Mitch Wishnowsky leaves NFL world in awe amid Aussie's Super Bowl heartbreak
The Aussie punter was in the conversation for MVP in the Super Bowl.
NFL fans have questioned whether a punter had ever won MVP after Aussie Mitch Wishnowsky helped the San Fransisco 49ers dominate the first half of the Super Bowl, before the Kansas City Chiefs won in overtime. Wishnowsky fell short of becoming the first Australian to play and win the Super Bowl, despite the 49ers getting off to a brilliant start thanks to his 54-yard punt with six minutes left in the first quarter.
The Chiefs were stopped at the 11-yard line in a dominant start for the 49ers. Wishnowsky then followed this punt up with another 50-yard punt. With just one touchdown to the 49ers in the first half, the game was being decided by the finest of margins.
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Wishnowsky then opened the second-half with a brilliant punt that pinned the Chiefs only a yard out from their end zone. "Unbelievable punt," the commentator said of the second-half effort.
This punt prompted a remarkable conversation with a quarter left on whether Wishnowsky could be the star performer of the Super Bowl to that point. Fans questioned whether a punter could be in line to win the MVP award with Wishnowsky averaging more than 50 yards after five punts.
Unfortunately for Wishnowsky, Patrick Mahomes showed why he is the best player in the league having helped lead the Chiefs to an overtime Super Bowl victory. Regardless, Wishnowsky proved why he is so highly regarded as a punter in the special teams.
Mitch Wishnowsky with some PERFECTION on the biggest stage
Let’s GOOOOO BOYS
Punters and kickers are BALLLLIN— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 12, 2024
Wishnowsky has to be in the conversation for Super Bowl MVP! #superbowlMVP pic.twitter.com/OIfG6YepHg
— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) February 12, 2024
SPECIAL TEAMS ON POINT 🤌🏻
— tboe 🍌 (@tboeNFT) February 12, 2024
Excellent punt by Mitch Wishnowsky and great coverage from veteran Chris Conley. The 49ers appear to be locked into a good plan in all three phases of the game to begin, but execution issues on offense (CMC fumble, Williams holding penalty) have kept this game tied so far
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) February 11, 2024
Mitch Wishnowsky is your damn Super Bowl MVP
— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) February 12, 2024
The punting battle tonight could be huge with Wishnowsky and Townsend as two of the strongest in the NFL..
Wishnowsky has already pinned the Chiefs back for this drive..— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) February 12, 2024
Mitch Wishnowsky's Super Bowl MVP gonna hit different
— LP (@YouOnlyLukeOnce) February 12, 2024
Chiefs punter and San Fran Kicker the MVP front runners
— Winter not a new Year (@awwhalenawl) February 12, 2024
This is the first Super Bowl ever I think you could have even a slight slight argument for a punter winning Super Bowl MVP. Wishnowsky is going CRAZY
— himmy hoffa (@flomegod) February 12, 2024
Mahomes was subdued in the first half with the Chiefs restricted to a field goal due to the 49ers dominance. However, Mahomes came to life in the fourth quarter and showed his brilliance when it mattered to steer the Chiefs down the field to level the match.
In overtime, Mahomes rushed on the fourth down twice to grant the Chiefs another opportunity to win the Super Bowl. And it was Mahomes' touchdown pass to seal the 25-22 victory for the Chiefs in the longest ever Super Bowl.
Travis Kelce in ugly sideline incident during Super Bowl
While things were going well for the 49ers in the first half, the Chiefs were melting down with Travis Kelce in a heated moemnt with coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs were held scoreless until the final 20 seconds of the half, with the 49ers taking a 10-3 lead into the break after a stunning play led to a Christian McCaffrey touchdown.
In one ugly moment in the second quarter, Kelce grabbed Reid on the sideline and screamed in his face. Kelce appeared to be upset that he wasn't in the game on a pivotal red-zone play. The Chiefs had driven close to the 49ers' goal-line on a 52-yard pass from Mahomes to Mecole Hardman, but on the very next play Kelce wasn't in the game.
Noah Gray was instead on the field to block as the Chiefs dialled up a run play for Isaiah Pacheco. But Pacheco fumbled the ball for a Chiefs turnover, and Kansas City's first and best chance to score was squandered. Kelce only had one reception in the first half for just one yard.
Kelce bounced back in the second half with 93 running yards. However, fans around the world were talking about Kelce's reaction towards his coach on the NFL's biggest stage.
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