LAS VEGAS — All eyes were on the offense and defense between the Chiefs and 49ers heading into the Super Bowl, but it was the special teams play that shifted the momentum in the third quarter Sunday, giving the Chiefs a 25-22 victory.
The 49ers stopped the Chiefs with just under three minutes left in the quarter, forcing Kansas City to punt from its own 35 on an incomplete pass on third-and-two.
Tommy Townsend completed a 40-yard punt, but 49ers returner Ray-Ray McLeod tried to allow it to hit the ground with heavy traffic around him.
However, the ball hit 49ers cornerback Darrell Luter’s foot. McLeod saw the ball hit a teammate and tried to dispose of it after it bounced, but was unable to dispose of it cleanly and Chiefs cornerback Jalen Watson recovered the ball at the 49ers’ 16.
On the next play, Patrick Mahomes hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling wide open in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Chiefs a 13-10 lead with 2:28 left in the third quarter.
The Chiefs reached the end zone for the first time in the game.
Mahomes and his team struggled to move the ball all night, but the punt gave them needed field position.
“It was a huge swing,” Chiefs receiver Lachie Rice said. “Tommy in particular kept his feet planted. I don’t know what to say about punters, but he can kick. It was a great kick from him. We were able to get a head start in the red zone. , I knew I could take advantage of that.”
This turnover led to a score.
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There were other turnovers in this game that felt costly to take potential points off the board.
On the first drive of the game, the 49ers easily moved the ball to the Chiefs’ 29-yard line, then Christian McCaffrey fumbled at the 27-yard line, allowing the Chiefs to come back and end the scoring threat.
The Chiefs then committed a costly turnover in the second quarter.
On a 52-yard pass from Mahomes to Mecole Hardman to the San Francisco 9-yard line, Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco fumbled and the 49ers recovered, ending the Chiefs’ hopes of reaching the end zone. Ta.
