Riley Dickerson
Pat Mahomes threw a game-winning touchdown to Mecole Hardman in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl 25-22.
Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP with this performance. He threw for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
To me, this game was a tale of two halves. In the first half, both teams turned the ball over but neither team could score off the turnovers. The Chiefs started very slowly and did not allow Mahomes time to generate offense. On the other side, the 49ers started slowly in the first quarter but picked up momentum in the second quarter with a McCaffery receiving touchdown and a Jake Moody field goal. The Chiefs were able to end the half with a field goal to pick up some momentum.
When people talk about this game years from now they will mention how the Chiefs’ offense found its life after a field goal and a 49er fumble that led to a touchdown to give the Chiefs their first lead. People will have to mention the 49ers’ miscues, their stale offense that led to five consecutive punts, and of course, the missed extra point that led to overtime.
And of course, people will have to talk about the “overtime” controversy. After the game coach Shanahan said he wasn’t aware of the overtime rules. Had he known the rules would the 49ers opted to kick instead and won the game? This game was only the second Super Bowl to ever go to overtime. Previously, the first team to score would win. Was coach Shanahan under the impression these were the rules? Was this the reason they lost?
For the 49ers, McCaffery had 160 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Jauan Jennings was the first niner to throw and catch a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Travis Kelce had the most receptions of any receiver with nine catches for 93 yards.
Early in the game for the 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw had an Achilles injury running out to go on defense and never returned to the game. The 49ers fear this could be a torn Achilles. Debo Samuel was also injured during the game but would eventually return.
There were a record seven field goals between both teams, with the longest made field goal in Super Bowl history being set twice: first with the 49ers’ Jake Moody hitting from 55 yards then the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker hitting from 57 yards.
Jauan Jennings threw his first career touchdown pass to Christian McCaffery to give the Niners an early 10-0 lead. Mahomes threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Marquez-Valdez Scantling to give the Chiefs a 13-10 lead following a 49ers muffed punt.
Brock Purdy threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings with 11:22 left in the 4th quarter to give the Niners a 16-13 lead following a massive blocked extra point. After a pair of field goals from each team Harrison Butker hit a 29-yard field goal to send the game to overtime tied 19-19.
Brock Purdy officially became the latest draft pick to start in a Super Bowl as pick number 262 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Mahomes is now the youngest Quarterback to start in four Super Bowls. Both these teams turned the ball over twice.
This Super Bowl was an intriguing spectacle and will be a Super Bowl that goes down in history as one of the greats.
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