Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog - Posts Tagged "superbowlliv"
Fifty-year wait over! Superbowl LIV Kansas City Chiefs 31 San Francisco 49ers 20
Kansas City's 50-year wait for another Superbowl victory ended in Orlando last night as they came from behind to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. The Chiefs last won Superbowl IV when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23–7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 11 January 1970.
The 49ers won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to the Chiefs to begin the game, but they were unable to make a first down and went three and out. It was a nervy first series for Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo fared little better but in the eighth minute he worked his side into field goal range and the consistent Robbie Gould obliged from 38 yards to give his side a 3-0 lead. It was fairly even for a while thereafter before, with just 31 seconds remaining of the first quarter Mahomes dashed into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. So with Harrison Butker adding the extra point, the quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 7-3.
Early in the second quarter Butker increased the Chiefs' lead with a 31-yard field goal but with just over five minutes of the half remaining, Garoppolo found full back Kyle Juszczyk with a short pass that he took 15 yards before diving in for the touchdown; the Gould conversion made in 10-10 at the half. It was only the fourth Superbowl in which the teams had been level at half-time.
The third quarter belonged to the 49ers as Gould added a 42-yard field gold and then, capitalising on a rare Mahomes' interception - hs first in 164 pass attempts -, Raheem Mostert, playing for his seventh NFL team, having been cut by the previous six, added a one-yard touchdown run and with Butker's conversion it was 20-10. At this point the Chiefs looked as though they might be in serious trouble but they never give up, as witnessed by the two games that they won to get to the Superbowl when in both of them they came from behind for the victory.
And it turned out no different in Orlando with Patrick Mahomes inspiring his side with some superb play, including the night's longest play on a third down and 15, a marvellous 44-yard pass to Tyreek Hill that, after an end zone pass interference call on a third down and 10, set up tight-end Travis Kelce for a one-yard catch for the touchdown. And with Butker once more adding the extra point, it was suddenly a one-score game at 20-17.
It was then the turn of the Chiefs' defence to step up and they consistently stopped Garoppolo getting his side moving down the field. And with two minutes 44 seconds remaining, the almost inevitable happened. Damien Williams took a five-yard pass from Mahomes for the touchdown to put the Chiefs in front; Butker's kick made it 24-20.
It looked all over from that moment because the 49ers were deflated and again they could not move the ball downfield. So the Chiefs had one further opportunity and Damien Williams cashed in again as he made a 38-yard run down the left-hand touchline to score his second touchdown of the game. Once again Butker converted and at 31-20 that was all she wrote!
It was an excellent game and in the end the Chiefs were deserved winners with Mahomes getting the game's Most Valuable Player Award, making him the youngest player to win the League's MVP (2018) and a Superbowl MVP award. And well respected coach Andy Reid gained his first Superbowl ring, as well as a Gatorade dowsing by his team!
As Andy Reid said, or rather shouted to the fans, from the podium after the presentation of the trophy, 'How about those CHIEFS!'
This could well be the start of another NFL dynasty!
The 49ers won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to the Chiefs to begin the game, but they were unable to make a first down and went three and out. It was a nervy first series for Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo fared little better but in the eighth minute he worked his side into field goal range and the consistent Robbie Gould obliged from 38 yards to give his side a 3-0 lead. It was fairly even for a while thereafter before, with just 31 seconds remaining of the first quarter Mahomes dashed into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. So with Harrison Butker adding the extra point, the quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 7-3.
Early in the second quarter Butker increased the Chiefs' lead with a 31-yard field goal but with just over five minutes of the half remaining, Garoppolo found full back Kyle Juszczyk with a short pass that he took 15 yards before diving in for the touchdown; the Gould conversion made in 10-10 at the half. It was only the fourth Superbowl in which the teams had been level at half-time.
The third quarter belonged to the 49ers as Gould added a 42-yard field gold and then, capitalising on a rare Mahomes' interception - hs first in 164 pass attempts -, Raheem Mostert, playing for his seventh NFL team, having been cut by the previous six, added a one-yard touchdown run and with Butker's conversion it was 20-10. At this point the Chiefs looked as though they might be in serious trouble but they never give up, as witnessed by the two games that they won to get to the Superbowl when in both of them they came from behind for the victory.
And it turned out no different in Orlando with Patrick Mahomes inspiring his side with some superb play, including the night's longest play on a third down and 15, a marvellous 44-yard pass to Tyreek Hill that, after an end zone pass interference call on a third down and 10, set up tight-end Travis Kelce for a one-yard catch for the touchdown. And with Butker once more adding the extra point, it was suddenly a one-score game at 20-17.
It was then the turn of the Chiefs' defence to step up and they consistently stopped Garoppolo getting his side moving down the field. And with two minutes 44 seconds remaining, the almost inevitable happened. Damien Williams took a five-yard pass from Mahomes for the touchdown to put the Chiefs in front; Butker's kick made it 24-20.
It looked all over from that moment because the 49ers were deflated and again they could not move the ball downfield. So the Chiefs had one further opportunity and Damien Williams cashed in again as he made a 38-yard run down the left-hand touchline to score his second touchdown of the game. Once again Butker converted and at 31-20 that was all she wrote!
It was an excellent game and in the end the Chiefs were deserved winners with Mahomes getting the game's Most Valuable Player Award, making him the youngest player to win the League's MVP (2018) and a Superbowl MVP award. And well respected coach Andy Reid gained his first Superbowl ring, as well as a Gatorade dowsing by his team!
As Andy Reid said, or rather shouted to the fans, from the podium after the presentation of the trophy, 'How about those CHIEFS!'
This could well be the start of another NFL dynasty!
