Thanks to Tom Brady’s genius once again, the New England Patriots are going to their third straight Super Bowl.
After winning the overtime coin toss, the five-time NFL champion led the Patriots 75 yards, and backup Rex Burkhead’s two-yard touchdown helped New England defeat Kansas City 37-31 to claim the AFC title on Sunday night.
The drive against a worn-out defense brought back memories of the Patriots’ sole overtime Super Bowl victory over Atlanta.
“In the long run, away from home against a top team,” Brady remarked. They didn’t give up. We didn’t either. Towards the end, we played our best football. I’m exhausted, man, so I dunno. It was an incredible game.
With Brady starting at quarterback and Bill Belichick serving as coach, New England made it to their ninth Super Bowl thanks to two crucial replay reviews.
The Los Angeles Rams, who defeated the New Orleans Saints 26–23 in overtime to win the NFC title, are waiting for them in Atlanta. When the St. Louis-based Rams were last in the Super Bowl, they lost to the Patriots.
For the first time ever, both conference championship games ended in overtime. Conference championship matches between both visiting teams were last won in 2012.
The Patriots appeared to be winning multiple times, but Kansas City rallied in a big way. With 39 seconds remaining in normal time, Brady—already the oldest quarterback to have participated in a Super Bowl—led New England 65 yards in 1:24 to set up Burkhead’s four-yard score.
Kansas City was driven into overtime with a 39-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with eight seconds remaining, but they were ultimately defeated.
Kansas City was driven into overtime with a 39-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with eight seconds remaining, but they were ultimately defeated.
But with eight seconds remaining, that was sufficient for his much younger adversary, Patrick Mahomes, 23, to lead the Chiefs 48 yards to a 39-yard field goal by Harrison Butker, forcing OT.
The fourth quarter saw a scorching offensive display after the defense had dominated the first three quarters. In fact, the Chiefs were shut out in the first half for the first time this season, and they did not get the opportunity to play in overtime. These facts, in addition to the two replay calls, could potentially raise questions about officiating and NFL regulations.
For New England, the third-place team to win three straight Super Bowls, it makes no difference. With 30 postseason wins, Belichick has surpassed both Bill Walsh and Don Shula’s combined total. Five Super Bowls were also won by the Hall of Fame coaching team; in two weeks, Belichick will take the No. 6 spot.
A protracted video review overturned what appeared to be a muff by the usually dependable Julian Edelman on a fourth-quarter punt return, igniting wild jeers and a little heated argument from the always composed Andy Reid.
When Brady’s pass squirmed off his hands and went straight to safety Daniel Sorensen, Edelman clearly touched his next try. After his 22-yard return put Kansas City at the Patriots 23, three-time scorer Damien Williams was unopposed by a defender down the left sideline as he converted the game’s first goal, 21-17.
Brady reappeared and orchestrated a 75-yard drive during which Chris Hogan’s leaping, one-handed catch on third down seemed to touch the earth. Reid made a challenge but lost. A few minutes afterward, rookie Sony Michel scored his second touchdown of the evening from the 10.
There was still three minutes left, so there was plenty of time for additional points. Williams’ two-yard run put the Chiefs ahead 28–24, a lead that New England overcame for the majority of the game until Butker’s field goal forced overtime.
