Dave Skretta, a sports writer for the Associated Press.

LAS VEGAS

In the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers allowed Patrick Mahomes two chances to lead a drive for the game-winning touchdown.

It should have been apparent, as it is now, that it was an excessive amount.

After successfully guiding the Chiefs down the field towards the end of the game, Mahomes was only able to secure a tying field goal with 3 seconds remaining, forcing the game into overtime. However, he made the most of his second opportunity. The Chiefs’ resilient defense limited the 49ers to a field goal, and Mahomes took advantage by leading his team on a remarkable touchdown drive to secure victory for the defending champions.

He rushed to gain two first downs, one of which was on a crucial fourth-and-1 play, and completed all eight of his passing attempts on the drive. The final throw was perhaps the simplest, a 3-yard pass to Mecole Hardman that sealed the thrilling 25-22 win and earned one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history his third Super Bowl championship.

Mahomes expressed his admiration by saying, “This is great, truly legendary.”

A fitting description for a 28-year-old quarterback who is quickly becoming a legend.

Mahomes is the sixth quarterback ever to achieve three Super Bowl wins and has been awarded MVP for all three of them. He is also the youngest quarterback to have accomplished this feat. Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, both Hall of Famers, have four Super Bowl wins each which Mahomes could potentially surpass. Considering how rapidly Mahomes has been accumulating these prestigious Lombardi Trophies in Kansas City, it seems unlikely that Brady’s record of seven will remain unbreakable.

Mahomes is rapidly approaching Brady’s record of five Super Bowl MVPs, with Montana being the only other player to have achieved three.

Mahomes stated that Tom put it perfectly when he said that winning a championship leads to parades and fulfilled dreams, but it also means no longer holding the title of champion. One must maintain the same mindset and approach in order to reclaim that title. Mahomes also mentioned learning from legendary individuals who have achieved greatness.

The Chiefs have become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships since Brady and the Patriots achieved it in 2003 and 2004. This is their third title in four appearances in the past five years, placing them among a select few teams who have won three championships in a span of five years.

When asked if the Chiefs have reached dynasty status, Mahomes responded by saying, “It’s the beginning of one.”

Andy Reid, head coach of the Chiefs and now one of only five coaches to have won at least three Super Bowls, described his player as consistently humble and driven to achieve greatness. He expressed his enjoyment in coaching such an individual.

Mahomes had a difficult time during Sunday’s game, as the 49ers made a conscious decision to not use the blitz, which is something he typically excels at as a two-time league MVP. However, he began to perform better in the fourth quarter, leading Kansas City to a tying field goal with 5:46 remaining and another field goal that ultimately forced overtime.

The quarterback’s performance was remarkable, especially considering his previous difficulty in high-pressure situations this season. Despite having the opportunity to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter or overtime, Mahomes only completed 18 of 47 passes for 167 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.

Rashee Rice, a wide receiver for the Chiefs, believes that Pat does not have the ability to accept defeat.

After winning, Mahomes ran ecstatically into the end zone. He then turned around and raised his helmet as he made his way back to the Kansas City sideline. Falling onto the yellow turf, Mahomes took a moment to catch his breath and looked up at the sky, seemingly overwhelmed with joy and disbelief, before returning to his team.

There is no reason for anyone to doubt Mahomes at this point.

According to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, our team has the top quarterback in the league.

Mahomes completed the Super Bowl with 333 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also added 66 yards rushing, breaking his own franchise record in the playoffs. Despite throwing a puzzling interception under heavy coverage early in the game, Mahomes redeemed himself by connecting with Hardman for a touchdown, causing red and yellow confetti to shower down on Allegiant Stadium.

All the defeats and poor performances of Kansas City throughout this season were also disregarded.

During their previous appearances in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs were dominant and easily advanced through the playoffs. However, they had to rally in the final games to defeat the 49ers in 2000 and the Eagles last year. This season, they faced significant challenges, losing five out of eight games and ultimately earning the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.

They had to beat Miami in the fourth-coldest game in NFL history in the wild-card round. Then they hit the road to beat second-seeded Buffalo and No. 1 seed Baltimore, before knocking off another No. 1 seed in the 49ers on Sunday.

Mahomes expressed his hope that others will not only recognize the team’s on-field achievements, but also appreciate the way in which they were achieved. He emphasized the team’s enjoyment and dedication to the game, even when faced with challenges. Despite not always performing perfectly, they always give their all until the very end.

He acknowledged that there may be some weariness at times with one team consistently winning, but they make an effort to simply savor the experience.

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The AP is providing coverage of the Super Bowl at the following link: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl

Source: wralsportsfan.com