The emotion over the score overwhelmed the quality of the game in the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes, 28, demonstrated the degree of seniority that separates him from Brock Purdy, 24, a gifted student who was overly burdened by the framework of his great work.
The Kansas Chiefs achieved victory in overtime over the San Francisco 49ers (25-22), the second time in history that it went into added time. This Las Vegas final was the repetition of the 2020 final in Miami and the same team won as on that occasion. Those from Missouri thus achieve their third American Football League (NFL) title in the last five years, the fourth in their history, and revalidate the honor achieved last year.
The image of joy was the hug and kiss between Travis Kelce, one of the stars of the Chiefs, and his girlfriend, the singer Taylor Swift, who rushed back from a concert in Japan so as not to miss the date. “Viva Las Vegas,” Kelce sang, switching roles in the couple, as if he were possessed by the spirit of Elvis Presley, and the Kansa City fans took up the chorus.
It was like popping the cork out of champagne and releasing the bubbles of built-up tension. The Chiefs won at the last minute, after being ten points behind and reaching halftime with a deficit of seven (3-10). But as happened in the two previous games of this playoff, they went behind and ended up coming back. It’s his specialty.
In a match full of errors, in which the defenses prevailed and the kickers had a special role, the squad that had the most resistance and, especially, the nerve to play the decisive minutes won. Purdy, the 49ers quarterback, had the ball weighed down too much in those final moments, while Mahomes, chosen as the best player of the game, gave the pass with which Mecale Hardman made the decisive touchdown in overtime.
Everyone is already talking about a dynasty marked by the tandem formed by coach Andy Reid and his quarterback Mahomes. His career runs parallel. With this new victory they repeated the 2023 title, a reiteration that had not occurred in twenty years with the New England Patriots.
Those from San Francisco, who have not been victorious since 1995, came close to breaking this particular spell and winning their sixth trophy, which would have tied them with the same Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the two leaders. There was stage fright at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada City. They had to touch it with their hands, but those from Kansas showed great faith in themselves.
The LVIII edition of the Super Bowl has been one of the most followed and has created the most expectations in recent times. Above all because of what has surrounded her off the field, with the Swift-Kelce affair, the ‘Swelce’ affair becoming the stuff of conspiracy theorists.
According to the American extreme right, the Chiefs reached this final because their matches were fixed from the White House. Surely now they will say that they were right, although on this occasion there were referee decisions that harmed those from Kansas City. Now all that remains is for the most famous singer on the planet to ask for the vote for Joe Biden and the circle of absurdity will be squared.
The game started badly for the Californians. They lost the ball in the first attack. However, his great defense nullified Mahomes and his passing lane. The first quarter ended with a tie at zero. This had only happened ten times in the Super Bowl, the most resentful being 2017.
Those from the bay made it 3-0 at the start of the second quarter with a shot from Jake Moody. That score also meant a record for kick distance, from 48.5 meters. He made another from 51 meters later, although the record went to his rival, Harrison Butker, who scored a shot from 52 meters. Even in this the Chiefs prevailed.
After those first scores it seemed that the Kansas City team had woken up. They were inches away from their first touchdown, but one of their players dropped the jammed ball. There Kelce was seen, on the sideline, lunging at his coach, whom he almost knocked down. Soon there was the embrace of peace and the most famous boyfriend in the United States began to function with better benefits.
However, in an extraordinary play with a double pass, Christian McCaffrey, the best of the 49ers, made the first try before halftime.
At the restart, the Kansas City team returned with more energy. Although there were failed plays by both teams (Mahomes had a pass intercepted), the score moved in favor of the Chiefs. First with the three points from Butker’s record kick and a touchdown that put the champions ahead for the first time (13-10).
In the last quarter, the Californians stretched again, especially Purdy, and went ahead again (16-13). In the final seconds, another shot from Butker tied the game at 16-all.
In overtime, in which each team had an attack, the 49ers only scored three points due to a shot by Moody. In the replica, with Mahones, and the collaboration of Kelce, the Chiefs scored the touchdown that closed an epic final.
Mahomes, at 28 years old, already has three titles and is on the path of the legendary Tom Brady, who retired with seven. On the other hand, Purdy was the first Mr. Irrelevant, as the last-place pick in the draft is called, to reach a Super Bowl. He touched the glory not only of the title, but of turning the irrelevant into the winner. Maybe the next one will be the good one.