Mahomes, Chiefs aim for end to Super Bowl drought

It has been 50 years since the Kansas City Chiefs last appeared in the Super Bowland Patrick Mahomes is determined to make sure it has been worth the wait.

The Kansas City quarterback chases his first Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.

The biggest event on the US sporting calendar promises to be a classic battle of styles, with Mahomes and the Chiefs trying to outfox the 49ers defense as the curtain comes down on the National Football League's 100th season.

On the flipside, the Chiefs will have their hands full attempting to contain a multifaceted 49ers offense which is equally effective whether attacking through the air and on the ground.

For Mahomes' opposite number, 49ers quarterback

Jimmy Garoppolo, it is a chance to play and win a championship ring in what is his third trip to the Super Bowl.

Garoppolo was Tom Brady's back-up at the 2015 and 2017 Super Bowls, both won by the New England Patriots, before later being traded to San Francisco.

But Garoppolo's hopes may hinge on how successfully the 49ers defense, led by the marauding rookie defensive end Nick Bosa, is able to thwart Mahomes.

It is a puzzle that San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has spent the past fortnight trying to unravel.

"He's a superstar in every way you can possibly imagine and he's going to be tough to deal with," Saleh said this week when asked about Mahomes' range of threats.

The Kansas City quarterback has electrified the league over the past three seasons with his mobility, arm strength and sheer variety of passes.

But he also has an array of receiving weapons at his disposal, with the blistering pace of Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins complemented by the dynamic presence of tight end Travis Kelce. Nowhere was the Chiefs ability to produce explosive bursts of scoring more evident than in their divisional round against Houston.