“Never underestimate the heart of a champion”. Rudy Tomjanovich patented the phrase when the Houston Rockets were NBA champions for the second time. His team had not had a home field advantage in the decisive playoff series, they had even been 1-3 down in one against Phoenix, but the personality and great collective play of that team led by Hakeem Olajuwon took advantage of that retirement of a year and a half of Michael Jordan to win two rings in a row, in 1994 and 1995
This same phrase applies exactly to what happened this Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The San Francisco 49ers dominated the game for at least two and a half quarters and led most of the night, but Kansas City showed why they were the defending champions. And now the first two-time champion in almost two decades. And why does it have two different players, especially Patrick Mahomes, the great quarterback who appeared when he should to lead the Chiefs to their fourth championship, the third in five editions under the quarterback, who is marking an era and definitely put in a dynasty marches.
Kansas City overcame the worst moments, played from behind for almost the entire night and was able to win it in the last offensive series, in overtime, no less, with a brilliant Mahomes. A match for the heart attack, worthy of a Hollywood movie, such as this script that has Mahomes and this franchise, now more famous since Travis Kelce, his other figure, is dating Taylor Swift, the most popular singer in the world , who was in the box and enjoyed the victory in an unbridled way.
San Francisco dominated when its great defense put pressure on Mahomes. A wall that carried out all the coverages, with a lot of aggressiveness, discipline and capacity, both collectively and individually. It is no coincidence that the leadership has spent half of the salary budget on defenders. Kansas City, on the other hand, put the most money on Mahomes and the attackers (55%).
Brock Purdy, at 24 years old, overcame the pressure and could be the “cheapest” quarterback to win a Superbowl. This season he took just 0.37% of the team’s total salary this campaign, seeking to surpass Tom Brady, the best of all time, who in 2002 was champion with 0.46%. He was close but he had a star in front of him. Mahomes once again demonstrated why he has the highest salary in the competition. Last year he won with the highest % (17.2%) and now he repeated with 16.9%.
The individual hierarchy of the champion allowed him to bank on bad times. This situation of parity, added to the presence of Mahomes on the court and Swift in the box, seeing her boyfriend Travis Kece, added to this Superbowl being able to fight to be the most watched in history in the country. The 2023 edition had reached the record with 115.1 million viewers and the previous one won by the Chiefs, in 2020, maintained second place with 113.4. It was precisely when Kansas City beat San Francisco, they won 31-20 in Miami, after turning the score around in the last quarter – they lost by 10 -. This time the same thing happened, it was a come-from-behind victory and surely tomorrow we will know if this new sporting feat will reach a new historical mark in terms of television audience.
What did not help, according to experts, was the halftime show. Usher’s show, the main protagonist, was quite criticized. Yes, we were able to see the commercial that had Leo Messi as the protagonist. The Michelob Ultra beer hired him, they say that for 14 million dollars, so that he appears on the beach, dribbles over a couple of tourists, makes a wall with the legendary quaterback Dan Marino – he receives a pass on his yacht and returns it with hand – and assistance before being told that his beer was ready. The advertisements, in this edition, cost an average of 6.5 million per 30 seconds. In this case they talk about double, for the seconds and although the cost they claim was much higher. Leo didn’t speak a word in English nor did he taste the beer…
The champion took almost 30 minutes to score. Only when he saw himself 0-10 and totally dominated in the game, especially his attack against the defensive wall that the Niners built. San Francisco put pressure on Mahomes, not allowing him time or space to launch his legendary missiles. He did it with the four front defenders, without needing to involve the backs and thus have numerical superiority against the receivers (7 to 4).
Mahomes had to get out of the protective pocket of his guards and extend the plays, with no luck – he was caught a few times – except for some exceptional plays. Only in the last two minutes was he able to get into rhythm, the offense had a little more fluidity and he was able to get closer to the red zone. At least he was able to score a field goal and went to the locker room with that momentum, with a little more confidence. Until then San Francisco had been clearly better, in the game and emotionally. Of course, the difference was short. So much supremacy for a 10-3 looked little, especially with Mahomes and the champion in front.
The start of the second half couldn’t have been worse for the Chiefs. First Pacheco lost the ball and then the infallible Mahomes was intercepted when he extended a play again and his throw was inaccurate. Black outlook for Kansas City, lost as a team and with Mahomes frustrated. But experience and hierarchy kept the one at the bottom in the game. They waited for their moment and when it came, they took advantage of it.
A San Francisco error and turnover gave the ball to Kansas City and Mahomes made them pay. Travis Kelce, the Chiefs figure who today is better known as Swift’s boyfriend, opened the defense as a decoy and Valdes-Scantling received it alone to make it 13-10. The cameras immediately went to Taylor, who jumped and became delirious in the box.
It was San Francisco’s turn to react. And they did it, as best they could. Without the running game that had given him so many results. With Brock Purdy generating the best offensive series of the game for the team, which was crowned with Jauan Jennnings’ touchdown, with pure power, in a dream final for the Tennessee-born receiver. But, to add more excitement, rookie kicker Jake Moodey had the extra point blocked and the lead was only three. There could have been another difference in the game because the rival kicker, Harrison Butker, kept his team in play by scoring the longest field goal in the history of this grand final (57 yards), precisely surpassing the one his rival had scored. in the PT (55).
Butker was once again decisive, to tie the match, with 5m46 left. On the next offensive, the Niners reached the two-minute pause and gave Moodey the chance to redeem himself, who responded again, this time from 53 yards. This made him forget about the blocked extra point. Kansas City started the last series with 1:53, facing the defense that had ruled it but, of course, on the other side was Mahomes, the NFL star. And Patrick delivered what was expected. With Kelce carrying the ball with a crossing run (22 yards) that allowed him to get within meters of the winning touchdown, with 10 seconds left. But he didn’t come out last and Butker tied it from 29 yards out to send it to overtime, with three seconds remaining.
San Francisco had another great offensive series but fell short of a touchdown. Moody’s new field goal (27 yards) gave him a three-point lead and forced Mahomes to have to score points. And Patrick, with his intelligence and coldness, did not fail until he was within striking distance of winning the game. Running or passing to his good receivers, he did it, like a goldsmith. In another epic night that confirms his enormous hierarchy. And the creation of a new dynasty. That of the Chiefs and that of Mahomes.
TAKEN FROM INFOBAE
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