Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs stun 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title (2024)

The NFL is becoming an easy league to understand, even for those who struggle with its complex schemes and playbooks. All you really need to know is that Patrick Mahomes will, in all probability, be on the winning team. And so it was on Sunday in Las Vegas. Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their third Super Bowl title in five years with a thrilling 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs fight back to beat 49ers 25-22 in overtime for repeat Super Bowl title – live reactionRead more

“It means a ton,” Mahomes told CBS when asked what his third championship meant to him. “I’m proud of my guys, man, this is awesome. It’s legendary.”

For much of the season, a Super Bowl appearance looked like a long-shot at best for the Chiefs. With the exception of his favorite target, Travis Kelce, and rookie Rashee Rice, Mahomes was surrounded by receivers with two things in common: they couldn’t catch and they couldn’t get open. That meant fans were met with a first in the Mahomes era: a Chiefs team that leant on its defense, masterminded by the team’s brilliant defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

The Chiefs won the toss and elected to kick, giving the 49ers the first possession. Perhaps the Chiefs thought their defense could stop the 49ers and scratch out an early psychological advantage. It soon did: George Karlaftis, born in Athens to a Greek father and an American mother, forced a fumble from Christian McCaffrey, who days earlier had been voted the NFL’s offensive player of the year, in the Chiefs’ half and the ball was in Mahomes’s hands. The 49ers’ run defense had looked shaky so far in the playoffs but it got a boost of its own, stopping the Chiefs’ percussive running back Isiah Pacheco for a three-yard loss. Short completions from Mahomes weren’t enough to maintain the drive and the Chiefs punted.

While Mahomes’s opposite number, Brock Purdy, has been helped this season by talented teammates on offense, such as McCaffrey, receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel and offensive tackle Trent Williams, he is much more than the game manager his critics have painted him to be: he led the league in passer rating in the regular season, threw the third-most touchdowns and has an appetite for spectacular, risky plays. It took Purdy less than 10 minutes to attempt one in this game: on the 49ers’ next possession he scampered about before throwing the ball across his body – something quarterbacks are told never to do as it disrupts their finely tuned throwing mechanics – to George Kittle for an 18-yard gain. The catch was called back for a holding penalty but Purdy had shown he was going to play the game his way.

Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs stun 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title (1)

The first quarter ended scoreless, a testament to the strength of both defenses. It was San Francisco who opened the scoring shortly afterwards as Jake Moody converted a 55-yard field goal, the longest in Super Bowl history.

The Chiefs looked like they would hit straight back when Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a 53-yard gain – a rare example of the 49ers pass rush giving Mahomes enough time to complete a throw of more than 10 yards – that took Kansas City to the 49ers’ nine-yard line. But the 49ers forced a fumble of their own as Decommodore Lenoir punched the ball from Pacheco’s grasp and Javon Hargrave recovered.

It had not been, it was safe to say, a classic so far for the viewing public. The Chiefs didn’t seem to be enjoying themselves either as Kelce roared at his head coach, Andy Reid, on the sidelines as he came off the field.

“I was just telling him how much I love him,” Kelce said after the game.

It was going to take something special to break the game open, and it came through a trick play. Purdy flicked the ball to receiver Jauan Jennings who threw to McCaffrey. The pass was as ugly as you’d expect from a man who catches the ball for a living, and it seemed to flutter in the air for an age. But the shock of it meant McCaffrey was in space – something he exploits ruthlessly – and he surged into the end zone to give the 49ers a 10-0 lead.

The problem for Mahomes was that he simply didn’t trust his receivers to make big plays, the long reception to Hardman aside. That meant the 49ers defense was able to limit Mahomes to short completions and neutralise his threat. Mahomes did lead a drive that ended in a field goal at the end of the first-half to make it 10-3 but the fact that he was unable to find the end zone said a lot about how effectively he had been contained.

Perhaps Mahomes’s frustration grew over half-time because he went deep early in the third-quarter with an ugly pass that went between two receivers and into the hands of 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown. It was a bad pass by the standards of an average quarterback, for Mahomes it was awful. The 49ers offense, however, was hardly distinguishing itself either and the team’s next two drives ended in punts. There was soon another Super Bowl record though: Harrison Butker’s 57-yard field goal cut the 49ers’ lead to 10-6 and ended Moody’s brief stay in the record books.

The Chiefs were soon to take the lead, although much of that was down to sloppiness from the 49ers. Darrell Luter Jr mishandled a punt deep in his own territory, the Chiefs recovered and Mahomes floated a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It was a sweet moment for a receiver who had committed plenty of errors of his own this season. The Chiefs led 13-10 going into the final quarter.

Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs stun 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title (2)

It was at this point that Purdy and Mahomes, disappointing for much of the game so far, found a new level. On fourth and three on the next drive, the 49ers had an opportunity to kick a field goal to tie the game. But 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan decided to trust in Purdy, who had been brilliant at the end of comeback victories in San Francisco’s last two games, and his quarterback repaid that faith with a short completion to Kittle for the first down. Purdy followed that up with a touchdown pass to Aiyuk but Moody’s extra-point was blocked meaning the Chiefs were within a field-goal at 16-13, a crucial difference when Mahomes marched his team down the field to tie the game at 16-16 with 5:46 left.

Moody was thrust into the spotlight against with 1:53 left when he had a field-goal opportunity from 53 yards, a tough distance for any kicker, let alone a rookie whose last attempt had been unsuccessful. He made it though to give his team a 19-16 lead, and the ball was with Mahomes with the game on the line. Naturally, he led his team to a game-tying field goal with three seconds left. For the first time since the 2016 season (and the second time in history), the Super Bowl was going to overtime.

The 49ers won the toss and started with the ball. It initially looked like their drive had stalled but a defensive holding call on third down gave them a second chance. A few big plays by McCaffrey looked like they would lead to a touchdown but the 49ers were stopped on the Chiefs’ nine-yard line and Moody’s field goal gave the 49ers a 22-19 lead.

Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs stun 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title (3)

Of course, that wasn’t enough to beat Mahomes. Twice it looked like the Chiefs were going to come up short of continuing the drive and twice Mahomes got first downs with his legs. And then the dagger: a pass to Hardman on the goalline. This time, a Chiefs receiver did not drop the ball.

“I guess at this point, I take it for granted but I know we’re in every single game I’ve ever played in with [Mahomes], no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is left, that guy’s got magic in his right arm, man, and he can just – he found ways to propel us, even with his legs as you saw today,” said Kelce after the game.

It was Mahomes’s third Super Bowl title. He’s not even 30.

Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs stun 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title (2024)

FAQs

Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs stun 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title? ›

Mahomes made sure of it, leading another super comeback on the NFL's biggest stage in America's showcase capital. Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass

touchdown pass
In gridiron football, a touchdown pass is a pass thrown from the passer (usually the quarterback) to a receiver that results in a touchdown being scored.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Touchdown_pass
to Mecole Hardman
Mecole Hardman
Carey Mecole Hardman Jr.

(born March 12, 1998) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent . He played college football at Georgia and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He has won Super Bowl LIV, Super Bowl LVII, and Super Bowl LVIII with the Chiefs.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mecole_Hardman
in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday, becoming the NFL's ninth repeat Super Bowl champs.

How many penalties did the Chiefs have in the Super Bowl 2024? ›

The Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers combined for six penalties in the Super Bowl, which K.C. won in overtime. Bolton's flag for unnecessary roughness came with 11:59 left in the second quarter, and his full fine came out to $8,238, per the NFL.

Who is predicted to win the Super Bowl 2024? ›

The Chiefs are right on the 49ers' heels with the second-best 2024 Super Bowl odds at (+650). Following the top two are the Baltimore Ravens (+900), Buffalo Bills (+1000), and Detroit Lions (+1200).

What Super Bowl records were broken in 2024? ›

According to CBS, Super Bowl LVIII was the most-watched television event in history since the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, with an average audience of 123.4 million viewers. Moreover, with 120 million viewers, CBS broke the record for the highest rating by a single television channel in a Super Bowl.

When was the last time the Super Bowl was overtime? ›

In 56 Super Bowls, only one has gone into overtime before. That was in 2017 when the New England Patriots won the title in a comeback victory against the Atlanta Falcons. It was familiar territory for Kyle Shanahan.

How many first downs did Kansas City have in Super Bowl 2024? ›

Team Stats
Passing 1st downs1515
Rushing 1st downs59
1st downs from penalties30
3rd down efficiency3-129-19
4th down efficiency1-11-1
21 more rows

How many Super Bowls have Chiefs been to in last 5 years? ›

How many Super Bowls have the Chiefs appeared in? Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 marked Kansas City's sixth trip to the Big Game and its fourth in the last five years, including a 31-20 victory over the 49ers in 2020 at Super Bowl LIV in Miami: 2024: Kansas City Chiefs v. San Francisco 49ers.

Who won MVP for NFL 2024? ›

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took home his second AP NFL Most Valuable Player award at the 2024 “NFL Honors” ceremony on Thursday night at the Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas.

Which NFL teams need a QB in 2024? ›

NFL teams most likely to pick QB in Round 1 of 2024 NFL Draft
  • Chicago Bears. First-round pick: Nos. ...
  • Washington Commanders. First-round pick: No. ...
  • New England Patriots. First-round pick: No. ...
  • New York Giants. First-round pick: No. ...
  • Denver Broncos. First-round pick: No. ...
  • Atlanta Falcons. ...
  • Minnesota Vikings. ...
  • First-round pick: No.
Feb 29, 2024

Will the Chiefs win the Super Bowl 2025? ›

Chiefs' Super Bowl 59 odds for 2025

The Chiefs have the next shortest odds at +750. The odds start to drop off quickly after that, with only the Ravens (+900) having shorter odds than +1000. The Chiefs beat the Dolphins, Bills, Ravens, and 49ers to win the Super Bowl.

What is the cheapest Super Bowl 2024? ›

The most affordable entry ticket for the upcoming Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium is presently priced at $5,477, while the average cost of tickets already purchased for Super Bowl LVIII stands at approximately $9,300, CBS reported quoting StubHub.

Who lost Super Bowl 33? ›

The Denver Broncos beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34 to 19, in Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999.

Who lost Super Bowl 56? ›

The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Los Angeles Rams defeated the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Cincinnati Bengals, 23–20.

Has any team won 3 Super Bowls in a row? ›

No NFL team ever has won three straight Super Bowls.

Can Super Bowl end in a tie? ›

Playoff competition - with the Super Bowl included - is a different proposition to the regular season games and features some rule changes. One of the key alterations made for the post-season period is the overtime rules, with games unable to end in a tie.

Has there ever been a second overtime in the Super Bowl? ›

If overtime happens, it wouldn't be a first for a Super Bowl. It would be a second. Of the first 56 Super Bowls, only one went into overtime, the New England Patriots' 34-28 comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.

How many penalties have the Chiefs had this season? ›

The Chiefs were the sixth most penalized team in the NFL during the regular season, tied with the Tennessee Titans, at 126 penalties, or about 7.4 per game. That's higher than the overall regular season average of 6.8.

What team has the most penalties in the Super Bowl? ›

Which Super Bowl Had the Most total penalties? The Cowboys (12) and Broncos (8) combined for 20 penalties at Super Bowl 12 in 1978, setting a Super Bowl penalty record that stood for over a decade and a half. The Panthers (12) and Patriots (8) tied the penalty record at Super Bowl 38 in 2004.

Who made touchdowns in Super Bowl 2024? ›

Mahomes and the Chiefs responded by driving 75 yards in 13 plays, converting two third downs and a fourth down to set up first-and-goal on the San Francisco 3-yard line. Mahomes then passed to Mecole Hardman for the game-winning touchdown.

Who do the Chiefs play in 2024? ›

Beyond that, the Chiefs (and the rest of the AFC West) will take on the entirety of the AFC North (Ravens, Browns, Steelers and Bengals) and NFC South (Buccaneers, Saints, Falcons and Panthers) in 2024. Every division in the NFL plays each team from one division in the AFC and one in the NFC on a rotating basis.

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