Staff Writer - Ryan Williams-Abrams
Fifty years. For fifty years Kansas City patiently waited. They waited through the years of agonizing playoff flukes and terrible luck ― never having much to celebrate. They always said he would come, the savior; the one who would return them to the promised land. Then, finally, with the tenth selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kansas City found their long awaited savior. Today, he is forever immortalized as a World Champion Kansas City Chief. The story will be told for generations; in a stadium full of well-traveled Chiefs fans, under the brightest lights in the world, Patrick Lavon Mahomes II led Kansas City to its second ever Super Bowl title.
It is an understatement to say that he has earned the hype that currently surrounds his name. Patrick Mahomes was counted out from the beginning. NFL Draft Analysts criticized the Chiefs immediately for their pick. “Calling Mahomes a project is a major understatement. He’s nowhere near ready to play in the NFL. And, honestly, he may never be. Between his inconsistent accuracy due to poor mechanics, his tendency to bail from clean pockets and his lack of field vision, he’s going to leave as many big plays on the field as he creates. This was a risky pick.” said Steven Ruiz of USA Today. The criticism only fueled the fire that pushed him to earn the NFL Most Valuable Player Award his first year as a starter, the Pro Bowl MVP in his first ever Pro Bowl, a First Team All-Pro selection, the Best NFL Player ESPY Award, and, as of Sunday, the Super Bowl MVP Award.
While Mahomes may have had an “off” game on Super Bowl Sunday, finishing 26-of-42 for 286 passing yards with two interceptions, his leadership efforts were the true reason behind the Championship and, ultimately, his MVP Award. Mahomes and the Chiefs offense struggled in the first three quarters, which led to a 10-20 deficit facing them in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. As Kansas City held its breath, Patrick Mahomes stepped into gear. With just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Mahomes found Tyreek Hill deep down the field to convert 3rd and 15, finally showing some sign of life in the Chiefs offense. Mahomes finished the drive by completing a one yard pass to TE Travis Kelce in the end zone, putting the Chiefs within three. The defense made quick work of the 49ers offense, getting Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense back on the field with about five minutes to play. The Chiefs moved downfield at a rapid pace, highlighted by a picture-perfect pass to Sammy Watkins, finally ending the explosive drive with Damien Williams reaching over the right pylon for a touchdown. Patrick Mahomes, in the most improbable situation, had given Kansas City the lead for the first time since the second quarter. From that point on, the unstoppable Chiefs proved why they deserved to be in the position they were in. The Chiefs defense once again shut down the 49ers offense, allowing Damien Williams the opportunity to score one more touchdown, leading to a 31-20 KC victory.
Never again will Patrick Mahomes’s greatness be questioned. He was put onto the biggest stage, under the brightest lights, and prevailed heroically. For the first time in fifty years, Kansas City can celebrate having the greatest football team in the world, led by the greatest quarterback in NFL history. As Chiefs DT Chris Jones valiantly stated, "This is the beginning of something, baby. This is a dynasty.” Live it up, Kansas City.