The Kansas City Chiefs, lead by MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, ending a 50-year drought without a championship. The Chiefs came back from a ten-point deficit in the third quarter to win thanks to their stingy defense and explosive offense.

Mahomes’ ability to make unbelievable passes in dire situations combined with the blazing speed of wide receiver Tyreek Hill and the reliability of tight end Travis Kelce to lead the Chiefs’ offense. In past games, the Chiefs’ offense got off to slow starts that other teams were able to take advantage of, but the offense generated comeback after comeback in all playoff games including the Super Bowl. 

While the Chiefs’ mediocre defense was put to the test often and early, the team got stops when they mattered most, such as a sack by defensive end Frank Clark in the final two minutes of the game and an interception by cornerback Kendall Fuller in the waning moments to secure the win.

Defensive end and rookie Nick Bosa lead the 49ers’ defense, getting nine sacks and winning the 2019 Defensive Rookie of The Year. Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman helped lead the secondary and used his playoff experience to mentor the other players on the team.

The 49ers, however, were limited by their offense with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo having a subpar season and Super Bowl performance. He threw two interceptions and failed to help move the team down the field. The running attack was effective when implemented, but the team attempted to rely predominantly on the passing game, one of the reasons they fell short. 

In a tale of two completely different teams, the Chiefs led by a dominant offense and the 49ers by a powerful defense, and the offense was able to win. Facing a 20-10 deficit in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs’ offense responded by scoring three straight touchdowns. The momentum shifted eight minutes into the fourth with a big 40-yard catch by Hill on third and fifteen, allowing the Chiefs to maintain possession. After a disappointing drive by the 49ers, wide receiver Sammy Watkins was able to beat Sherman and come up with another big play for the Chiefs, a 30-yard pass that put them in scoring range and led to the game-winning reception from running back Damien Williams.