Patrick Mahomes wins Super Bowl MVP for third time،
LAS VEGAS — Moments after leading a game-winning drive into overtime, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named MVP of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night.
But it didn't happen without drama. Not with the Chiefs trailing and needing at least a field goal to extend the game.
Mahomes had a singular mindset when Kansas City's defense held the San Francisco 49ers to a field goal on the first possession of overtime Sunday night.
“Our mindset was: Go win the game here,” Mahomes said. “Once we got the ball back, we broke the rules, we're not going to do it again. We're going to go out there and win the game.”
Deal done.
Because after Mahomes led the Chiefs for 75 yards on 13 plays — including his 27-yard run on two carries, on fourth-and-1 and third-and-1 conversions during practice — he hit receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. for a 3-yard score with three seconds on the clock to give the Chiefs a 25-22 victory.
Not only did Mahomes, who is only 28, and the Chiefs win their third Super Bowl in five years, but Mahomes won his third Super Bowl MVP award, tying him with Hall of Famer Joe Montana for second behind Tom Brady, who has five.
Mahomes threw for 333 yards while completing 34 of 46 attempts with two touchdown passes and an interception for a passer rating of 99.3, and ran for another 66 yards.
“The offense persevered,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “This last ride was absolutely beautiful.”
And the Chiefs are the first back-to-back NFL champions since the 2004-05 New England Patriots.
Mahomes also maintained his unbeaten record at Allegiant Stadium, having beaten the Las Vegas Raiders four times on their home field since it opened in 2020. But this night was by far the most dramatic, as his final pass of the game only ended in the second overtime game. in Super Bowl history.
The Mahomes designed drive at the end of regulation led the way.
With 1:53 left and the Chiefs trailing 19-16, Mahomes did what Mahomes does. He led Kansas City on an 11-play, 64-yard drive that ended with Harrison Butker's 29-yard field goal with three seconds remaining.
And after the 49ers took that 22-19 lead on the first possession of overtime, Mahomes replicated it.
“I guess at this point I take it for granted, but I know we're in every game I've played with him, no matter the score, no matter how much time is left,” the Chiefs said. late Travis Kelce said, confirming that Mahomes walked into the huddle on that drive and said, “Let's go win this thing.”
This guy's got magic in his right arm, man, and he can just… he's found ways to propel us, even with his legs, like you saw today.”
Reid agreed with his star tight end.
“There’s no facade there,” he said. “He comes to work every day with humility. He wants to get better every day.”
And as Mahomes said, the game itself was a “microcosm” of the Chiefs' season, one in which the champions seemed to be teetering when they lost five of eight at one point.
The last game they lost was at home on Christmas Day against the Raiders, and the Chiefs finished with an 11-6 record while winning the AFC West.
“It’s a culture thing, man,” Mahomes said of the Chiefs believing they could overcome the obstacle. “I was brought into this culture. Alex Smith was leading the team. They had the pieces in place and Coach Reid was the ultimate leader and I was brought in and I'm just trying to exemplify that, and he continues to push to be even better. .
“He brings out the best in me because he allows me to be me. I think that's important. He doesn't try to make me into someone else. I don't think I would be the quarterback I am if I didn't have coach Reid as a coach. He wants you to be the best person you can be.
And even though Mahomes has three Super Bowl wins, he's trailed by double digits in all three games: 20-10 against the 49ers in the fourth quarter four years ago, 24-14 against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter last year. last year. and 10-0 against San Francisco in the second quarter on Sunday.
“I'm going to try to stop losing 10 points in these games to make them a little easier,” Mahomes said with a laugh. “But I was proud of the way the guys fought.”
