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In a game that saw 7 clutch field goals kicked, two of them record breakers, it ended up being a incredible touchdown drive led by Patrick Mahomes in overtime, to win the game for the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a thrilling 25-22 victory for the Chiefs, their third since 2020 and their second over the San Francisco 49ers. It also set a record for being the longest Super Bowl in NFL history.
As mentioned, the winning drive was led by Mahomes, after the 49ers begun overtime with a brilliant 13 play, 7 plus minute led drive that went 66 yards and resulted in Jake Moody’s third field goal of the night. The 49ers were close to scoring a touchdown and ending the game, but a penalty moved them back and more than likely, cost them the game.
This left the door wide open for Mahomes, who promptly took his team on a 13 play drive for 75 yards over 7 minutes to win it. The final play coming when Patrick Mahomes passed to Mecole Hardman to the right for 3 yard touchdown with just six seconds left in the initial overtime period.
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes finished with 333 passing yards on 34 of 46 passing with two touchdowns. His main target was Travis Kelce with 9 catches for 93 yards. Mecole Hardman had 3 catches for 57 yards, including the game winner.
Brock Purdy, for his credit, in his first Super Bowl in only his second year in the league, played extremely well. Purdy, went 23 of 38 for 255 yards and a touchdown. His main threat was Christian McCaffrey who caught 8 balls for 80 yards with a score and ran the ball 22 times for 80 more yards. He tallied 30 total touches for 160 total yards.
If the 49ers had won, the MVP would have been an easy choice to make as JaJuan Jennings broke a record last night himself. He became the first Wide Receiver in Super Bowl history to throw for a touchdown and also catch a touchdown. He had 4 catches for 42 yards with the score along with the 21 yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey.
It was a slow paced first half for the Chiefs who only saw two drives of note, with one ending in a fumble, and the other a field goal, seconds before half. This allowed the 49ers to build a 10-0 lead midway through the second, after a scoreless first quarter for both teams.
The 49ers were moving the ball well on the opening drive of the game before a McCafferey fumble halted it. A few drives later they got the ball back and kicked a field goal in the early moments of the second quarter to take a 3-0 lead. The 54 yard kick from Jake Moody was a record long in the Super Bowl and came on the foot of a rookie. The record would last about 73 minutes of real time.
The Chiefs had a chance to strike back with a touchdown the next time they touched the ball, but came up empty deep inside 49er territory when Pacheco fumbled it near the goal line. A few possessions later, the 49ers put together a 8 play, 67 yard drive that was capped by a trick play touchdown as wide receiver Jaun Jennings took a handoff on a Jet Sweep and then passed it to Christian McCaffrey to the right for 21 yard touchdown.
As mentioned, the Chiefs managed to get a 28-yard Harrison Butker field goal before half to cut it to 10-3 at the break. It was a frustrating first half for Mahomes as he was held to 10 of 13 passing for 123 yards as the 49er defense sacked him twice and hurried him all half.
The second half didn’t begin much better for Mahomes as he was picked off by Ji’Ayir Brown on the second play from scrimmage. The Chiefs rebounded quickly however as a few possessions later they put together a beautiful 9 play, 47 yard drive that ended in a new record setting field goal. This time it was Butker from 57 yards out to make it 10-6 49ers with 5:01 to play in the third.
After each team went a quick three and out to follow, it was bizarre incident that resulted in the Chiefs first lead of the game. A punt bounced off of a 49er foot and was recovered by the Chiefs at the 16 yard line. A few seconds later Patrick Mahomes passed to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the right for 16 yard touchdown, handing them their first lead of the game at 13-10 with 2:28 to play I the third.
The 49ers were not to be detoured and strung together an impressive drive to strike right back, including going for it on a fourth and 3 and converting with a outside curl pass to George Kittle to convert by the skin of his teeth. The 12 play, 75 yard drive soaked up 6 plus minutes and resulted in a touchdown when Brock Purdy passed to Jauan Jennings to the right for 10 yard touchdown as he bounced off would be tacklers. Jennings also had a big third down conversion on that drive as well.
The Chiefs blocked the extra point however and it remained a 3 point game at 16-13 with 11:27 to play. The Chiefs answered with Butkers third field goal of the game, tying it at 16 with 5:49 left in regulation as Andy Reid opted for the field on a fourth and goal from the 49ers 7-yard line. Both kickers knocked in another field goal each, to send us to overtime at 19-19.