Super Bowl 54 Wrap-Up

Kansas City Chiefs fans rejoice! You are Champions of the Football World! More magic from QB Patrick Mahomes is the story of the night as he led a 21-0 scoring run in the 4th quarter. At just 24 years old, he became the first QB ever to win both an MVP and a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP within his first 3 seasons. But, this team needed more than just their 40 million dollar man (soon to be) in order to secure their first title in 50 years.

In my preview, I stated that the key to a Chiefs victory would be the play of Mahomes, but more importantly, the defense needed to step up and stop the run and force 49ers QB Jimmy Garropalo to beat them. They did both of those things when it mattered most down the stretch late in the 4th quarter. Defensive lineman Chris Jones was the unsung hero of this game to me. Twice, late in the Game, Jones knew he wasn’t going to get to the QB, so he got his arms into the throwing lanes of Garropalo and batted passes down. This was critical as both stopped the clock when they needed to get the ball back and then stalled a 49ers drive when they needed to as well. Jones then also got his arms on yet another pass that nearly was picked by Kyle Fuller. Great mid-Game adjustments from Jones and the entire defense which at some points in the night looked like Swiss cheese with all the holes in it as San Francisco RB Raheem Mostert and WR Deebo Samuel had a field day with in the first 3 quarters of this game. The Chiefs defense also did a fantastic job on 49ers Tight End George Kittle. Kittle was a major factor in the running game as a blocker opening up holes upfield. But, aside from 2 short catches that he turned into big chunks, he was irrelevant in the passing game. Although Kittle had a fantastic catch at the end of the 1st half that would have set up San Francisco for a tie breaking field goal, but was called back on a very poor Offensive Pass Interference call. You just can’t make that call in the Super Bowl. There was barely any contact or extension of his arms. In the biggest game, you have to let them play a bit more than that. However, the call was made and the teams remained tied at halftime.

I also stated in my preview that the only way San Francisco was going to win was to shut down the big play ability of Patrick Mahomes and the seemingly unlimited amount of weapons he has in his arsenal. Led by Deforest Buckner and Nick Bosa, the 49ers did just that for 3 and a half quarters. Aside from the last 8 minutes of the game, the Niners took away all of Mahomes’s deep threats and forced him to make errant throws , 2 of which were picked off stalling key Kansas City drives. Chiefs RB Damien Williams stepped up and lifted his team up when they needed it most delivering over 100 ruah yards, a recieving TD and the game sealing rushing TD. The 2nd of Mahomes interceptions led me to believe that the game was over. This is where it gets interesting. 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan decided that with 9 minutes left and all that was needed to win the Super Bowl was solid clock management and a few first downs, he was going to get away from everything that got his team to this point and throw the ball. I was dumbfounded. As I watched the collapse unfold, I was screaming for them to run the ball so much I had chicken sliders shooting from my mouth like rockets. I know, gross but hey that’s Super Bowl Sunday. Anyway, Shanahan’s decisions to me pretty much cost them the game. Passing the ball when Mostert was gaining big chunks all day, along with the unbelievable decision to not try and give it a go at putting some points on the board at the end of the first half, was the 49ers downfall. It gave Mahomes the ability to do what he does best, rally his team for yet another big time come from behind victory. This one being the biggest of his very young career.

To wrap up this season, I’d like to say a few things. First of all, great job by the NFL honoring the 100th season and the players from past to present who have made this league the powerhouse that it is. It was awesome seeing all those hall of famers and champions on one field last night. This was one of the most exciting seasons I can remember. From the MVP play of Lamar Jackson to the defensive mastery of Stephon Gilmore and the Bosa Brothers, to the dominance of King Derrick Henry, this was one of the best seasons if not the best season of football I can remember (aside from both NY Giant Super Bowl runs, of course). It was all capped off by a tremendous display of football by the 2 teams that deserved to be the last 2 standing. They put on a show for us down in Miami. It all culminated with Andy Reid getting the title that has eluded him for 21 years. With Patrick Mahomes at just 24 getting his first of what could be MANY MANY rings. I will end this by asking everyone one question that It will take a little less than 365 days to answer but did we just watch the birth of the NFL’s next great dynasty?