A dynasty is born. Super Bowl LVIII lived up to the hype as the Chiefs won an overtime thriller, 25-22, in the longest game in Super Bowl history.
Here is the best and worst of the big game, which gave Kansas City its third Super Bowl victory in five seasons.
Best: Patrick Mahomes
The best gets better. Mahomes finished 34-of-46 for 333 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning score in overtime to make up for an early third-quarter interception. Mahomes, 28, has already won three Super Bowls, and this one featured his most difficult path to the Lombardi Trophy.
This was the most flawed team of the Mahomes-Reid era and they won the Super Bowl with the toughest playoff path ever by DVOA. Good luck guys.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) February 12, 2024
In overtime, he was 8-for-8 for 42 yards and added 27 yards on two runs, including a crucial fourth-down conversion.
13 plays. 75 yards. 1 Super Bowl victory.
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
The drive that gave the @Chiefs back-to-back Lombardis. pic.twitter.com/rqmkgJPrrk
Only three quarterbacks in NFL history have won more Super Bowls than Mahomes (Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw), and we won't count him out to add more rings to his collection in future years.
Worst: 49ers muffed punt
San Francisco's turnover on a third-quarter punt return gave the Chiefs the ball inside the red zone, which Mahomes promptly turned into a touchdown.
Special teams takeaway for Kansas City!
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
: #SBLVIII on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/dClcEDViWl pic.twitter.com/s9icGCqmy0
The ball hit defensive back Darrell Luter Jr.'s foot and return man Ray-Ray McCloud couldn't corral the loose ball. One play later, Mahomes connected with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard touchdown and a 13-10 lead.
WE HAVE THE LEAD.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 12, 2024
WE REPEAT, WE HAVE THE LEAD!!! pic.twitter.com/7ZCATsbTTk
Best: Jauan Jennings
The biggest shame of the 49ers' loss is Johnson's performance being potentially lost to the annals of history. He became the second player in Super Bowl history to have a receiving and passing touchdown, joining former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.
The only players with a PASS TD and REC TD in a Super Bowl game:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 12, 2024
Jauan Jennings
Nick Foles pic.twitter.com/332yN3OOyV
First, Jennings completed a pass to running back Christian McCaffrey on a trick play to put the Niners up 10-0, then caught a pass NFL Next Gen Stats gave him a 4% chance of scoring a touchdown on that gave San Francisco a 16-13 advantage.
PURDY TO JENNINGS TO CMC FOR SIX
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
: #SBLVIII on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/dClcEDViWl pic.twitter.com/ktiTXIiHzS
Purdy. Jennings. 49ers back up 16-13!
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
: #SBLVIII on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/dClcEDViWl pic.twitter.com/NJm9QULXi7
If the 49ers won, Jennings would have been an easy choice for MVP. Instead, his performance is a footnote to the Chiefs' growing legend.
Worst: Kyle Shanahan's overtime decision
The Niners head coach's career arc is taking the shape of a Greek tragedy.
Kyle Shanahan When Calling Plays in the Super Bowl:
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) February 12, 2024
• 0-3 Record
• Outscored 29-74 in 2nd Half/OT pic.twitter.com/k91shqk2A6
For the third time as an NFL coach (either head coach or coordinator), Shanahan's team held a double-digit lead in the Super Bowl ... and lost.
I'm not sure I can watch Kyle Shanahan in another Super Bowl. Too painful
— John Breech (@johnbreech) February 12, 2024
• SB LI (Falcons OC): Blew a 28-3 lead (Largest blown lead in SB history)
• SB 54: Blew a 10-point lead in 4th quarter (2nd-largest blown lead)
• SB 58: Blew a 10-point lead (2nd-largest blown lead) pic.twitter.com/PbCLQF8JFJ
He made a tough, gutsy call in a three-point game inside the red zone that led to Jennings' second touchdown, but his curious decision to receive the opening kick of overtime instead of deferring and conservative play calling during the overtime period ultimately were San Francisco's undoing.
Best: The defenses
In a game that featured the 2023 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time MVP and a pair of All-Pro tight ends, the defenses made big statements.
Starting running backs McCaffrey (22 carries, 80 yards) and Isiah Pacheco (18 carries, 59 yards) were both held under four yards per carry.
Both defenses also kept the quarterbacks in check, doing so in vastly different ways. Per NFL NGS, the Chiefs blitzed Brock Purdy on 51.2% of his dropbacks, while the Niners relied on their front four to hold Mahomes in check.
Edge Nick Bosa finished with a game-high 10 pressures as San Francisco finished with a 12.5% blitz rate. Bosa had 118 total pressures this season, tied for the most in a single season since 2018.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnolo's strategy worked perfectly, with his blitzes resulting in Kansas City having a season-high nine unblocked pressures. It also gave cornerback Trent McDuffie multiple one-on-one matchups, and he largely succeeded.
Per NFL NGS, he was targeted 10 times and only allowed five receptions for 51 yards.
Best: Andy Reid
As big as the win was for Mahomes' legacy, it was equally as significant to Reid's. He's in elite company among NFL head coaches who've won at least three Lombardis.
NFL head coaches to win 3+ Super Bowls:
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 12, 2024
Bill Belichick (6)
Chuck Noll (4)
Joe Gibbs (3)
Bill Walsh (3)
Andy Reid (3)
Among his championships, this one might be Reid's most impressive coaching job.
Kansas City went on the road and defeated the Bills and Ravens prior to the Super Bowl, and then had to beat a 49ers squad many viewed as the better team entering Sunday.
Reid, 65, has dealt with questions about his future, but as long as he's at the top of the sport, he has no business hanging it up. The only thing we know for certain about Reid's future is those hamburgers are going to taste extra nice.
BREAKING: Andy Reid announces that postgame cheeseburgers are coming pic.twitter.com/yqQ3KXW5Ow
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) February 12, 2024
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