The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a rare overtime Super Bowl finish, capping off a thriller in Las Vegas that saw several lead changes in the second half.
The Chiefs will bring home the Lombardi Trophy for the second year in a row and the third time in five years as Patrick Mahomes led his team to a comeback victory after the Niners dominated the first half.
The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 25-22, cementing head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes’ team as the new NFL dynasty to beat.
This is the second time the Chiefs have sent the Niners packing in five Super Bowls, in what at times felt like a repeat of the 2020 game.
Sunday’s win makes the Chiefs back-to-back Super Bowl champions, marking the first time in nearly 20 years any team has achieved that. The New England Patriots are the last NFL team to have done it, beating the Carolina Panthers in 2004 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005.
Super Bowl 58 had been a long awaited rematch, prompting some to wonder if this game serves as a prophecy for the November 2024 election, during which President Joe Biden is expected to face former President Donald Trump.
The prophecy also mentioned how pop star Taylor Swift debuted a new album four years ago, and recently announced a new album dropping in April. Swift, who made the (approximately) 13 hour trip from Tokyo, served as cheer captain for boyfriend Travis Kelce, Kansas City’s tight end.
Still, Kelce didn’t have the night of his career.
Just before the end of the first half, Kelce, arguably the greatest tight end of all time, only had one catch for one yard. He finally caught a first down in the middle of the third quarter — the first first down of the second half.
In overtime, though, he ran for a first down at that paved the way for the Chief’s game-winning touchdown. The Chiefs were second-and-seven from the 10 yard line when Kelce caught for seven yards.
The 49ers faced a ton of injuries at the season’s biggest game.
Early in the game, Dre Greenlaw slipped while jogging onto the field after a commercial break and was carted off the field for a reported Achilles injury.
In the third quarter, Deebo Samuel went out with a hamstring injury, marking the Niners’ second injury in the night.
With about two-and-a-half minutes left in the third, Jon Felicianos joined his teammates in the blue tent, prompting an injury time out. In overtime, George Kittle momentarily left the field with a shoulder injury.
