NEW ORLEANS — If Tremendous Bowl 2025 is a detailed recreation that comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes, will probably be acquainted territory for the Chiefs.
Kansas Metropolis has received an NFL report 17 consecutive one-score video games.
The streak dates again to the 2023 common season and consists of the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Payments within the AFC Championship recreation.
The Chiefs haven’t been the everyday convention champion that dominates opponents.
The Chiefs, who went 15-2 within the common season, received 12 one-score video games this 12 months.
“It’s all these guys,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated. “When given a chance, they’ve stepped up in these conditions and as a coach, you’re keen on that half and you understand that’s a uncommon factor. These video games may’ve gone both means [and] they take a lot pleasure in stepping up they usually don’t shrink in these conditions.”
It begins with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who at all times appears to make the massive play within the fourth quarter when its wanted.
After the win within the AFC title recreation, Mahomes now has a successful report in video games when his crew trailed within the fourth quarter. He’s a tremendous 27-26 in these conditions.
That’s by far the perfect successful share in that state of affairs in NFL historical past. The following closest is Daryle Lamonica, who had a .386 successful share.
It has not simply been Mahomes, although.
Steve Spagnuolo’s protection has come up huge a number of occasions, together with final week’s fourth-down cease of the Payments with two minutes left.
Earlier within the season, Leo Chenal blocked a area objective on the ultimate play of the sport to beat the Broncos.
The protection stopped two Falcons drives on downs contained in the 20 late within the fourth quarter in Week 3 to win by 5 factors.
“It takes everyone and we’ve carried out it so many alternative methods now that we simply have full belief and the coaches have belief within the gamers, gamers trusting the coaches and we go on the market and execute our jobs,” Mahomes stated. “Whenever you’ve carried out it again and again and it turns into behavior.”
Chiefs detractors may even say they’ve been fortunate this season.
That began in Week 1 when Ravens tight finish Isaiah Probably was out of bounds by a toenail ultimately zone on the ultimate play of the sport, giving the Chiefs their first win of the 12 months.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell fumbled a snap with out being hit as Las Vegas was transferring into area objective vary in Week 13.
The Chiefs recovered the ball and received the sport. Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright’s game-winning area objective towards the Chargers hit the upright and bounced in for the win.
Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones stated the Chiefs’ late-game success isn’t any accident.
They pressured an incompletion from Josh Allen late within the AFC Championship recreation after Spagnuolo dialed up a wonderfully timed blitz.
“All 12 months we’ve been constructing that,” Jones stated. “We work by way of conditions all year long, apply late-game conditions, two-minute conditions. So for us, it’s simply one other play. we’re very assured and we belief in [Spagnuolo] to place us in the correct place to make a play.
“These video games are very acquainted to us, we’re used to being in all these conditions. We really feel very calm, we really feel very at peace with what we’re working — the pace of it, the tempo of it — and the play-calling.”
The Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 within the Tremendous Bowl two years in the past. Final 12 months, they beat the 49ers in additional time.
It might not be shocking if their quest for a three-peat comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes once more.
Don’t wager towards the Chiefs if it does.
“They’ve this persona the place they know the right way to bear down,” Reid stated. “They know when to have enjoyable, however in addition they know when to bear down.”
