The Chiefs cemented their dynasty in dramatic fashion on Sunday.
Kansas City outlasted the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22, in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The win marked the Chiefs' third Super Bowl title in the past five seasons, and second in a row. It's the first time the NFL has seen back-to-back champions since the league's last dynasty -- the New England Patriots -- did it two decades ago, in 2003 and '04.
The exhilarating win came in walk-off fashion, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes hitting wide-open wide receiver Mecole Hardman for the game-ending score in the final seconds of the overtime period.
Mahomes, who threw for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, was named Super Bowl MVP for the third time in his seven-year career. The two-time regular-season MVP also rushed for 66 yards on nine carries.
The victory was anything but easy for the Chiefs. They were forced to rally back from a 10-point second-quarter deficit after a first half largely marked by miscues and a sluggish start on offense.
The Chiefs seized the momentum in the third quarter, though, shutting out the 49ers while scoring 10 points in the period -- highlighted by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the first play after a San Francisco turnover on a muffed punt.
The Niners answered with a touchdown drive to retake the lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Chiefs blocked the extra point, keeping the deficit to three points.
The teams then exchanged field goals, once again giving the 49ers a three-point lead, this time inside the two-minute warning.
Mahomes drove the Chiefs the length of the field, but with time running short, the Chiefs kicked a field goal to tie it up and send the game to overtime -- just the second Super Bowl to reach overtime since the infamous "28-3" game between the Patriots and Falcons.
In overtime, the 49ers had the ball first and put together a strong opening drive, but the Chiefs defense stiffened in the red zone, forcing a field goal.
The Chiefs then drove 75 yards for the game-winning score, capped by the three-yard hookup from Mahomes to Hardman. Mahomes later told reporters that the play was called "Corn Dog."
The thrilling win capped a rollercoaster season for the Chiefs, who, for the first time in the Mahomes era, were led primarily by a stingy defense while the offense took something of a backseat due to a relative lack of explosiveness.
The defense continued its excellent play against San Francisco, holding quarterback Brock Purdy to 255 yards, a touchdown and a 60% completion rate on 38 attempts. On the ground, the 49ers' potent rushing attack was limited to 110 yards and no touchdowns on 31 attempts.
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