The Niners led by seven at halftime despite dominating possession early. San Francisco gashed the Chiefs D in the first quarter, including gains of 18 yards, 11 yards, and 11 yards on the opening possession, but a McCaffrey fumble (just his third loss all season) snuffed out the drive. The Niners will beat themselves up all offseason for not putting the game away early. Alas, an OT FG from inside the 10 opened the door for Mahomes' heroics. The coach pulled out the stops, including a big trick play TD pass from receiver Jauan Jennings to Christian McCaffrey in the first half. The decision underscored that Shanny knew they needed touchdowns, not field goals, against Mahomes. Credit the coach for not puttering out, going for it on a big fourth-and-3 early in the fourth quarter when a chip-shot field goal would have tied the game. Once again, Shanahan watched Mahomes eat up a 10-point deficit in the Super Bowl. Dynasty cemented.ΔΆ) Kyle Shanahan's 49ers come up shy once again. All season, Mahomes has conjured magic with an up-and-down pass-catching crew. The QB kicked it down, finding a wide-open Mecole Hardman for a 3-yard, game-winning TD. Another Mahomes scramble put the Chiefs on the doorstep. When Niners defensive coordinator Steve Wilks dared bring the blitz in a key spot, the QB did what he always does: ate it alive, finding Rashee Rice for a big third down. Mahomes used his legs, scrambling for a first down on fourth-and-1, and his arm. Then he got the ball back, trailing by three in OT, and zoomed the Chiefs down the field. But Mahomes led a game-tying field goal drive to force the second overtime Super Bowl game in NFL history. A few red zone stalls highlighted a year-long struggle for an offense that missed a big-play presence. Then Mahomes began to find Travis Kelce, ate up a Dre Greenlaw-less 49ers D over the middle, and marched up and down the field. The Chiefs' offense came out of the gate slowly, as it has for much of the 2023 campaign, scoring three points with a red zone turnover in the first half. With the game on the line, there's no one on the planet you'd rather have with the ball than the Magic Man, Mahomes. 1) Patrick Mahomes conjures magic as Chiefs outlast 49ers in OT slobberknocker.
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