Patrick Mahomes’ third Tremendous Bowl got here to fruition in circumstances most rivals would crumple in. Hat-trick Mahomes earned the nickname along with his third championship earlier than 30 got here on the tail finish of his worst statistical season since he was a freshman at Texas Tech.
Mahomes numbers in totality are astronomical, however one information level spells out his resiliency. Tom Brady (10-11), Joe Montana (4-6), John Elway (6-7) and Drew Brees (6-8) are all beneath .500 when trailing by a landing or extra in postseason play. After Sunday, Mahomes is 9-2.
Fairly frankly, the Chiefs are a dynasty as a result of they by no means die with Mahomes on the helm. Shanahan and Purdy eschewed Wes Craven’s fourth wall-breaking Randy Meeks’ guidelines for surviving a trilogy and gave Mahomes a gap to earn his Tremendous Bowl treble. Rule primary: “Stabbing him won’t work. Shooting him won’t work. Basically, in the third one you gotta cryogenically freeze his head, decapitate him, or blow him up.”
Kyle Shanahan is aware of the sensation of Mahomes stalking your staff just like the antagonist in a slasher flick higher than anybody. He’s seen Mahomes activate that change firsthand earlier than. 4 years in the past, the Chiefs MVP started his reign by scoring 14 factors within the last seven minutes to steer Kansas Metropolis’s again from a two-possession deficit in Tremendous Bowl 54. And but, he didn’t hear.
San Francisco had loads of probabilities within the first half to bury Kansas Metropolis earlier than they may work out Steve Wilks’ crushing protection. Nothing may kill extra pleasure on Sunday than Kansas Metropolis’s punt-pass-kick competitors by way of three quarters. Two weeks after Chase Young was rightfully dogged for his lackadaisical effort of their NFC Championship Recreation comeback, the pilot mild beneath him was blazing within the first half. Mahomes drew an intentional grounding penalty throwing an ungainly two-handed push move that didn’t attain the road of scrimmage. Tight finish Noah Grey’s presence close to the neighborhood of the move’ trajectory was ignored, however the drive-killing laundry was a results of Younger sealing the sting as Mahomes escaped the pocket.
Self-inflicted wounds, fumbles and a San Francisco’s bullying move rush foiled Mahomes whereas Steve Spagnuolo’s protection and a pair of particular groups errors saved the Chiefs inside putting distance. Sadly, for the Niners, in case you’re going to topple the Chiefs dynasty, you must do it in convincing vogue, à la the Tampa Bay Buccaneers annihilation of Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LV.
On Sunday, Mahomes tracked Purdy and the Niners’ footsteps by way of the swampy first half. After an uneventful opening three quarters, Mahomes channeled his latent killer instincts and pounced. Even when the Niners led by way of a majority of the second half, it felt like Mahomes was in Ghostface mode as he generated 400 yards in whole offense. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift was the connection that drew within the casuals, however the connection between the long run Corridor of Famers and Mahomes was Andy Reid’s Insurance coverage penalty.
When Mahomes wanted a giant play he both positioned the load of the offense on his personal shoulders or turned to Kelce for help. It was Kelce’s 22-yard catch-and-run that set Harrison Butker up for a gimme 29-yard subject objective. On a number of performs on the Chiefs game-winning drive, he served as a decoy, leaving teammates with open area to select up yards. On the penultimate play, he rumbled ahead to position the Chiefs contained in the Niners 5-yard-line. Total, Kelce produced a game-high 9 catches for 99 yards.
We’ve seen him flip that change on earlier than. 4 years in the past, the Chiefs scored 21 factors in seven majestic minutes to steer Kansas Metropolis again from a two-possession deficit in opposition to San Francisco. This time, although, Purdy demonstrated extra combat than 2019 Jimmy Garoppolo.
Purdy submitted a middle-manager efficiency within the first half, however when the Niners wanted him to play above his pay grade, he pulled off C-Suite degree feats which had the Niners one cease away from a Tremendous Bowl. On the Niners’ last drive of regulation, he matriculated the offense down the sphere, however a well timed disguised blitz by Spagnuolo lastly crushed him, forcing the Niners to kick a subject objective with roughly two minutes left.
In additional time, he repeatedly prolonged performs along with his legs and arms till Chris Jones crashed through the line unblocked on 3rd and 4, ending San Fran’s opening possession of the additional time with one other subject objective. Figuring out a landing would win the Tremendous Bowl, Mahomes strode onto the sphere and exhibited a Jordanesque combine of fireplace and equanimity. On a 4th-and-1 jump-scare, Mahomes faked an inside handoff and scampered exterior the correct sort out to select up the primary. On third and 6 a couple of performs later, he related with Rashee Rice on a catch-and-run that picked up 13 yards. On third and 1, Mahomes pulled one other rabbit out of his hat by galloping for 19 yards.
Contained in the 5-yard-line, Andy Reid dug Corndog out of his playbook for the third time in two Tremendous Bowls. Mecole Hardman sprinting in pre-snap movement in the direction of the center of the sphere solely to reverse course and dash again in the direction of the sideline for the Tremendous Bowl-winning landing was how Reid schemed Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney open a yr in the past in opposition to the Eagles.
The Taylor Swiftification of Chiefs broadcasts, the Mahomes household’s internal tumult, and stone-handed receivers have been simply the peripheral subplots. Mahomes’ Tremendous Bowl wins are getting more and more extra dramatic, however there wasn’t any doubt that he’d rise to the event. The Niners discovered themselves on the flawed finish of Mahomes’ Terminator streak. After the Chiefs first title, the dynasty speak felt untimely. Kansas Metropolis’s third title is the apropos time to anoint them. Mahomes beat the chances all postseason by successful a pair of video games on the street.
As if Mahomes wanted any extra motivation after burying San Francisco six ft below, he’s now in sizzling pursuit of the four-Tremendous Bowl QB membership consisting of Montana and Terry Bradshaw. I wouldn’t suggest betting in opposition to him.
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