This one has to do with the fact that getting NFL's Gamepass for free for a few months has allowed me to watch the Super Bowl over again but with Mitch and Kendall's radio call on the voiceover. I just did it, here on the 50th day since we won it. And wow, those legacy numbers that belong to the Chiefs, huh, again: 100th year anniversary of the NFL, 60th year anniversary of the AFL, 50th anniversary of the last Chiefs title, and that we appeared in the first Super Bowl ever.
Anyway, thought I'd share some things I saw, much of it having to do with items I noted then but didn't mention. Some key plays made that weren't has showcased as the 44-yard 3rd-&-15 pass play from Mahomes to Hill that was indeed the real turning point. How about these...
One turning point I thought was pretty major was the play just before Mahomes' second interception. Many very reasonably consider what the 49ers did right after the pick was crucial -- it seemed the whole team lined up for a photo shoot in the end zone, and that this only stirred the Chiefs and their defense to make the subsequent stop. Yes, definitely -- in fact I noted today that up until that point the 49ers were already doing a lot of that in-game showboat celebrating. Ahem. Obviously they forgot about the Chiefs vaunted big-play acumen.
Sure enough, later, in what I believe was the Chiefs second 4th quarter scoring drive, Mahomes was destined to be sacked until, yep, he swam out of it. Completed a nice 1st down pass to Kelce.
Those three late defensive stops were critical too, as well noted by most after the game. One hardly noticeable but really big play was a very important stop by Derrick Nnadi, just getting his arm out to trip up Raheem Mostert who had a wide swath of field open before him. That play only got the Niners five yards, and it singlehandedly (literally!) seemed to get them out of their rhythm to just run the ball in order to chew more clock.
There were a number of tackles made by individuals throughout the defensive core, and one of which could be noted for just keeping the Niners potent offense in check. Damien Wilson made a big play that was in the middle of the game somewhere, but he read a play-action run beautifully cutting through the pursuit and hammering Mostert for no gain. It doesn't matter if this particular drive ended with a Niners score, it was one of several key plays made by our D that told the 49ers offense that the Chiefs were not going to be like the soft-butter Packers the Niners had faced two weeks before.
I also took note of the fact that Jimmie Garopollo's low throwing trajectory was going to be an issue very early. As the game wore on he was throwing balls too high or long, or if he tried to keep the ball lower for his receivers they were getting batted. Everyone knows about Chris Jones' three batted balls late that were so instrumental in keeping the Niners stuffed while our offense scored the points we needed. Thing is Jones performance could have been predicted by seeing the Chiefs big advantage here early.
But the way they did everything, exceptional -- of note was the way Harrison Butker would kick the ball high and tight right at the goal line to force a runback we'd easily cover, sticking the Niners offense at the 15-yard line or better. At other times he'd boom it out of the back of the end zone when he didn't want there to be any return. Butker, by the way, had seven points in the game, critical points to make sure we had that soul-crushing lead to help put the Niners away.
Overall it was clear the Chiefs were the better team. Talent-wise I do believe the teams were pretty even, but so underrated was the Chiefs defense, particularly their front seven. Role players like Ben Niemann played very well, and he was in there a lot at the end when the Chiefs needed to keep the Niners passing game in check.
It was clear too that the Chiefs coaching was just better, and may have actually been the difference. Andy Reid's experience showed, and his cool disposition served him very well. It seemed Niners coach Kyle Shanahan got frustrated too often, and at this level that can cloud judgment. And our adjustments -- wow. Not enough can be said about the job those guys did to make the critical mid-game changes. I even put in a special halftime post -- which I never do -- but they were really on top of it. I know I'd critiqued Andy about not doing it well enough in those playoff games so often before. This time? He and his crew got it down, perfectly.
It was a blast to enjoy it all over again, and pick up some things that weren't as easily registered when you're enjoying it with family amidst all the nervousness and excitement and food.
More reminiscing and of course even more looking forward to 2021 coming up!
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Photos courtesy of the Official Chiefs Site. The first was by Andrew Mather. Thank you.
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