NEW ORLEANS — If Tremendous Bowl 2025 is a detailed recreation that comes right down to the ultimate minutes, it is going to be acquainted territory for the Chiefs.
Kansas Metropolis has gained 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 standard convention champion that dominates opponents.
The Chiefs, who went 15-2 within the common season, gained 12 one-score video games this yr.
“It’s all these guys,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned. “When given a possibility, they’ve stepped up in these conditions and as a coach, you’re keen on that half and 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 large play within the fourth quarter when its wanted.
After the win within the AFC title recreation, Mahomes now has a profitable report in video games when his staff trailed within the fourth quarter. He’s an incredible 27-26 in these conditions.
That’s by far the most effective profitable share in that state of affairs in NFL historical past. The following closest is Daryle Lamonica, who had a .386 profitable share.
It has not simply been Mahomes, although.
Steve Spagnuolo’s protection has come up massive a number of instances, together with final week’s fourth-down cease of the Payments with two minutes left.
Earlier within the season, Leo Chenal blocked a discipline aim 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 accomplished 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 mentioned. “While you’ve accomplished it again and again and it turns into behavior.”
Chiefs detractors may also say they’ve been fortunate this season.
That began in Week 1 when Ravens tight finish Isaiah Doubtless was out of bounds by a toenail ultimately zone on the ultimate play of the sport, giving the Chiefs their first win of the yr.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell fumbled a snap with out being hit as Las Vegas was transferring into discipline aim vary in Week 13.
The Chiefs recovered the ball and gained the sport. Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright’s game-winning discipline aim towards the Chargers hit the upright and bounced in for the win.
Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones mentioned the Chiefs’ late-game success is not any accident.
They compelled an incompletion from Josh Allen late within the AFC Championship recreation after Spagnuolo dialed up a superbly timed blitz.
“All yr we’ve been constructing that,” Jones mentioned. “We work by way of conditions all year long, observe 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 best place to make a play.
“These video games are very acquainted to us, we’re used to being in some of these conditions. We really feel very calm, we really feel very at peace with what we’re operating — the velocity 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 yr, they beat the 49ers in extra time.
It could not be shocking if their quest for a three-peat comes right down to the ultimate minutes once more.
Don’t guess towards the Chiefs if it does.
“They’ve this persona the place they know the way to bear down,” Reid mentioned. “They know when to have enjoyable, however additionally they know when to bear down.”