Yeah, we never posted anything after that excruciating Super Bowl loss. So much was said and written, and it was so easy to watch the game, or an excellent condensed version of it, on YouTube just a day or two after it ended, that it all seemed a little pointless. Or maybe we were just overcome by football fatigue.
So, yes, it was one of the greatest Super Bowls ever, it was fairly officiated, both teams made one or two blunders but for the most part played very well. Both QBs made exceptional plays with their arms and with their legs. The teams were so evenly matched that the only possible MVP was Patrick Mahomes-- unless you count, by omission, Dre Greenlaw, who was forced from the game in the second quarter. At that time, the Mahomes-to-Kelce duo had completed one pass. They finished with 9, for 93 yards.
Asked to give a capsule summary of the game, we provided this:
The best quarterback in football, and a missed extra point, were the difference in perhaps the closest Super Bowl ever. The lead changed hands four times, the game was tied twice, and both teams scored in overtime. San Francisco’s running game and strong defense dominated a 10-3 first half as MVP QB Patrick Mahomes was held to 5 completions for 68 yards and both teams lost scoring chances due to fumbles. A critical 49er special-teams mistake set up the Chiefs’ first touchdown and a 13-10 third-quarter lead. Then it was back and forth the rest of the way with both defenses dominating and both kickers nailing 50+-yard field goals. The 49ers’ Jake Moody, despite his 3 field goals, missed a critical extra point after San Francisco had taken the lead early in the fourth, and this allowed the Chiefs to tie the game at 16 and again at 19 as time expired. In overtime, QB Brock Purdy led a 7-minute drive to Moody’s third field goal and a 22-19 lead, but Mahomes, as is his habit, upstaged him with a 7-minute drive to the winning touchdown pass with 3 seconds left in the extra period. Ultimately, the Chiefs and 49ers were so close in ability, coaching, execution, statistics, and points, that Mahomes alone stood out as the greatest player in professional football.
The season looms, two months away. Brandon Aiyuk is demanding a trade. The 49ers' first, second, and third-round picks could make an immediate impact. Is the window of opportunity closing?
