The Chiefs win 25-22 and retain the title: their third in five years
@rprat75
February 12, 2024 (change at 10:58) – MILAN
“Legendary”. Mahomes, best player of Super Bowl 58, says it to describe the success of Kansas City which beat San Francisco 25-22 in overtime in Las Vegas, in a comeback. The Chiefs triumph for the fourth time, the third time in five years, they do an encore as reigning champions, it hasn’t happened for 20 years, of Tom Brady’s magic for New England. We can, or rather we must, talk about a dynasty. And Pat Mahomes, who throws for 333 yards, at just 28 years old is already in the Olympus of the best quarterbacks of all times. He makes the difference in overtime and it is made by the Chiefs coaches. The 65 year old Coach Reid brings the 44 year old Coach Shanahan to school on decisive calls and the defensive coordinator Spagnuolo does the same with the equal role Wilks. The Chiefs’ defense remains very solid, the attack commits 4 fumbles and an interception, but between favorable rebounds and wasted opportunities by the opponents they always have another opportunity. And Mahomes forces the extension in the final seconds of regulation time and wins the game in overtime. If you mess with fire with him you end up getting burned. The decisive play is the 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman. Then Mahomes promises: “It’s not over here, we are young…”.
you waste 49ers
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They come close a thousand times to victory. To always see her escape, spiteful. Brock Purdy plays a judicious game, with no turnovers. Chris McCaffrey scores 160 yards, the defense holds its ground despite Dre Greenlaw’s Achilles tendon injury in the 2nd quarter. But the special team gives 8 points to the opponents: too many. And Shanahan loses for the third time, two as head coach of the 49ers, once as offensive coordinator of the Falcons, a Super Bowl in which he is ahead by at least 10 points. It’s actually 29-74, in terms of score, in comebacks suffered between the second half and overtime in those three games. He forgets to run in the 3rd quarter and then the offensive calls on 3rd down at the end of regulation and overtime turn out to be a boomerang: two field goals are not enough for San Francisco. The Chiefs are also lucky with the fumble recovered on the opponent’s failed punt return and only losing the ball on one of their own, but if you are ahead for almost the entire game and never close it you have to complain about your mistakes, more what else.
lo show
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Usher and Alicia Keys at halftime and the many VIP guests in the stands guarantee it, LeBron James was also there. And Taylor Swift, the pop star, who is cheering wildly for Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ tight end boyfriend who, after a terrible first half in which he shows off only by screaming in his face and attacking his expert head coach in a rage, making him stagger, then floods into the distance. Las Vegas was hosting the Super Bowl for the first time: it offered an intense, balanced and vibrant one, even if modest in quality, with many overall errors. It was the second extra time ever at the big game: a prolonged show for the 61,629 spectators.
the match
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125 yards to 16 for the 49ers at the end of the 1st quarter, but the score says 0-0: McCaffrey’s fumble is a mortal sin. Then Jake Moody hits the posts from 55 yards to make it 3-0 San Francisco and the fumble is committed by the other running back, Isiah Pacheco. The 49ers defense rages, but the injury of Greenlaw, the super linebacker, changes the balance of power. However, a trick play earned the Californians the first touchdown of the game: Jauan Jennings, a receiver, threw for McCaffrey who flew for 21 yards and the 10-0. Only 20″ from the end of the first half did the Chiefs’ first points arrive with a kick from Harrison Butker. 10-3 49ers at halftime. The pass rush dominated the Kansas City offensive line: this is the news. Purdy and Mahomes both with 123 passing yards. At the beginning of the second half Brown intercepts Mahomes, but Shanahan’s attack does not capitalize on the errors of others and Butker hits the field goal from 57 yards, the longest ever in a Super Bowl, to make it 10-6. McLeod’s mess on a punt return after an unfortunate deflection by Luter gives the Chiefs the oval in the red zone. Mahomes collects: he feeds Valdes-Scantling and Kansas City goes up 13-10. But Kittle closes a 4th down and Purdy finds Jennings in the end zone for the counter-overtaking: only 16-13 though, because Moody misses the additional point. He was 68/68 in the season, he cheats when it matters most. Butker equalizes, 16 all, Moody from 53 yards extends for 19-16 with 1’53” to play. The Mahomes-Kelce combination, the strong point of the Chiefs attack, saves them: with 3″ left in regulation Butker extends the game.
additional
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In the city of gambling, those who don’t risk pay the price. San Francisco’s drive stops at the opponent’s 5 yards, the 49ers settle for the kick to make it 22-19. They’re wrong. Because the Chiefs close a 4th down with Mahomes’ run who then eats the gridiron and triggers Hardman for the winning catch. Kansas City also beats San Francisco in the rematch of the Super Bowl from 4 years ago, the one in Miami. Now, as then, he makes a comeback and with Mahomes named MVP. Legendary.
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