Under the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 11, the Kansas City Chiefs shone, beating the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22 in overtime, to win Super Bowl 58.
Although located almost 2,000 miles apart, these two teams are no stranger to one another, having faced off back in 2020 for Super Bowl 54. Held in Miami, the Chiefs emerged from that game equally victorious with a scoreline reading 31-20, winning their first ring of the 20th century. Now, just four years later, they have two more (their second arriving last year in a 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles) and have cemented themselves in NFL history as the first team since the 2003-04 Patriots to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
Kicking off sharply at 6:30 p.m., Super Bowl 58 began with the 49ers running the ball deep into Kansas City territory before a shocking fumble by all-pro running back Christian McCaffrey resulted in zero points on the board. McCaffrey, though, was not alone in his struggles as throughout the first half, the Chiefs would cough up the ball twice, causing Kansas City to enter the break down 10-3.
However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has trailed by double digits in all four Super Bowls he has been a part of, kept calm, and with some incredible runs and a few stunning passes, rallied his team back to tie the game at 16-16 towards the end of the fourth quarter.
San Francisco got the ball back with 2:51 to go, but Kansas City’s defense, including all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, stepped up, forcing the 49ers and rookie kicker Jake Moody to take a field goal. With less than two minutes of regulation time and the pressure on, Mahomes held strong and was able to drive his team down the field where kicker Harrison Butker stepped up to coolly hit a field goal of his own, tying both teams at 19-19 and sending the game to overtime (for only the second time in Super Bowl history).
And though in OT the 49ers were able to score a field goal first, Mahomes countered with a winning drive ending in a touchdown by wide receiver Mecole Hardman, securing the Lombardi Trophy for the Chiefs.