The final grades are in for the Chiefs. They go to the head of the NFL class
Report Card for Chiefs Super Bowl....
KC Star of the game: Patrick Mahomes. Running back Damien Williams deserves mention with 104 rushing yards. But my goodness, Mahomes. He was on his way to the worst game of his career. The Chiefs trailed 20-10 with 8:53 remaining, and at that point Mahomes had two interceptions and zero touchdown passes. After that, two touchdown passes that allowed the Chiefs to overcome a double-digit deficit for the third time in three playoff games. And how about a league MVP, Pro Bowl MVP and Super Bowl MVP for Mahomes? He’s 24 years old.
Reason to hope: Is this the start of a magical era for the Chiefs?
Reason to mope: None. We had something written here early in the fourth quarter but erased it.
Next: A parade, Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Wear red.
Passing offense: B
Not an A because of the way the game unfolded for the Chiefs. For 3 1/2 quarters, Mahomes was ordinary. Over the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, he was phenomenal. The long pass to Tyreek Hill that set up the 1-yard touchdown strike to Travis Kelce. The long ball to Sammy Watkins that set up the 5-yard scoring pass to Williams. Just wow. Until then, the 49ers defense had flummoxed Mahomes and the passing game. He threw two interceptions for only the second time in his career. Hill and Kelce were only marginally part of the attack. The Niners seemed content in allowing the Chiefs to complete passes underneath but nothing deep. And even those were a struggle at times. But what a comeback by Mahomes and the Chiefs. Mahomes finished 26 of 42 for 286 yards.
Passing defense: B
A great pass rush by Chris Jones and Mike Pennel forced a bad throw from Jimmy Garopollo and Bashaud Breeland stepped in front of the underthrown pass for an interception. The Chiefs turned the takeaway into a field goal. In the Chiefs comeback Jones knocked down a pair of passes and Kendall Fuller came up with the game-clinching interception.
Rushing offense: A
The Chiefs successfully established the run in the first half, and the 49ers seemed good with that. Mahomes scored the Chiefs’ first touchdown on a 1-yard option keeper, and Williams clinched the game with a 38-yard run. Williams finished with 104 yards rushing and sneaked into the end zone on the 5-yard touchdown reception that gave the Chiefs a 24-20 lead.
Rushing defense: B
The 49ers are a difficult scout. The public address announcement came early in the third quarter. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had set a Super Bowl record for most rushing yards by a wide receiver with 53. Raise your hand if you had a team with three running backs that each gained at least 544 yards this season being led in rushing at least for a while by a wide receiver. The 49ers went for 141 yards on the ground, but they couldn’t come up with the big burst in the fourth quarter when needed.
Special teams: A
Mecole Hardman had a nice, 26-yard kickoff return to open the game. Terrific kickoff coverage, especially by Dorian O’Daniel and Jordan Lucas. Harrison Butker drilled a 31-yard field goal. A solid all-around game for Dave Toub’s group.
Coaching: A
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Andy Reid’s decision to pass up a field goal led to the Chiefs’ first touchdown. A poor play-calling sequence might have cost the Chiefs points at the end of the first half. The Chiefs had the ball on the 49ers’ 46 but two plays netted minus-5 yards. The Chiefs were forced to punt and that kept the score 10-10 at halftime. In the end, the Chiefs made all the right moves.