Last night was one of the better Super Bowls that I have watched in my time. The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs left it all out on the field. When the final seconds ticked off, the Kansas City Chiefs stood tall as Super Bowl champions.

I enjoyed watching the game with a few friends. There were good conversations going on, good food, and just good times all around. I will admit that I wasn’t thrilled with the halftime show, but that is a topic for a different conversation.

One thing that stood out to me last night during the game came late in the 4th quarter. With just under 3 minutes left to go in the game, the Chiefs score a touchdown to go up for the final time. This is where something important stood out to me.

While the fans and many of the Chiefs’ players on the sidelines were cheering and celebrating, there was a video clip that should make the rounds forevermore in sports lore. For just a couple of seconds, a camera caught Patrick Mahomes going up and down his sideline saying the phrase, “Finish the game!”

Mahomes understood that the game wasn’t over. A lot can happen in just under 3 minutes. The 49ers weren’t in the Super Bowl as a fluke. They had earned their way there. They had led a good portion of the Super Bowl. They still had all their timeouts and the “2-minute warning” stoppage.

Too many times, we get ahead in the game and figure that we can coast to the end. It doesn’t always work that way. Mahomes – like the rest of the Chiefs – wanted to celebrate, but the way that would happen was by finishing the game and not letting up.

While we may be tempted to cruise on a lead to the end, let us “finish the game.” There will be time to celebrate when the final whistle is blown.