Patrick Mahomes, former Whitehouse Wildcats QB, led the Chiefs to a 25-22 OT win in Super Bowl LVIII, securing his third MVP title.
The legend continues to grow…
The former Whitehouse Wildcats QB has done it again. On Sunday, February 11, Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to a comeback 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. It was Mahomes’ third Super Bowl victory, and he won his third Super Bowl MVP, tying Joe Montana for the second-most Super Bowl MVPs, behind only Tom Brady.
Kansas City Chiefs 2023-2024 Season
The Kansas City Chiefs started their 2023-24 season by winning six of their first seven games, dropping only their season opener to the Detroit Lions. However, they hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, losing five out of their next eight games, and barely winning their last two games of the season.
For Mahomes, the former Whitehouse QB, who compiled 619 passing yards, 50 passing touchdowns, 948 rushing yards, and 15 rushing touchdowns in his senior season for the Wildcats, the 2023-24 regular season was a bit of a down season from a statistical standpoint. Mahomes’ 27 touchdowns were the lowest of his career as a starter, and his 14 interceptions were the highest of his career. But despite the down year for Mahomes and the Chiefs, they won the AFC West and secured the #3 seed in the AFC in the NFL playoffs.
Mahomes led the Chiefs into the playoffs, seeking to win his third Super Bowl and the fourth in Chiefs franchise history. They beat the Miami Dolphins in the opening round, 26-7, with the Chiefs’ defense shutting down their former teammate, Tyreek Hill, and the high-scoring Dolphins offense in a game played in -4-degree weather.
Up next were Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. Down 13-17 at halftime, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a comeback win, 27-24. The Chiefs then faced the #1 seed and Super Bowl favorites, the Baltimore Ravens. In a defensive battle, the Chiefs offense did just enough to give their team a lead, and Mahomes made a critical play late in the game to keep the clock running and secure the 17-10 win. Next up, Super Bowl LVIII to face the #1 NFC seed, and betting favorites, the San Francisco 49ers, in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, which the Chiefs won, 31-20.
Super Bowl LVIII: Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers
In a microcosm of their 2023-24 regular season, the Super Bowl was not looking great for the Chiefs for most of the first half. Kansas City struggled to move the ball, and the 49ers jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Late in the first half, the Chiefs finally got the ball moving and were able to connect on a short field goal to head to halftime down 10-3.
The Chiefs got the ball to start the second half, but on their first drive, Mahomes through an interception, and things were looking bleak for the Chiefs. However, the KC defense stepped up and forced a 49er punt. Then, late in the third, the Chiefs cut the lead to 10-6 on an NFL Super Bowl record 56-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. Then, 3 minutes later, in one of the biggest plays of the game, the Chiefs recovered a fumbled punt and got the ball at the SF 16-yard line. On the next play, Mahomes hit Valdes-Scantling for the go-ahead touchdown.
The 49ers briefly took the lead back in the fourth quarter, 16-13. Then, the kickers, who may have been the leading candidates for the MVP award midway through the 4th quarter, traded field goals, making it 19-16 49ers with 1:50 to go. But then, Mahomes began to do what he does best—he put his Superman cape on and took over.
Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field to set up Butker for a game-tying field goal, and Butker connected on his 4th field goal to send the Super Bowl into overtime. It was just the second time a Super Bowl had gone into overtime, the other being Super Bowl LI when Tom Brady and the Patriots came back from down 28-3 to win the Super Bowl in overtime.
Super Bowl LVIII Overtime
San Francisco won the coin toss and elected to take the ball first. Under the new overtime rules for the NFL playoffs, both teams would get a chance to possess the ball, barring a defensive touchdown. The 49ers went on an impressive drive to start the overtime, converting a couple of third downs and getting inside the red zone. However, the Chiefs defense, led by Chris Jones, forced the 49ers to settle for a field goal. The kick was good, putting the 49ers up by 3 and setting the stage for Mahomes.
The Chiefs needed a field goal to extend the game or a touchdown to win it. On the first set of downs, the 49ers defense held the Chiefs to small gains and forced KC into a 4th and 1 from their own 34-yard line. Andy Reid called a quarterback run off the right tackle, and Mahomes took it for 8 yards and the first down. From there, Mahomes completed a couple of passes and then scrambled for a 19-yard run to put KC at the 13-yard line.
After a 3-yard Pacheco run and a 7-yard Mahomes to Kelce pass play, the Chiefs had the ball at the 3-yard line with the overtime clock ticking down below 10 seconds. With 3 seconds left on the overtime clock, Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a 3-yard touchdown and a 25-22 Super Bowl win.
The Patrick Mahomes Legend Grows
Mahomes finished the Super Bowl 34 of 46 with 333 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 66 yards rushing, leading the Chiefs. Mahomes was awarded the Super Bowl MVP, his third. Mahomes is chasing the “GOAT,” Tom Brady, and at age 28, he has a chance to surpass Brady. Brady has 7 Super Bowl rings and 5 Super Bowl MVPs. If Mahomes can win a couple more Super Bowls (a tall task, to be sure), the former Whitehouse QB and Texas high school football legend may end up being considered the greatest to ever play football.
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