Patrick Mahomes' Overtime Touchdown Pass Delivers A Back-To-Back Title For The Kansas City Chiefs

LAS VEGAS – In a town replete with Elvis impersonators and men doubling as showgirls, Super Bowl LVIII came at us dressed up as a defensive battle and special teams faceoff for much of Sunday.

But like so much in this town, it was a mirage.

Because this was a Super Bowl. And Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes owns these now.

Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback #15 Patrick Mahomes throws the ball during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Mahomes, struggling much of this game, led his team on a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation. And then threw the game-winning TD in overtime.

Chiefs 25.

49ers 22.

In overtime!

"We made plays when it counted," Mahomes said after the win.

It is the third Super Bowl championship for the Chiefs in five years.

Mahomes completed a 3-yard touchdown to Mecole Hardman for the game-winning touchdown and bedlam ensued.

Taylor Swift and her entourage went nuts in their suite. The Chiefs steamed onto the field as they claimed their back-to-back title.

It was quite a finish for a game that until the final minutes of regulation and in overtime was forged as a defensive battle. And special teams standoff.

That's what we got in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday until Mahomes went all Mahomey on this game:

And Mahomes touchdowns aside, this was the special teams Super Bowl.

Niners kicker Jake Moody connected on a 55-yard field goal to start the scoring. And that kick broke the Super Bowl record for the longest field goal in the game's 58-year history.

It didn't last long. Harrison Butker would come back with a 57-yarder in the second half to break the record that had stood for all of two quarters.

Chiefs, 49ers came down to last possesion

And then Moody answered with a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter to give the 49ers a 19-16 lead with 1:53 to play.

It was appropriate. Because this game threatened to turn on special teams plays much earlier as well.

San Francisco punt returner Ray-Ray McCloud, having an outstanding game until late in the third quarter, saw a punt hit off a teammate Darrell Lute's leg. So he tried to pick it up as it bounded sideways past him.

Muff.

The Chiefs recovered. And one play later Patrick Mahomes connected on a 16-yard touchdown to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

It was the Chiefs third consecutive score after falling behind, 10-0 in the first half.

You have to consider this game was about defense, too.

The 49ers scored one early that came on, well, a trick play. And, yes, they took a late lead (which didn't last) on a Jauan Jennings TD.

But for much of this game, the Niners were unable to get inside the Chiefs' 20 yard line.

The Kansas City offense was equally stifled by the San Francisco defense.

The Chiefs were held to one TD. And the team's best offensive players didn't have great outings.

Running back Isaiah Pacheco was an example of how terrible the Chiefs played on offense at times. He fumbled deep inside 49ers territory in the first half. Fumbled again in the second half on the Chiefs side of the field.

And on a third-and-1 run he was completely stuffed for no gain despite having apparent daylight to gain the one yard.

It was a rough outing for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce for much of the night. He ultimately led the team in receptions but was something of a ghost in the first half.

Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver #11 Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

He was so frustrated with his lack of production and the fact he was out of the game on a vital play, which resulted in Pacheco's second fumble, that he grabbed coach Andy Reid on the sideline.

Kelce almost knocked the 65-year-old coach down.

So, yes, lots of frustration.

The first half was, well, something of a disappointment unless you're a Niners fans and only care about the score.

That's because the 49ers led, 10-3, at halftime and were clearly the more dominant team. 

They owned the line of scrimmage on offense, giving Purdy plenty of time to throw on most of his dropbacks. And their defensive front didn't allow Mahomes much time to find his favorite receivers.

The problem is the 49ers weren't able to translate that dominance at the line of scrimmage into a comfortable lead. Christian McCaffrey fumbled deep inside Kansas City territory to upend a productive first drive.

And the Chiefs simply contained the 49ers except for a trick play that accounted for the half's only touchdown.

That trick play, by the way, was a lateral from Purdy to receiver Jennings who then fired across the field to McCaffrey on what was set up as a screen with multiple blockers. McCaffrey turned the cross-field pass into a 21-yard touchdown.

The Chiefs eventually answered with a Harrison Butker field goal but they looked out of sorts on offense. They didn't seem the least bit dynamic.

Chiefs started out of sorts

It looked as if Reid hadn't had two weeks to prepare.

Not that it was different than past Chiefs Super Bowls.

This was familiar territory for Mahomes. He'd never led at halftime in any of his Super Bowl appearances and actually trailed by double digits his previous three Super Bowls.

So as the team headed into the locker room, there was still hope for the Chiefs.

That hope got life when Kansas City actually took at 13-10 lead in the third quarter. But it was fleeting.

The Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl  champions, would rally for much more. And at the end were holding the Lombardi Trophy. Again.