Everyone contributed for Chiefs in playoff run. These 11 stood apart
Winning the Super Bowl takes a team effort, and the Chiefs’ 31-20 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday required the contributions of every player. Here, we pick 11 who were at the top of their game throughout the playoff run.
Patrick Mahomes
No player in the game’s history has accomplished more at the beginning of a career than Mahomes, 24, who became the youngest player to win a Super Bowl MVP. He also has been chosen NFL and Pro Bowl MVP, both awards in the previous season. In the three playoff games, Mahomes passed for 10 touchdowns with two interceptions, for 901 yards and a 111.6 passer rating.
Damien Williams
Mr. Postseason. For the second straight season, Williams played his best football in the playoffs. After a 2018 postseason in which he scored four touchdowns, Williams went for six this time. He had the final two in the Super Bowl, the reception to give the Chiefs the lead and his 38-yard burst down the sideline for the clinching score. A case could have been made for Williams as the Super Bowl MVP.
Travis Kelce
The game’s most productive tight end, Kelce turned in a quarter for the ages when he hauled in three touchdown receptions during the second quarter comeback against the Texans. Kelce led the Chiefs with 19 playoff receptions, and his scoring catch started the fourth-quarter comeback in the Super Bowl.
Tyreek Hill
Hill scored the Chiefs’ first two touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game, the first receiving touchdowns of his career in the playoffs. His 44-yard catch in the Super Bowl with the Chiefs trailing by 10 was the big moment in the comeback that became a victory.
Sammy Watkins
Defenses focus on Kelce and Hill, often leaving Watkins single covered, and Watkins took full advantage leading the Chiefs with 288 postseason receiving yards. His two big moments: the 60-yard touchdown catch to clinch the AFC tile game, and his 38-yard catch down the sideline to set up the go-ahead touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Mitchell Schwartz
The offensive line gets its share of credit for the numbers put up by the Chiefs in three playoff games, an average of 38 points and 412 yards per game. The line was led by Schwartz, the right tackle who according to Pro Football Focus was the highest graded player for any team in the postseason. Mahomes was second.
Tyrann Mathieu
Back-seven leader who came up with big plays throughout the postseason. An underappreciated part of Mathieu’s game: He was the last line of defense on more than one occasion during the Super Bowl. If he didn’t make the tackle, a big 49ers gain could have become a touchdown.
Frank Clark
The player wearing No. 55 came up with five sacks in three playoff games, and he recorded the team’s final sack in all three playoff games.
Daniel Sorensen
Sorensen led the Chiefs in playoff tackles with 23, and his special teams contributions in the comeback against the Texans were mighty. He read a fake punt and made a perfect open-field tackle to give the Chiefs’ offense a short field, then forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
Chris Jones
A force throughout the playoffs, Jones saved his best moments for the most important stretch of the Super Bowl. On successive possessions he batted down attempts by Jimmy Garopollo, and helped get the ball back for the offense. This after Jones missed the playoff opener against the Texans with an injury.
Bashaud Breeland
A cornerback who came up with a Super Bowl interception that led to a field goal, and he matched Sorensen for the team lead in individual tackles throughout the playoffs with 15.
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 5:50 PM.