(Reuters) – The Kansas City Chiefs know all too well they have a lot more winning to do if they are to match the success of the Tom Brady-era New England Patriots but a Super Bowl triumph on Sunday would cement them as the NFL’s newest dynasty nonetheless.
The Chiefs ended their 50-year wait for a second Super Bowl title in February 2020, lost in the championship game the next year, were one win shy of reaching the showcase in 2022 and returned last year where they once again reigned supreme.
Now the Chiefs can achieve the rare feat of repeating as Super Bowl champions when they face the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas seeking a third title in five years.
Only the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s, the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s and Brady’s Patriots of the 2000s and 2010s have won three Super Bowls in a five-year span.
At the helm of Kansas City’s explosive offense is 28-year-old Patrick Mahomes, who in only six years as a starter has established himself as an elite NFL quarterback.
Mahomes already has 14 career post-season victories, which trails only Brady (35) and former 49ers great Joe Montana (16) on the all-time list among quarterbacks.
Mahomes was asked this week about his chances of ever surpassing Brady’s record seven Super Bowl titles.
“I’m not even close to halfway, so I haven’t put a lot of thought into it,” he replied.
“I mean, your goal is to be the best player that you can be. I know I’m blessed to be around a lot of great players around me. And so, right now, it’s doing whatever I can to beat a great 49ers team and try to get that third ring.
“And then if you ask me that question in 15 years, and I’ll see if I can get close to seven. But seven seems like a long ways away still.”
BALANCED APPROACH
The Chiefs have plenty of other elite playmakers in their dynamic offense, including tight end Travis Kelce, a trusted Mahomes target who combines size, athleticism and precise route running.
In their last game, Kelce passed Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most catches in playoff history when he brought in his 152nd post-season reception during the second quarter of their AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Kelce also amassed over 100 yards receiving for the day, which tied him with Rice for the most 100-plus yards receiving games in the post-season with eight.
But unlike in past years when Kansas City relied heavily on their offense to compensate for an average defense, the Chiefs have a more balanced approach this season.
The 49ers will also have their hands full trying to figure out Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s game plan.
“So he’s always been so tough to go against and just how he spreads it around, said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “The formations. He’s always changing and staying on top of stuff.
“Then you give him the type of quarterback that he has and it’s definitely not a coincidence on how many games they’ve won together and how they seem to be in the situation every year.”
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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