack, it’s not how you start the race but how you finish”. Despite it being a brilliant and very true concept, I never really got it until I became older. With that being said, this phrase certainly holds true on many levels, particularly in the world of sports.
Fast forward to Superbowl LVIII, which was a masterpiece of a contest between two juggernauts that needed overtime to determine the winner. The Niners were certainly well prepared when it came to the defensive execution side of things, particularly in the first half, holding Mahomes and K.C. to just 3 points.
Both teams had issues holding on to the football, as McCaffrey was the first to cough up the rock, fumbling during the Niners opening drive at the Chiefs 27 yard line. Kansas City LB Leo Chanel forced the fumble and George Karlaftis recovered for K.C.
The Niners were up early in the second qtr. 3-0, but the Chiefs were driving and threatening to score. As Isaiah Pacheco took a handoff and was headed to the edge of the defense on the left side, he fumbled the football in the red zone. The Niners recovered at the Chiefs 9-yard line and all the momentum went right back to San Francisco.
Brock Purdy was leading the Niners down the field and then a brilliant play call from Shanahan got the Niners their first TD of the game. Purdy threw a lateral to Jennings, who then in turn threw the football back across the field to McCaffrey. McCaffrey went untouched on the right side of the field and ran in the pass for a 21-yard TD.
Things were looking good early for the Niners and their fans, as they were up 10-0 with roughly 2 minutes left in the first half. The Chiefs realized how pivotal of a drive was needed to close out the first half, and Mahomes started to heat up.
With not a lot of time to work with, Mahomes showed off his magic, leading the Chiefs down the field with the help of Rashee Rice. Kansas City managed to get into the red zone, but on 3rd & goal, the drive stalled as Mahomes was sacked at the 10-yard line. The Chiefs settled for a Butker 27-yard field goal and went into the half trailing the Niners 10-3.
The second half wasn’t very promising out the gate as the Chiefs turned the football over for a second time after a Mahomes interception at their own 44-yard line. Luckily, the K.C. defense stepped up and didn’t allow the Niners to score despite giving them good field position after the turnover.
As the 3rd quarter was winding down, Kansas City put together a solid drive but had to settle for 3, still trailing the Niners 10-6 in the third quarter. After stopping the Niners and then getting the ball back, the Chiefs were forced to punt. During the punt, the ball bounced off the Niners Darrel Luter’s foot and it became a live football up for grabs.
This was a huge play as the Chiefs got the ball back and were set up in the red zone once again. Patrick Mahomes found WR Valdez Scantling all alone in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass and the Chiefs took the lead and the momentum back, leading 13-10 going into the 4th quarter.
In the early stages of the 4th quarter, Niners QB Brock Purdy responded with poise as he led the offense down the field. Purdy capped the drive off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jennings, giving the Niners a 16-13 lead with the extra point pending. Upon attempting the point, the kick was blocked, and the lead remained just 3, as the Niners were up 16-13.
That blocked kick would loom large for the Niners in terms of strategy and 4th quarter point differential. The Chiefs offense came to life as Mahomes began driving them down the field with his legs and through the air. Patrick began finding Kelce more frequently and the other TE Watson. On 3rd and goal in the Niners red zone, Mahomes was tackled by Hargrave at the 6-yard line and the Chiefs settled for another Butker field goal which tied the game up 16-16.
The Niners then got the ball back with the game all tied up. Purdy was effective in finding Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk for some key first downs, as the Niners began working the clock. Kansas City was somewhat in trouble due to the fact they only had 2 timeouts remaining as the 2-minute mark was fast approaching. One of the biggest plays of the game came on 3rd and 4, as the Niners were driving and were at the 35-yard line of K.C. If Purdy and the Niners were to convert, they would have the ability to run down the clock and kick a potential game winning field goal.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialed up a blitz and McDuffie applied pressure on Purdy, thus forcing an errant throw. The Niners did manage to make the 52-yard field goal, as they went up 19-16 late in the fourth quarter with under 2 minutes left.
This point in any game the Chiefs play with the game on the line seems to be the moments Patrick Mahomes is made of. Mahomes calmly and precisely drove the K.C. offense down the field, finding Kelce, Watson, Gray, and McKinnon in key situations for first downs.
With time winding down and just 6 seconds left, the Chiefs couldn’t find the end zone and had to settle for a game tying 29-yard field goal from Butker. We were headed for overtime and as the Niners won the toss, they elected to receive first and felt good about their chances.
The Niners managed to put a decent drive together and were in the red zone, threatening to score a touchdown (which wouldn’t have ended the game). Another huge play was on 3rd & 4 from the Chiefs 9-yard line, as Purdy had an open Jennings for a potential score.
Due to the pressure of DE Chris Jones, Purdy couldn’t step into his throw and the pass was off, leaving the Niners to settle for a field goal from 27-yards out. They took the lead 22-19 in OT, but that was short lived.
Mahomes and the Chiefs offense now had the football back in their possession, with roughly 6 minutes left in overtime. Mahomes not only found Rashee Rice on 3rd & 6 around the four-minute mark, but he also converted a huge 4th & 1 later in the drive. Kansas City began methodically picking apart the Niners defense due to the legs and the arm of Mahomes.
With under a minute left, Mahomes found Kelce with a short pass in the middle of field. Kelce managed to get the football down to the four yard line of San Francisco, as the clock was still running with the Chiefs still having one timeout remaining. Andy Reid was saving his best for last, as he let the clock run down and called the “Andy Reid Special”. This was a play that K.C. was saving for just the right moment. Mecole Hardman was lined up on the right side of the formation, as he went in motion briefly moving to his left before quickly pivoting back to his right.
The defense was fooled as they began to follow the eyes of Mahomes in addition to the initial motion of WR Mecole Hardman, thinking he was committed to motioning down the line all the way to his left. Upon Hardman shifting back to his right, he found the end zone and was wide open for the Mahomes 4-yard touchdown pass with no time left.
Another story book ending for Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Kansas City Chiefs, who’ve cemented themselves as a dynasty, winning 3 Superbowl’s in the last five years. Mahomes is already approaching GOAT status, and if K.C. can do a “three peat”, (which has never been done), there will be nothing left to debate. Get your popcorn and soda pop ready, for I feel this movie may have a part 3 attached to it down in New Orleans next year.