Patrick Mahomes, at 28, has won the MVP title in all three of the Chief's championship victories, placing him among the legendary NFL quarterbacks. (PHOTO BY JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES)
Patrick Mahomes wins the Super Bowl LVIII MVP honor on Sunday night, moments after leading a game-winning drive in overtime for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Overtime Thriller: Chiefs Claim Victory
Mahomes displayed unwavering focus during a crucial moment as the Chiefs trailed. The Kansas City defense prevented the San Francisco 49ers from scoring a touchdown, limiting them to a field goal in the opening overtime possession.
“Our mindset was: Go win the game right here,” Mahomes said. “Once we got that ball — we fell short in regulation, we’re not going to do that again. We’re going to go out there and win the game.”
Done deal.
Mahomes’ Impressive Stats and Highlights
Mahomes led a remarkable 75-yard drive in 13 plays, capping it off with a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. with a mere three seconds left, clinching a thrilling 25-22 win for the Chiefs.
Notably, at just 28 years old, Mahomes has won his third Super Bowl MVP award, which ties him with Hall of Famer Joe Montana for second-most behind Tom Brady, who has five.
Mahomes’ impressive performance included 333 passing yards, completing 34 of 46 attempts with two touchdown passes and an interception for a 99.3 passer rating. He also ran for 66 more yards
“The offense persevered,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid. “That last drive was a thing of beauty.”
Furthermore, the Chiefs etched their names in history as the NFL’s first back-to-back champions since the 2004-05 New England Patriots.
Playoff Journey: Chiefs’ Road to Victory
The Chiefs started their playoff journey with a victory against the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium, following successful away wins against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC playoffs.
The Chiefs continued their unbeaten streak at Allegiant Stadium, having defeated the Las Vegas Raiders four times on their home turf since its opening in 2020. However, this particular game stood out as the most dramatic, with Mahomes sealing the win in overtime with a crucial pass, marking just the second overtime game in Super Bowl history.
Mahomes’ performance in the final moments of regulation was crucial. With 1:53 remaining on the clock and the Chiefs trailing 19-16, Mahomes led Kansas City on an 11-play, 64-yard drive. The drive culminated in a Harrison Butker 29-yard field goal with only three seconds left.
Despite the 49ers taking a 22-19 lead in the opening possession of overtime, Mahomes replicated their effort, leading the Chiefs to victory once again.
Culture of Excellence: Chiefs’ Winning Mentality
“I guess at this point, I take it for granted, but I know we’re in every single game I’ve ever played in with him, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is left.” Chiefs’ Travis Kelce said, confirming that Mahomes entered the huddle on that drive and said “Let’s go win this thing.”
“That guy’s got magic in his right arm, man. He can just — he found ways to propel us, even with his legs, as you saw today.”
Reid concurred with his star tight end.
“There’s no façade there,” he said. “He comes to work every day humble. He wants to get better every day.”
And as Mahomes said. “The game itself was a “microcosm” of the Chiefs’ season, one in which the champs seemed to be teetering when they lost five of eight at one point.
The last game they lost was on Christmas Day to the Raiders at home and the Chiefs finished with a record of 11-6 while winning the AFC West.
“It’s culture, man,” Mahomes said of the Chiefs believing they could get over the hump. “I got brought into this culture. Alex Smith was leading the team. They had the pieces in place and Coach Reid has been the ultimate leader and I got brought in and I just trying to exemplify that, and he keeps pushing to be even better.
“He brings out the best in me because he lets me be me. I think that’s important. He’s not trying to make me anyone else. I don’t think I’m the quarterback that I am if I didn’t have Coach Reid as my coach. He wants you to be the best person you can be.”
Mahomes’ Determination for Future Success
And while Mahomes has three wins in the Super Bowl, he has trailed by double digits in all three games — 20-10 to the 49ers in the fourth quarter four years ago, 24-14 against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter last year and 10-0 against San Francisco in the second quarter on Sunday.
“I’m going to try to stop getting down 10 points in these games to make them a little beat easier.” Mahomes said, laughing. “But I was proud of how the guys fought.”
This report used information from ESPN.
