The Kansas City Chiefs (and their quarterback Patrick Mahomes) made historical past in Super Bowl LVIII, finishing a set of back-to-back titles. In each championship video games, Mahomes was named the MVP, incomes the award by doing extra than simply dicing up coverages.

Against the Philadelphia Eagles a yr in the past, Mahomes arrange the game-winning discipline aim by dashing for 26 yards after dropping again to cross. It made up the majority of the quarterback’s 44 dashing yards for the sport, which was the workforce’s second-highest mark in Super Bowl LVII.

But in Sunday night time’s 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas, Mahomes took it to a brand new excessive by racking up 66 yards on the bottom, utilizing his legs to maneuver the chains 4 instances within the second half. He ended up as his workforce’s main rusher, ending off the championship by ready for the precise second to take off.

Here are these key moments:

Escaping stress

For the majority of the night, the San Francisco cross rush was respiratory down Mahomes’ neck. The 49ers’ protection completed with three sacks for the sport, getting alternatives as the nice protection behind them made Mahomes hesitant to throw.

When a cross isn’t there in opposition to a zone protection, it’s tougher for the quarterback to make a play himself. Since the defenders have already got eyes on him, scrambling lanes don’t pop open as simply as they do in opposition to man protection.

On this third down within the third quarter, the 49ers are in zone protection — however Mahomes has no selection however to run into it after the cross safety breaks down, flushing him out to the left.

As he approaches the road of scrimmage, he pump-fakes, which slows defensive lineman Arik Armstead’s pursuit. Then he acknowledges he’s on a collision course with a cornerback within the shallow zone, so he lowers his shoulder to get the additional few yards he must convert.

It was the quarterback’s first impactful scramble; the 49ers’ aggressive zone protection was triggering downhill. But when Mahomes must scramble, he can will it to work. In this case, it helped maintain a field-goal drive.

Run-pass choices

Down the stretch of the season, Kansas City known as fewer run-pass possibility performs; the workforce wanted to simplify the bottom assault. But on Sunday, San Francisco’s protection invited the workforce to convey them again situationally.

On this primary down within the third quarter, the 49ers’ protection is keying in on the Chiefs’ working recreation. As Mahomes takes the snap, he confirms that defensive finish Nick Bosa is dedicated to chasing the handoff. That tells Mahomes he ought to preserve the ball.

Once he clears the faux, Mahomes has two main choices: tight finish Noah Gray within the flat or broad receiver Rashee Rice on a “glance” route. Mahomes in a short time realizes, nonetheless, that he’s the one Kansas City participant for whom the protection isn’t accounting — so with out second thought, he sprints for 22 yards.

In additional time, the Chiefs went again to the same play to transform fourth-and-1. The motion is similar: a handoff look from shotgun that’s going away from the beelining Nick Bosa. This time, the play is designed for Mahomes to tug — nevertheless it nonetheless units up fast passing choices for him.

Once once more, the quarterback rapidly sees that no defender accounting for him. Even although broad receiver Rashee Rice has discovered area previous the first-down marker, Mahomes acknowledges that possibility as an pointless danger. So he bursts downfield, getting as many yards as he can earlier than sliding.

The proper time to interrupt the pocket

A yr in the past, Mahomes’ fourth-quarter scramble popped open as a result of the Eagles’ cross protection had unfold out too far, vacating the center of the sector.

But on Sunday, San Francisco not often gave Kansas City respiratory room over the center of the sector. But as the sport wore on, linebackers and safeties have been extra unfold out; that they had change into much less involved with the specter of a run than they have been about tight finish Travis Kelce (and Rice) discovering area to run after the catch.

On a first-down play throughout the game-tying drive earlier than additional time, the 49ers are in man protection; Mahomes thinks he sees the crease he has been searching for. Unfortunately, the defensive position will get to him, losing his alternative.

He wouldn’t miss the following likelihood, although. In additional time, the Chiefs are in a third-and-short in San Francisco territory. Dropping again, Mahomes acknowledges the four-man rush — mixed with a tender protection in the midst of the sector — and explodes by way of the entrance of the pocket.

His momentum retains linebacker Fred Warner from altering his course sufficient to catch the quarterback — and Mahomes will get a 19-yard achieve.

The backside line

Mahomes’ newest Super Bowl victory is the most recent reminder that he is likely one of the biggest skilled athletes of our time. It’s not nearly his apparent profession accomplishments. It’s additionally concerning the sensational strikes he can bodily carry out.

That consists of working. He is cautious to not run too typically — in order that simply when a protection thinks it has Kansas City’s offense cornered, Mahomes can pull this trump card.

Even then, he performs it solely when it’s most wanted — like sustaining a game-winning Super Bowl drive.