The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for the first time in 50 years. I have tears streaming down my face. I don’t know if I am crying because I am so happy that they won, or the fact that I have no one to share this moment with.
Before The Big Game
The week leading up to the big game has many twists and turns, plots and subplots and analysis. One of the subplots involved Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana. Now if you know me, you know that he was my favorite NFL player. Montana played for both the 49ers and the Chiefs. It is because of him that I am a Chiefs fan. So, who would Montana cheer for in the big game?
If you though Montana would be able to choose a side then you are wrong. These two uniforms hang side by side in the San Francisco home of Joe Montana — the last uniform he wore with the San Francisco 49ers and his last with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Montana has been Miami for the Super Bowl all week and will be asked over and over who he would like to see win. Many have already called this the “Joe Bowl.”
“It’s hard to pick between” he said. “Yeah we live in San Francisco so there’s a little bit of a different feel just because you don’t have that touch with Kansas City all the time. But there’s a place in my heart for them both. Kansas City was so good and accepting of us coming in there. It’s not easy, and there’s a lot of expectation. Montana’s answer to the question is, I’m guaranteed my team will win.”
I love what Jennifer Montana called Mahomes her second-favorite quarterback ever because he’s so much fun to watch. Maybe she was giving us a bit of insight.
The Game
In all of the playoff games, the Chiefs would have to come from behind and this game would be no different. The Chiefs overcame a 20-10 second half deficit with three straight fourth quarter touchdowns before winning the game 31-20, but to be honest things looked bleak for three quarters. However, I always remember the words that my dad told me, the game is not over until the clock says 0 and you never give up because you might miss something.
Robbie Gould opened the scoring with a first-quarter field goal. Putting the 49ers up 3-0.
The Chiefs set up their first touchdown when coach Andy Reid went for it on fourth-and-1 near the goal line, ran a trick play, and picked up the first down. Patrick Mahomes then put the Chiefs on the board with a run from the 1-yard line.
Jimmy Garoppolo took a big hit early in the second quarter and gave up an interception. This led to a field goal for the Chiefs and a 10-3 lead.
The 49ers quickly answered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a Kyle Juszczyk broken tackle for a touchdown.
It looked as if the 49ers would take the lead at the end of the first half, but a 42-yard pass to George Kittle was called back when he was flagged for pass interference.
It was 10-10 at half time.
After the 49ers opened the second half with a field goal to take the lead, Mahomes threw an ugly interception and suddenly it felt as if the 49ers were dominating the game despite just a three-point lead.
The 49ers capitalized with another strong drive that ended with a Raheem Mostert 1-yard TD run.
A long pass to Tyreek Hill and a pass interference on Travis Kelce in the end zone set up a much-needed touchdown for the Chiefs to pull within 20-17 with six minutes to play.
Less than three minutes later, the Chiefs took the lead on this Damien Williams touchdown.
The Chiefs stopped the 49ers on fourth down. There was nearly a delay-of-game call that would have given the 49ers another play, but the ball was snapped just as the clock hit zero.
The Chiefs then sealed the win with a long run by Williams.
Let the party begin.
The Parade
Thousands of fans gathered in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday to cheer on the Chiefs, fresh from their come-from-behind victory Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Despite temperatures in the 20s and wind chills in the teens, fans began lining the parade route before dawn, turning the public plaza in front of the city’s iconic Union Station into an ocean of red and gold. They high-fived. They waved pennants. They danced even though they were wrapped in blankets. They climbed trees to get better views. “Go Chiefs!” echoed through the crowd.
They were cold and wet by the time the parade buses made their way up Grand Boulevard around noon local time. Patrick Mahomes and his teammates stood atop a string of red double-decker buses, the young quarterback and game MVP wearing a red plaid jacket. Mahomes exhorted the fans to cheer as he hoisted the sterling silver Lombardi Trophy into the air, later bringing it close and cradling it like a baby.
What a special year it has been for the Chiefs. I will cherish every moment of it.
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