Comeback masters
The Chiefs headed into Super Bowl LIV as the favorites, however slight, backed by a solid defense and an offense that had hitherto proven its capacity to score in bunches. In fact, their road to yesterday’s winner-take-all affair was marked by a couple of improbable from-behind triumphs. They won the divisional round 51-31 after spotting the Texans 23 points, and then the AFC championship 35-24 despite having been down by double digits. For much of yesterday, though, it appeared as if they finally ran out of luck. And behind by 10 with 11:57 left in the final period, they looked just about ready to fold after yet another interception gave the Niners the ball.
And then the Chiefs got a new lease on life. For some reason, the Niners, otherwise solid with head coach Kyle Shanahan keeping coverages guessing on the strength of egalitarian production, became tentative as the end drew near. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, a model of efficiency through three quarters, tightened up, able to keep the ball for only five possessions that included a poor throw landing nowhere near any receiver down the middle. Instead of using the clock (a decided must against competition with a reputation for producing quickly), they wound up burning only three minutes and four seconds.
Enter Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes, who buckled down to work and did exactly what fans believed him capable of when given another chance. Of 10 lightning-fast plays, four without a huddle, he connected on half of the eight times he went on the air; of particular note were a superb pass under pressure to an open Tyreek Hill for 44 yards and a short throw while on the move to Travis Kelce for a touchdown. Just like that, a mere possession separated them from the Niners. And he wasn’t done. A punt off the minimum three plays had him with the ball anew, and, again, he led a touchdown drive on seven connections off seven plays.
By this time, the Chiefs knew the Super Bowl was theirs. The 49ers still had ample time to recover, but collapsed instead; Garoppolo followed up a completed 16-yard pass to Kendrick Bourne on the initial play with two failed gambles to intended receivers, a bum throw, and a sack on fourth down. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history. Damien Williams’ subsequent 38-yard run proved to be icing on the cake. Mahomes once again went through the wringer with aplomb, and, in the process, handed head coach Andy Reid the only achievement missing from an outstanding resume.
Needless to say, the Chiefs celebrated in the aftermath, with Mahomes paying due respect to the Niners’ gallant stand, but arguing all the same that the outcome was as it should be. “We never lost faith,” the Most Valuable Player argued. “No one [on the team] had their head down. We believed in each other.” Most tellingly, he believed in himself. Once again, he gave notice that no lead is safe for as long as he’s under center with time on his hands. And, once again, he delivered.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
