Chiefs beat 49ers, 25-22 in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

In an overtime instant classic, Kansas City defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with wide receiver Mecole Hardman for a 3-yard touchdown with 3 seconds remaining in overtime.

Mahomes time after time made plays with his arm and his legs in overtime. After Kansas City stopped the 49ers in the red zone on the first possession of overtime, the Chiefs faced a 4th and 1 with 6:05 remaining in overtime. Then, Mahomes kept a read-option himself and ran for an 8-yard gain.

Nine plays later, Mahomes connected with Hardman just before time expired to make the Chiefs back-to-back champions, and give them a third title in five years.

“With all the adversity we’ve been through this season to come through tonight... I’m proud of the guys,” Mahomes said. “This is awesome. Legendary.”

It was just the second time in NFL history the Super Bowl went to overtime. It did so after an 11-play drive in regulation’s final 1:53 seconds, with kicker Harrison Butker converting on a 27-yard field goal to tie the game at 19.

Mahomes finished 34-for-46 with 333 yards passing, 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a Chiefs game-high 66 yards rushing on nine carries en route to Super Bowl LVIII MVP, the third Super Bowl MVP of his career.

The third Super Bowl MVP of his career ties him with former 49ers and Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana and leaves him two behind Tom Brady’s record of five.

“I am going to celebrate tonight, celebrate at the parade and then work my way to get back in this game next year,” Mahomes said. “I am going to do whatever I can to be back in this game next year. Three-peat.”

The Chiefs trailed 10-0 in the first half and scored their first points of the game in the final minute of the second quarter when Butker connected on a 28-yard field goal. In each of the four Super Bowls Mahomes has played in with head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City has faced at least a 10-point deficit.

READ MORE: Butker sets Super Bowl record for longest field goal

After a muffed punt by the 49ers in the third quarter, Kansas City took over at the San Francisco 16-yard line and scored on a one-play drive when Mahomes connected with wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a touchdown pass. The score gave Kansas City a 13-10 advantage, their first lead of the night.

A 10-yard touchdown pass from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to wide receiver Jauan Jennings gave San Francisco a 16-13 lead with 11:22 to go in the fourth quarter. A blocked extra point kept Kansas City within 3 points. With the game later tied at 16 and the 49ers facing a 3rd and 5 from the Chiefs’ 35-yard line, Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie batted down a Purdy pass to stop the clock and force a field goal.

“We have the offense to score touchdowns and I failed to put the team in position to do that,” Purdy said.

Following the aforementioned Chiefs drive to set up overtime, the 49ers won the coin toss after regulation and took the ball. With a 3rd and 4 at the Chiefs’ 9-yard line, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones broke through the 49ers offensive line and forced Purdy to throw the ball away, leading to a 27-yard field goal that gave San Francisco a 22-19 lead.

That set the stage for Mahomes to lead a perfect overtime drive. The now 3-time Super Bowl MVP was 8-for-8 for 42 yards passing and ran twice for 27 yards in the overtime frame, putting the finishing touches on back-to-back Super Bowl wins with a wide open completion to Hardman to seal the Chiefs’ comeback.

Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII win gives the Chiefs their fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history.

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