Chiefs take down 49ers; win Super Bowl LVIII
The National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl LVIII happened on Sunday, Feb. 11. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs squared off after a series of electric playoff games. The game took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The 49ers have not played in a Super Bowl since 2020, which was also against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs. The Chiefs, on the other hand, were now in back-to-back Super Bowls, as they looked to raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy, yet again.
In the first quarter of the game, neither team was able to gain an advantage as the scoreboard remained at zero. Things quickly turned around in the second quarter, as a 55-yard field goal was made by 49ers kicker Jake Moody to break the tie and set a Super Bowl record for longest-made field goal. There wasn't much more action until the last four and a half minutes of the second quarter when running back Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown for San Francisco from a 21-yard trick pass from wide receiver Juan Jennings.
The Chiefs had no points on the board until very late in the second quarter. With 20 seconds left, a 28-yard field goal was made by kicker Harrison Butker. By halftime, the score of the game was 10-3 with the San Francisco 49ers in the lead.
Usher headlined the highly anticipated Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show. He was joined by special guests Alicia Keys, H.E.R., will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris, and Jermaine Dupri. Songs in the halftime show lineup included “Caught Up,” “U Don't Have to Call,” “Superstar,” and “My Boo,” among others. The performance was heavily choreographed with dozens of backup dancers wearing flashy outfits, many of which were also wearing rollerskates.
The third quarter began slowly, but with five minutes remaining in the quarter, Butker made a 57-yard field goal, crushing the recently set Super Bowl record. With a little under two and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling scored a touchdown off of a perfect pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. At the end of the third quarter, the score read 13-10 with the Chiefs in the lead.
The fourth quarter started strong with a touchdown from Jennings, courtesy of a 10-yard pass from quarterback Brock Purdy. Moody set up for an extra point attempt but was blocked by the Chiefs. The action came to a lull until Butker made yet another field goal to tie the game at 16 points apiece.
Moody made a 53-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. As a result, the Chiefs had limited time to get down the field. However, Mahomes has proven himself time and time again in those situations. With less than ten seconds remaining, the Chiefs marched into field goal range, allowing Butker to tie the game and send it to overtime.
This overtime was only the second in Super Bowl history, and the first under new rules put in place by the NFL for postseason games. Under the new construct, both teams have a chance to possess the ball, regardless of what the receiving team does on their opening drive.
The 49ers won the coin toss and chose to possess the ball first. After only a few minutes, San Francisco got into range for Moody again, who easily claimed a three-point lead. Kansas City needed to either match the opposition’s field goal or seal the victory with a touchdown.
After a controlled march down the field, the Chiefs got to the red zone. At the three-yard line, Patrick Mahomes lined up under center, ready to end the game. He snapped the ball and rolled right as his offensive line began to buckle. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., who was set up near the goal line, was spotted and targeted by Mahomes. A perfect pass to the open receiver put a cap on the game and the 2023-24 NFL season. With a final score of 25-22, the Kansas City Chiefs claimed another Super Bowl Title, further solidifying the legend that is Patrick Mahomes.