Super Bowl LVIII, the 58th edition of the NFL’s showpiece game, took place on Sunday the 11th of February 2024. The game will be remembered for many things, as diverse as sporting brilliance, superb entertainment and a thrilling comeback, bizarre conspiracy theories, new TV records (the match was the most-watched broadcast from the US since the first moon landing in 1969!) … and Taylor Swift.
But students of the game and those interested in the broader historical perspective of American Football greatness will perhaps remember the 2024 Super Bowl as the day that the Kansas City Chiefs cemented their status as forgers of a dynasty. And, perhaps even more than that, the game where Patrick Mahomes underlined the fact that barring injury he could just do the impossible and break some of the unbreakable records set by Tom Brady.
Game Summary: Chiefs Beat 49ers 22-25 After OT
Before we look at what the Chiefs and their star quarterback have achieved, let us briefly look back at the game itself. Las Vegas (technically Paradise, a town nearby) hosted the game, with Nevada holding the Super Bowl for the first time. It was a repeat of Super Bowl LIV, which brought a 31-20 win for the Kansas side, their first success since 1969, 50 years earlier!
The 49ers, who had a 12-5 regular season record, were the narrow favourites and were expected to win by a point or so based on the spread, the most popular US betting market. The first quarter was a cagey, scoreless affair, but the favourites went into the half-time interval with a 10-3 lead. KC fought back, however, and with just the final quarter remaining, they led 13-10.
A fine drive by San Francisco saw them advance the ball 75 yards over 12 plays and ended in the second TD of the game for their wide receiver Jauan Jennings. The 49ers were 16-13 to the good (after the point-after was blocked) and there were just over 11 minutes of the match remaining.
The teams then exchanged field goals to leave the underdogs still three points behind with time running out. However, Mahomes led his man down the field and into range and with time almost up Harrison Butker kept his calm to convert a field goal from 29 yards. Into overtime!
San Francisco must have fancied their chances when they took possession of the ball and managed to register a field goal. That gave Mahomes and co the chance to respond and they did what they had to do. The brilliant quarterback took his side 75 yards to within touching distance of the line. Along the way there were 13 plays, two successful third downs and one on fourth down, the drive ending with a three-yard pass from Mahomes to Mecole Hardman to seal the 25-22 overtime win.
Kansas City Enter Territory of the Great Teams
The Chiefs’ win moved them up the all-time Super Bowl pecking order and they now have four wins from six appearances in the huge game. Only four teams now have more wins, including their opponents in Nevada, who have now lost on their last three appearances after winning their first five.
But it is the concentration of those wins that really makes this Chiefs team stand out. They have made the Super Bowl in the 2019 season, 2020, 2022 and now 2023, meaning they have got to the final two four times in five attempts, winning three of those. And with Mahomes committed to the franchise, and as Brady did in the past, prepared to be flexible with regards to his wages in order to help the Chiefs remain competitive within the salary cap, there is surely more to come.
Magical, Magnificent, Magisterial Mahomes
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Following their latest win Mahomes was generous in his praise of his teammates and in particular the Chiefs coach, Andy Reid, saying that the mastermind behind all three of the franchise’s wins was the “best of all time”. Reid has joined New England legend Bill Belichick as the only coach with three Super Bowls and 200+ NFL wins but the rivalry that interests pundits and fans more is the one between Patrick Mahomes and the quarterback who won so much with Belichick, Tom Brady. Can the Chiefs star surpass the feats of the game’s GOAT?
His side became the first to defend the Super Bowl since… the Pats in 2004 and 2005. Mahomes was the MVP again, just as he was 12 months ago (and in his side’s other Super Bowl win). Only three players have ever won the MVP award three times and only three have ever won it back-to-back. Only a certain Mr Brady stands above him in relation to both of those achievements.
Perhaps more impressive still is the way Mahomes can find a way to win, just as all the true greats have. Despite not being at their very best for much of the season, this team and their sensational QB just know how to get the job done. As the 28-year-old Texan himself said, “The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs – just know that.” That assertion is backed up by the fact that they have come from 10 points or more behind in each of their three triumphs, a stat all the more incredible given this has only happened in seven Super Bowls overall.
But there is, of course, brilliance to go with that grit. He already boasts several personal records, being the fastest player to both 10,000 and 25,000 passing yards, as well as being quickest to both 100 and 200 career touchdown passes. To mention just a few.
Still just 28, he certainly has time on his side to add to that list. After all, Brady played into his 40s, winning his final Super Bowl (and MVP award in 2021 when his Tampa Bay beat Mahomes’ Chiefs) at the age of 43. His trajectory is ahead of Brady’s too, with the same number of Super Bowl wins as the older man had after six full seasons, but more touchdowns, play-off wins, passing yards and total appearances. Incredibly, he has taken his side to the AFC Championship game (or better) in every season in which he has been a starter!
Mahomes is also certainly a better running QB than Brady was, already having almost double the former Patriot’s rushing yards. He is innovative too and has all the mental and physical attributes, plus the drive and determination, to keep getting better and better. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL but a truly wonderful one for fans of the Chiefs, who could see their team overhaul the Patriots as the most successful in Super Bowl history.