After 50 years, the Lombardi Trophy is headed back to Kansas City. On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs came back in the fourth quarter to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. It was the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl win since Super Bowl IV, where they dominated the reigning champion Minnesota Vikings by a score of 23-7.
Super Bowl LIV was a nail-biting game from start to finish, with several lead changes and big plays. At one point during the fourth quarter the 49ers held a 20-10 lead, and things were looking grim for Chiefs fans. The Chiefs were able to storm back and score three touchdowns in the final seven minutes of the game. The turning point was the 44-yard pass play to wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a third and 15 that, had the Chiefs gotten the first down, they may have lost. Instead, Hill ran a beautiful route to get open, and Mahomes stepped up and threw a bomb that set up the first of three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Another key play was the deep ball thrown by Jimmy Garoppolo on a third-down with 10 yards to go and only 1:40 left on the clock. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders ran a deep post route and was able to gain some separation from defensive backs Rashad Fenton and Charvarius Ward. Sanders was open, and on what could have been a huge 49ers touchdown that would have turned the tide of the game, Garoppolo overthrew Sanders by two yards. It was a bold and risky play, especially considering that Garoppolo had Kendrick Bourne open past the first down marker, which would have kept the drive alive. Instead, the 49ers turned the ball over on downs (meaning they failed to get a first down in four tries and the Chiefs got the ball), and on the next play, Damien Williams ran 38 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead. After that, the game was basically over.
This was the first Super Bowl win for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Reid has had an illustrious career, but a lack of a Super Bowl win was the only thing holding his legacy back. After dozens of up-and-down seasons and heartbreaking playoff losses, Andy Reid finally has a ring and has silenced anybody who doubted whether his career was Hall of Fame worthy.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP, another award to add to his young but distinguished career. He had an up-and-down game, throwing for two interceptions and two touchdowns, but ultimately made the key big plays when he needed to.
“Win another one,” said Mahomes when asked how he could possibly top his Super Bowl win.
The Super Bowl celebration parade was held Feb. 5 in downtown Kansas City.