Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the game-winning drive in Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.
Credit: © John Angelillo, UPI/Alamy Images

The Kansas City Chiefs rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led an aggressive Philadelphia offense, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for one more. But the Chiefs’ dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes, hobbled by a high ankle sprain, battled back in the second half to clinch the win. The first Super Bowl ever to feature two number-one-seeded teams, it was the second Super Bowl championship for the Chiefs in the last four years.  

The Eagles took the kickoff to open the game and drove downfield, capping the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for the touchdown. The Chiefs answered immediately with a brisk three-minute drive capped by a touchdown catch by All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. On the first play of the second quarter, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown made a spectacular 45-yard touchdown catch to regain the lead 14-7. Hurts fumbled on the next drive. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton grabbed the ball and sprinted 36 yards for the score, tying the game 14-14. The Eagles converted two fourth-down plays in the next drive as Hurts scored his second rushing touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead. Following a three-and-out by the Chiefs, the Eagles added a 35-yard Jake Elliott field goal to make the score 24-14 at the half.  

Caribbean superstar Rihanna floated into the Super Bowl halftime show on a glowing red platform high above the turf suspended by wires. Wearing a glossy red outfit and surrounded by backup dancers clad in white, Rihanna took to the stage for her first live performance in four years. She later revealed that she was performing while pregnant with her second child.  

The Chiefs opened the second half with a touchdown drive to cut their deficit to 24-21. Soon after, the Eagles responded with a 33-yard field goal to extend their lead 27-21. Mahomes hit back with a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Chiefs their first lead in the game at 28-27. The Eagles followed with a three-and-out and a punt that Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney returned 65 yards to the 5-yard line. The Chiefs scored three plays later on a Mahomes touchdown pass to take a 35-27 lead. The Eagles quickly bounced back as wide receiver DeVonta Smith grabbed a pass and scrambled 45 yards up the sideline to the 2-yard line. Hurts followed with his third rushing touchdown on another quarterback sneak. The 2-point conversion was good to tie the score 35-35 with just over 5 minutes remaining. But the Chiefs marched downfield, aided by a couple of key penalties, to the 2-yard line. After a couple of plays to run down the clock, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made the 27-yard field goal to put the score 38-35. With only seconds left and no timeouts, a Hail Mary pass by Hurts fell short to end the game.  

Hurts finished the game with 27 completions in 38 pass attempts for 304 yards. He also rushed 15 times for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Mahomes completed 21 of 27 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed six times for 44 yards. Mahomes, who had just been named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2022 season, was also named Super Bowl MVP for the second time.  

February 5, 2020

On Sunday, February 2, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 to win Super Bowl LIV (54), the championship of the National Football League (NFL), at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a furious fourth-quarter comeback to overcome a 20-10 deficit and give Kansas City its first championship since taking Super Bowl IV 50 years ago in 1970. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid earned a long-awaited first title after 366 games over 21 seasons as an NFL head coach.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball during Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2020. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

The Chiefs entered Super Bowl LIV with one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history, and the 49ers countered with the league’s top-ranked defense. After a brief ineffective possession by the Chiefs, the 49ers got on the board first with a 38-yard field goal. Late in the first quarter, Mahomes capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Chiefs on top 7-3. Kansas City then intercepted San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and turned the mistake into three points with a 31-yard field goal. Garoppolo recovered with a 15-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk to even the game at 10-10 before halftime.

In the second half, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould nailed a 42-yard field goal for a 13-10 San Francisco lead. The ‘Niners then turned an interception off Patrick Mahomes into a touchdown and a 20-10 advantage. Mahomes threw another interception and the 10-point lead began to look secure for San Francisco. With 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, however, Mahomes regained his normally excellent form. The young quarterback connected on a 44-yard heave to wide receiver Tyreek Hill and then drilled a short touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to make it a 20-17 game.

The Chiefs defense quickly stopped the 49ers, and the Kansas City offense went back to work. Mahomes connected on a series of short passes before hitting receiver Sammy Watkins on a 38-yard completion. Running back Damien Williams then caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Kansas City in front 24-20. A desperate 49ers offense turned the ball over on downs at midfield, and the Chief’s Williams then sealed the win with a quick 38-yard touchdown run and a 31-20 lead with just 1:12 left in the game. After the clock ran down to zero, Patrick Mahomes was named the youngest Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl history–he had turned 24 in September 2019. He completed 26 of 42 passing attempts for 286 yards. The Niners’ Garoppolo connected on 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Williams ran for 104 yards on 17 carries for the Chiefs, and running back Raheem Mostert ground out 58 yards on 12 runs to lead the ‘Niners.

San Francisco’s Super Bowl loss ended an otherwise brilliant season that saw the team turn around a 4-12 record in 2018 to go 13-3 in 2019 and claim the National Football Conference’s top playoff spot. It was the 49ers’ seventh trip to the Super Bowl. The team last won it all in Super Bowl XXIX in early 1995. For Kansas City, it was the team’s third trip to the title game. The Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers in January 1967. They beat the Minnesota Vikings to win Super Bowl IV in 1970.