The Kansas City Chiefs have reached their first Super Bowl in 50 years. So it’s only fitting that Tom Brady gives Patrick Mahomes a Pep Talk ahead of Super Bowl LIV. The Chiefs made history by defeating the Tennessee Titans 35-24 in the AFC Championship game. And now the Chiefs will return to the big stage half a century after their last – and only – Super Bowl success. The last time they were here they defeated the Minnesota Vikings to lift the Lombardi Trophy. It seems somewhat fitting that the Chiefs would lift the AFC Championship trophy for their win over the Titans; a trophy named after the franchise’s founder, Lamar Hunt.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t even a twinkle in his father’s eye the last time that the Chiefs reached the Super Bowl. Mahomes, last year’s NFL MVP, almost led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl last season, but were pipped at the finishing post by the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. There’s no doubt that Mahomes and co. have channeled last year’s disappointment and used it to drive them forward this time around.
Tom Brady’s respect for Mahomes gave 2019’s MVP inspiration for 2020
Mahomes came desperately close to helping the Chiefs to success last year, losing to the Patriots in the extra period of their AFC Championship game. The young star cites a post-game discussion with Patriots’ quarterback icon Tom Brady as inspiration to help the team go one step further in 2020. Just moments after the Patriots’ narrow win over the Chiefs, Brady pulled his quarterback counterpart to one side and had a one-on-one discussion, praising Mahomes’ season and his long-term potential.
Most US Sportsbooks with NFL futures markets will have ranked the Chiefs as only moderate contenders for Super Bowl LIV, particularly after the disappointment of last year. Futures bets are offered for NFL bettors wishing to take a longer view on things, which is exactly what Tom Brady was telling Mahomes to do after last season’s defeat. Mahomes recently told NBC Sports’ Peter King what Brady had said to him during their five-minute discussion in the depths of the Arrowhead Stadium. He said that Brady encouraged him to “stay with the process” and to always “be who you are”.
Those words of wisdom clearly inspired Mahomes, who told King that he knew after his chat with Brady he had to “take advantage of every single day if [he wanted] to be great”. Mahomes also admitted he nearly didn’t watch last year’s Super Bowl; such was the pain of missing out at the final hurdle. However, something inside him urged him to turn on that television to help him “prepare to be in this moment now” rather than be the one “sitting at home” two years running.
Kansas City finally has a team to be proud of
It’s been such a long time since Chiefs fans have had something to write home about their team. In more recent years, Kansas City has been viewed as something of a farcical franchise, often operating without a coherent strategy. In the period between 2007-2012, the Chiefs twice lost 12 games in a season and even lost 14 games in a season back in 2008 and 2012, respectively. But for four years running, the Chiefs have now topped the AFC West, reinforcing the view that now is the time for Kansas City to make their dreams come true.
Standing in their way at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will be the San Francisco 49ers, who were emphatic 37-20 victors in their exciting NFC Championship game with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers found themselves trailing 27-0 at the half-time interval, with Raheem Mostert doing most of the touchdown damage for the 49ers. San Francisco are certainly more experienced than the Chiefs when it comes to Super Bowl appearances, having last played in 2013 when they fell to an agonizing three-point loss to Baltimore in New Orleans.
After a 4-12 record in the 2018 campaign, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers have experienced a dramatic turnaround in fortunes this time around, with a 13-3 record that saw them surge into Super Bowl contention. While the 49ers will be looking to avenge their Super Bowl hurt from seven years ago, the Chiefs will be desperate to win only the second Super Bowl in their history. It promises to be a historic battle and one which could certainly go either way.