NFL: Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl

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Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs

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IMAGO/Kareem Elgazzar/IMAGO/USA TODAY Network

Led by their injured playmaker Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs have reached the National Football League's Superbowl for the third time in four years, where they meet the Philadelphia Eagles.

At 23:20 against the Cincinnati Bengals, a field goal eight seconds before the end on Sunday evening (local time) brought the decision.

The situation was made possible by Mahomes, who had an ankle injury and who, for the only time in the game, carried the ball forward himself as quickly as he could.

With two touchdown passes and throws for a total of 326 yards, Mahomes made an outstanding game under the circumstances.

"There are moments in a game when you just have to risk everything," Mahomes said at the handover of the trophy for the AFC win on the scene before the field goal.

On February 12, the Chiefs will meet the Eagles in Glendale, Arizona, after beating the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in the NFC finals.

“It's going to be a great challenge, but first I'm going to celebrate.

I don't think we have cigars, but we'll be prepared for the Super Bowl," Mahomes said.

Kansas City Chiefs last triumphed in 2020

The Philadelphia Eagles are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since winning five years ago.

For the 49ers, quarterback surprise Brock Purdy injured his elbow in the first quarter and was replaced by Josh Johnson.

The 36-year-old became the fourth playmaker used by the guests this season - and had to leave the field in the third quarter with suspected concussion.

In the meantime it looked as if Christian McCaffrey had to take over at the position of 7:21.

San Francisco, however, sent Purdy back into the game, but the 23-year-old was obviously restricted and did not make any more long pass attempts.

The Eagles had the game under control and were hardly challenged by the battered 49ers.

As the last pick in the last draft of the US professional football league, Purdy is referred to as “Mr Irrelevant”, but made his NFL debut a good three months ago due to injury concerns with the 49ers and impressed with his performances.

The Chiefs won the Superbowl in February 2020 for the second time in their history, in 2021 there was a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Last season, the Chiefs lost to quarterback Joe Burrow's Bengals in the AFC Finals.

ngo/dpa