They’ve done it again. The Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl again. For the third time in five years. They have thus reached a special sphere: that of dynasties.
Maybe they should just rename themselves. From Kansas City Chiefs to Kansas City Champs. It would definitely be appropriate. With a 25:22 Super Bowl win after overtime against the San Francisco 49ers, the team around star quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the National Football League championship for the third time in five years.
“This game was a microcosm of our entire season. Everyone contributed. Not just offensive. Not just defense. But really everyone“, said Mahomes. The 28-year-old summarized the season as “Insane run” together. A season that rarely went optimally for the defending champions. Despite the outstanding Patrick Lavron Mahomes, the offense often had major problems. There was a lack of coordination and accuracy.
In the meantime five defeats in eight games
And so there was a phase when these Chiefs had actually lost five out of eight games. What an interim balance – but nothing more than an interim balance. “I always knew if we made it to the playoffs we would be hard to beat” said Mahomes.
Of course, it’s just a coincidence that he led the Chiefs to their third title since 2020 at, of all places, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But it also fits into the picture. The Sphere is just 3.5 kilometers from the arena. The concert dome, built for $2.3 billion and opened in September, is the new eye-catcher in the entertainment mecca that is certainly not lacking in eye-catchers.
NFL eye-catcher
The same now applies to the Chiefs. In the entertainment world of the NFL, they are the eye-catcher, the ultimate. And by winning the title they have advanced into a very special sphere of the league that only very few teams reach: that of dynasties.
Only the New England Patriots, who, led by quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick, won the Super Bowl a total of six times between 2002 and 2019, had made it there in this millennium. They stood for dominance and success and exuded an aura of invincibility. And they were the last team to defend their title in 2005.
First Title defense since 2005
These Kansas City Chiefs have now achieved this. Twelve months ago they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38:35, and this time they won by three points against the 49ers. Kansas City had already won the final against San Francisco 31:20 in Miami in 2020. The pillars in all three triumphs: Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and coach Andy Reid. This season there was also a very strong defense – and an extremely difficult path to the title.
The Chiefs had to play in the playoffs against the co-favorites Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. Difficult away hurdles, which some critics considered too high due to the weak regular season. But all the doubters, complainers and supposed know-it-alls only fueled the fire within the team with their words and reports, emphasized Kelce.
“You gotta fight for your right to party”
His performance in the Super Bowl was a reflection of the Chiefs season. In the first half he only caught one pass and only gained one yard. His girlfriend Taylor Swift was more engaged as a fan in the VIP box than the star tight end was on the field. The fact that Kansas City’s offense only managed three points was also due to Kelce. And it was thanks to their defense that the Chiefs were only 3:10 behind against the strong 49ers.
After the restart, however, Kelce was back on the road like a freight train – just like the Chiefs were in the playoffs. Full of power and difficult to stop. His increase in performance in the second half in numbers: eight passes caught, 92 yards gained. “You gotta fight for your right to party”he said, referring to the famous song “Beastie Boys”. That means: If you want to party hard and have fun, you have to fight for it.
Pure emotions: Travis Kelce at the Super Bowl
Mahomes draws level with Brady
Kansas City fought back. Three seconds before the end of the 60 minutes, kicker Harrison Butker also scored his fourth field goal, making it 19:19 and forcing overtime. And when there were only three seconds left to play in the 15-minute extra shift, Mahomes served wide receiver Mecole Hardman for the decisive touchdown at 19:22 for a 25:22 victory.
“The team’s attitude of never giving up, always believing in themselves and always continuing to fight is special” said Mahomes. With his third Super Bowl victory in the sixth NFL season, he has now won as many championships as Brady did at the same point in his career.
Third comeback win
Mahomes is for the third time as “most valuable player” (MVP) of this final. Because he led his team to a comeback victory for the third time. As in 2020 against the 49ers and last year against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs also had ten points this time (0: 10) located at the back.
But through all his final experiences, he learned not to get nervous and, above all, not to force anything if things don’t go well at first, but “to just let the game come to you.“That’s exactly what he did this time. And with his last throw of the season he once again managed the winning action.
Despite this triumph, the Chiefs still haven’t had enough. They want to win more titles and write more chapters in NFL history. Already in a year. Because so far no club has won three Super Bowls in a row. A prospect that fascinates Travis Kelce. “How fantastic is that? See you next season.”