The unique way Patrick Mahomes is trying to win his third Super Bowl

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Kansas City has not been as explosive as in years past

t’s becoming one of those relationships that defines a generation in the NFL: Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl. The two-time NFL MVP has led his Kansas City Chiefs back to the biggest game of the year, where they will face the favoredSan Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — but their path to a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons has been anything but conventional.

For a while during the regular season, it did not look like the Chiefs would be AFC championship material — but here they are again. And while Mahomes has, of course, played a significant role in guiding Kansas City through hostile terrain in Buffalo and Baltimore, the superstar quarterback can also heartily thank his defense this time around

The Chiefs’ dominating defense

The Chiefs are rewriting their reputation in real-time this postseason. Once known for their explosive offense and ability to seemingly conjure up touchdowns at will, the Chiefs have flipped the scripts on opponents in the playoffs this year.

Kansas City is on course to finish with one of the lowest points allowed per playoff game marks since the 2000/01 NFL playoffs. Against the Bills, the Ravens, and the Miami Dolphins, the Chiefs surrendered only 41 total points — an average of 13.7 per game.

The Chiefs’ defense was an elite unit during the regular season. It featured two All-Pro players, in defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie, and allowed only 294 points — the second-fewest in the NFL. It picked up Mahomes and a struggling receiving corps on a number of occasions, and it has only improved as the calendar flipped to 2024.

Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and the rest of the 49ers offense will be on high alert in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 — the Chiefs’ defense is legit, and San Francisco will have to operate more efficiently in order to overcome it.

Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and the rest of the 49ers offense will be on high alert in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 — the Chiefs’ defense is legit, and San Francisco will have to operate more efficiently in order to overcome it.

Mahomes and an elite club

Mahomes threw a career-worst 14 interceptions during the regular season as Kansas City’s offense took a sizable step back, but he hasn’t thrown a single pick yet in the playoffs across 103 pass attempts. The powerful running of Isiah Pacheco — as well as a return to form from Travis Kelce — has helped Mahomes rediscover his efficiency, and the Chiefs have done enough with the ball to return to the Super Bowl despite being outgained in total yardage by the Bills and the Ravens.

Mahomes this season is trying to win a Super Bowl by making the clutch throws and asking his defense to handle the rest. The formula is working so far, and it needs to work for just four more quarters in order for Kansas City to lift the Lombardi Trophy again. If it happens, Mahomes — at 28 years old — will become only the sixth quarterback to win the Super Bowl three times in his career.

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