Chiefs beat 49ers to win third Super Bowl title with Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime (OT) in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Sunday, winning their fourth title in franchise history and third with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

This was the second OT on the final stage during the Super Bowl era. The Chiefs trailed by as many as 10 points (10-0) in the game, but their quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes led the team to come back for the win, like he did in his previous Super Bowl trips. He was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player for the third time.

In his fourth Super Bowl in five seasons, Mahomes completed 34 of his 46 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He connected with wide receivers Mecole Hardman Jr. and Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the two touchdowns. The latter was the game-winning play and completed within the final 10 seconds of the OT.

The Chiefs scored their final drive with 13 plays in 7:19. They faced one fourth down in those plays and it was converted by Mahomes into a first down via rushing. He completed two carries in this drive for 27 yards, both saved his team from desperate situations. He also led the team in rushing (66 yards).

Kicker Harrison Butker made significant contributions to the Chiefs' victory as well by making all four of the team's field goals. The longest one was from 57 yards, setting a new record in Super Bowl history. Before that shot, his 49ers' counterpart Jake Moody scored a 55-yard field goal, but he missed an extra point for which the shot was blocked by linebacker Leo Chenal.

That one point became a decisive factor in Sunday's game because if the 49ers had scored it, the Chiefs would have to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal in their final drive in the fourth period. That means they would have either won or lost it without entering the OT.

This showed how integral the performance of the Chief's defensive group was to their win in this year's Super Bowl. They limited the 49ers to three straight punts in the third quarter, giving the team enough time to wake up from the struggling first half and launch their rally.

The last time the 49ers played the Chiefs in Super Bowl, it was at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, in 2020. The Chiefs won in that game and that was the first ring of Mahomes. The 49ers' QB today, Brock Purdy, was still playing for Iowa State University in that year. Two years later, he was drafted by the 49ers with the 262nd pick in the NFL Draft as "Mr. Irrelevant."

Then on Sunday, Purdy became the Lowest drafted quarterback to start a Super Bowl. He threw 23-of-38 for 255 yards and one touchdown with no interception. He and Offensive Player of the Year, running back Christian McCaffrey once drove the Chiefs to the edge of the cliff before Mahomes cast his magic to reverse the situation.

It's only Purdy's second season, the road is long ahead.