Three years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs had an opportunity to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, didn’t let that come to fruition.
Now Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and Co. get another shot at history. The Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Should the Chiefs win, they will become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since Brady and the 2003-04 New England Patriots.
“I got close a couple years ago and fell short in pretty disappointing fashion,” Mahomes said. “And to be back on this stage and have that opportunity — not a lot of teams have had the opportunity before. And obviously not a lot of teams have done it, and we need to make sure we maximize that moment.”
The Chiefs have done that so far in the playoffs as they defeated the Dolphins at home then took to the road to take down the Bills and Ravens. It was the first time in Mahomes’ career that the Chiefs had to play a postseason game on the road.
“I think these last two that I’ve been in, I understand how hard it is to get here,” Mahomes said. “I was blessed enough to get to two Super Bowls early in my career, and I had a loss in the AFC championship game. And we had to work to get our way back here. And I understand how hard it is to do, and you never have the same team.
“So I try to enjoy it with the guys around me because you know they’re not going to be the same next year and you want to make sure you’re present in the moment.”
Though the rosters have changed some the one constant Mahomes has had on offense is Kelce, his close friend and favorite target.
Kelce said the two have such a connection on the field they don’t even have to talk. Instead, they can just look at each other and instantly know what to do.
“There’s been a lot of work that’s gone into it,” Kelce said. “There’s some things that don’t need to be said. But at the same time there’s little bits of communication that can assure you and make sure we’re both on the same page at times.
“But everything we do on the field is play-specific, really depending on what coverages and things the other team is playing. It just depends on the scenario.”
Mahomes, of course, has always had another constant in his ear: Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
“Being with Coach Reid for so long now, I have a good feel for the game plan and a good feel for how he calls plays,” Mahomes said. “And a lot of times he’ll call the play that I want him to call before I even get it in. Just having a good feel for what he’s thinking. I think that’s what great coaches and players connections go is whenever you can call the plays you know the coach is going to call.
“The biggest thing for me now is when he calls a play, I know what he’s thinking and who he thinks the ball is going to go to. And it might be different than in practice or it might be different than what we worked on throughout the year. But based off the game and what the defense is playing and what he calls I have a good understanding of what he’s thinking.”
The Chiefs defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV four years ago to claim their first title in 50 years. And with it being Super Bowl 58, Chiefs fans have a connection with that number as it is the number Derrick Thomas wore.
“I hadn’t thought about the 58 with Derrick Thomas,” Reid said. “But what a great player he was. When I was in Green Bay, we had a chance to come back and play the Chiefs. And I remember Don Beebe running a shallow cross, and he hit Don Beebe so hard he landed in the quarterback’s lap. He was a great one.”
THUNEY OUT
The Chiefs on Friday ruled All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney out (pec) for the Super Bowl. Thuney was injured against the Bills in the divisional round and didn’t play in the AFC championship game. Nick Allegretti will once again start in his place.
Running back Jerick McKinnon (groin) is listed as questionable, and offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho (quad) has been ruled out.
