- Direct: The game, play by play
In 1985, Dan Marino , 23 years old and already MVP of the NFL, took his Miami Dolphins to the Super Bowl. The beginning of a dynasty ventured the whole world. There the San Francisco 49ers were waiting for him, who forced one of the worst games of the prodigy and won the title. "It doesn't matter, you'll have more opportunities," the logic shouted. He did not have them. Marino would not return to the decisive game and would retire as the best quarterback who never won a ring.
In 2020, Patrick Mahomes , 24 years old and already MVP of the NFL, took his Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl. The beginning of a dynasty ventured the whole world. There the San Francisco 49ers were waiting for him, who for three and a half quarters forced one of the worst games of the prodigy and, 20-10 up in the absence of seven minutes, touched the title. "It doesn't matter, you'll have more opportunities," the logic began to shout. And then Mahomes was silent.
The Chiefs were (slightly) favorite because their quarterback is the best thing that has happened to the NFL since Aaron Rodgers . A show with legs capable of everything we knew could be done and things that until now we considered impossible. You pass without looking, 60-yard bombs running to the side and throwing to the contrary, balls filtered by non-existent holes ... Mahomes has turned the miracle into routine, but none of that was seen in Miami for three-and-a-half quarters. In part, due to own inaccuracies (especially in two interceptions that are hardly justifiable), but mainly due to the merits of some 49ers who imposed their party plan for a long time: long attacks to limit the offensive possessions of their explosive rival and constant harassment of their portentous defensive line to a Mahomes who ran more to save his life than to win yards.
Thus, and with the infinite capacity of his coach, Kyle Shanahan , to manufacture with the selection of plays advantages superior to the talent he has, the Californians were winners. Unfortunately for the coach, surely the best offensive mind in the league, the ghost of Christmas past was coming back to torture him.
Three years ago, Shanahan was the offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, whom he turned into the best attack of the season and led the Super Bowl to a 28-3 lead well ahead of the Patriots. Then he discovered by the bad that miracles exist. That miracle was called Tom Brady , who led a legendary comeback. Crossing the best quarterback in history has these things. Now that Brady seems withdrawn (and that he is only 42 years old), poor Kyle crossed Mahomes. That is torture.
Although before depressing you should look at two things: your ID (only 40 years old) and the rival bench. There, his immense body bathed in orange Gatorade, finally smiled Andy Reid . Like him, a coach ahead of his time in terms of attack, always a favorite and never a champion, the loser sambenito hung on his back for two decades. At 61 he finally took it off and the world is a little more fair today. The good guys, sooner or later, win.
The geniuses, rather before. That's why Mahomes was able to forget his strange previous mediocrity with two drives to remember in just five minutes. The first crowned him with a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce , his float for scrambled seas. 20-17. The 49ers got fear and their quarterback , Jimmy Garoppolo recalled that he plays in another league to that of his rival. Notable until then, it was diluted as a sugar in the final stretch, allowing the unforgivable: that the ball returned to Mahomes, which was relentless. Each pass, a nail. The one who closed the coffin, with suspense. Damien Williams received and the referees granted the touchdown . The repetition showed that he was stepping outside while the tip of the ball reached the mark line. Was it worth it or not? The review was long, but showed no conclusive evidence to change and the decision remained. One millimeter 20-24. Life is capricious.
There were two minutes left, but everything was already decided. The Chiefs' defense did their job and Williams even swelled the score until the final 20-31, but everything was already pure dressing. No one remembered Bosa and Buckner , Mostert and Juszczyk (there is no typo). Not even Shakira and Jennifer López , whose show of rest reached memorable doses of tacky and bright, say this as praise, that we are in the Super Bowl. Since that time Katy Perry acted accompanied by apparently smoked sharks, there had been no more fun show . The music, already such. They and they were devoured by Patrick Iavon Mahomes II, who for three quarters feared to be Dan Marino and for ten minutes decided to be Superman . He chose well. Although I never return (and should return often), it is already in History.
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