During the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII, Patrick Mahomes ran 26 yards on a sprained ankle with three Philadelphia Eagles in tow. There was almost no way he’d complete the run without someone bashing and twisting his ankle as he fell to the ground. And, well, that’s what happened. Eagles safety Kyzir White ripped Mahomes to the ground. “He disappeared for a bit, watching it from up above. Then he reemerged, and I’m like, ‘Who’s that running with the ball?’ Of course, it was Superman,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told NFL.com’s Jim Trotter. Superman — or The Flash? (There was that trailer for that upcoming DC movie, after all.) After tumbling to the grass, Mahomes jumped to his feet and winced. No doubt there was pain. But there must have been joy, too. The Chiefs had tied the game with roughly two and a half minutes left. And Mahomes had just gotten them to Philadelphia’s 17-yard line. Kansas City was on the verge of victory because of that run. Because of Mahomes. So long as they controlled the next 165 seconds, he was going to be the hero and the MVP of this game. And in the first half, there was a brief moment when it wasn’t at all clear if Mahomes would finish the game. There was a point going into halftime when backup Chad Henne was warming up on the sideline in the event Mahomes couldn’t return after reinjuring his ankle. The Chiefs QB looked like he could barely walk after getting tackled in the open field during the second quarter. But Mahomes got back up again and again and again. Kicker Harrison Butker hit the game-winning field goal. Mahomes won his second Super Bowl. Andy Reid won his third — and his second with Kansas City.
The Chiefs have the makings of a dynasty. “You can call it a dynasty; you can call it whatever you want,” tight end Travis Kelce said Sunday after the game. “All I know is, we’re coming back next year with our heart in the right mindset while trying to get another one.” If the Chiefs are going to be a dynasty, Mahomes is the one who makes it happen. And if that happens, Patrick Mahomes could wind up being regarded the greatest quarterback of all time. But Mahomes got back up again and again and again. Kicker Harrison Butker hit the game-winning field goal. Mahomes won his second Super Bowl. Andy Reid won his third — and his second with Kansas City. The Chiefs have the makings of a dynasty. “You can call it a dynasty; you can call it whatever you want,” tight end Travis Kelce said Sunday after the game. “All I know is, we’re coming back next year with our heart in the right mindset while trying to get another one.” If the Chiefs are going to be a dynasty, Mahomes is the one who makes it happen. And if that happens, Patrick Mahomes could wind up being regarded the greatest quarterback of all time.
"I just want to thank Patrick Mahomes for existing… I cannot believe he is a real person." 🤣
Paul Rudd and his son Jack were giddy after the @Chiefs Super Bowl win ⬇️ @PSchrags pic.twitter.com/D2xrDUBDLX
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 13, 2023
They had only four total drives in the second half. The results: touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, game-winning field goal. “I wish I would make it easier and not be down, but I feel like I play better when we are down,” Mahomes said. Every pass mattered. And the Eagles defense was not letting Mahomes get anything but short chunk plays. He had to be patient. He couldn’t dazzle with deep heaves. He had to play a careful and incisive game while spending 35:47 of the 60 minutes watching Jalen Hurts play out of his mind with four total touchdowns and two deep passes, both for 45 yards. Ultimately, Mahomes’ greatness shone through in the second half. He has matured beyond his 27 years. “[After winning your first Super Bowl], you’re just like a little kid winning a prize at the fair,” Mahomes said postgame. “Whereas with this one, you understand how hard it was. You’ve dealt with failure. You know how hard it is to get back on this stage and to win this game. I mean, I played in a Super Bowl where I got blown out, where it was all hyped up and you go out there and you don’t do anything.” Mahomes’ performance was something of legend — and, frankly, something that resembled what Brady did for so many years. Maybe Mahomes said Brady’s seven Super Bowl wins appear like an impossible milestone to surpass. But Andy Reid also made it clear last week that Mahomes wants to be the greatest quarterback of all time. With a win in Super Bowl LVII, Mahomes’ GOAT campaign has plenty of life.
