Kansas City is a championship city once again, and a kid from Jersey played a big role in it.
A dramatic come-from-behind 38-35 victory over Philadelphia saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes put K.C. on his back, despite re-aggravating his right ankle injury, as Kansas City become the second team in Big Game history to win despite a halftime deficit of 10 points.
Mahomes won his second MVP in the contest, but he wasn’t alone in his efforts. Former Rutgers standout Isiah Pacheco had a major hand in the victory.
As for Philadelphia, it was a bitter pill to swallow after Jalen Hurts had Kansas City’s defense on its heels for most of the evening.
Philly carried a 24-14 lead into the break after Hurts gashed K.C. both in the air and on the ground. Hurts was 17 of 22 for 183 yards in the first half for a 116.3 rating, although it wasn’t perfect, as he was strip sacked, a fumble which Kansas City scooped up and scored on to tie the game at 14.
Hurts rebounded from the fumble to lead Philly on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive, culminating in a Hurts touchdown run to make it 21-14.
The second half was all Kansas City.
After a quiet first half, Pacheco ran for 48 yards and a touchdown in the second half. His powerful running was a huge key to Kansas City re-establishing itself in the second half while Mahomes was getting used to working on his bad ankle.
Shine Bright Like A 💎 @isiah_pachecoRB | @Chiefs
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📺: #SBLVII -- 6:30pm ET on FOX
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In fact Pacheco scored the first K.C. touchdown of the second half that brought them to within three-points at 24-21. Earlier in the contest, he had a 24-yard run that helped set up Mahomes for his first touchdown of the day to Travis Kelce.
Pacheco finished his first Big Game appearance with 76 yards on 15 carries.
After rushing for 830 yards on the ground in the regular season, Pacheco was marvelous in the postseason. In three playoff games, he ran for a combined 197 yards and the touchdown in the Big Game. He was seen afterwards hugging friends and family during the trophy ceremony.
F.A.M.I.L.Y. ❤️ @isiah_pachecoRB | @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/816zD1mlCZ
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As for Mahomes he was pitch perfect in the second half leading four K.C. scoring drives.
With five minutes to go, Mahomes guided K.C. back down field, eating up the entire clock, buoyed by a controversial holding call by cornerback James Bradberry.
The call gave Kansas City a new set of downs with 1:54 to go. Andy Reid elected to run the clock out before sending Harrison Buctker out to kick the game winner.
