Post by spiderfan on Feb 12, 2023 23:16:47 GMT -8
Hola Sports Coast to Coast, it is me, Spiderfan, the official NFL Analyst for this great forum back with my last Red Hot Gridiron of the 2022-23 season. That means it is time to talk about and dissect Super Bowl 57. There is plenty to talk about, so without further ado, let us begin!
Game Recap
Before looking back on my storylines entering Super Bowl 57, I think I should talk about the game itself. The Eagles got the ball first and went right down the field to take a 7-0 lead with a QB sneak TD by Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. There was a missed unnecessary roughness penalty on the drive that should been called against the Chiefs, and usually such a missed call would be something more to complain about, but as just previously mentioned the Eagles scored a TD on the drive anyway. The Eagles offense looked just as good as they did against the Giants and 49ers. Then the Chiefs got the ball and went right down the field and scored a TD of their own, on a TD reception by Chiefs TE Travis Kelce. As I pointed out during the Super Bowl 57 Game Capsule, what stuck out to me was how the TD was set up by Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco's impressive runs during the series. The Chiefs offense looked as it good as it did during the regular season. With both offenses looking great and both defenses looking unimpressive, I was wondering if there would be any defensive stops. That wondering was quickly cut short on a subsequent Eagles three and out.
The Chiefs looked to take advantage of the Eagles not scoring any points, by having what looked like a promising drive. It was cut short by a poorly executed play on 3rd and 3 at the 24 yard line. It seemed to me with the how the game had gone up to that point that the Chiefs should go for it on 4th down and try to take a TD lead on the Eagles a team that was not used to trailing this postseason. Instead, Chiefs HC Andy Reid made the conservative decision to kick a FG instead. This decision would backfire as Chiefs K Harrison Butker would miss the FG keeping the game tied at 7. What made Reid's decision even worse was that on the ensuing drive, the Eagles (thanks to an offside penalty on Chiefs DE Frank Clark) went right down the field and scored a TD on a TD reception by Eagles WR AJ Brown, giving the Eagles a 14-7 lead. No disrespect to AJ Brown, who I think is one of the best WRs in the NFL, but the fact that he managed to somehow be wide open and face little resistance despite 2 Chiefs being in the area was a head scratching moment. The Chiefs would then have a three and out of their own.
At this point, the Eagles had the chance to really take control of the football game. Up 14-7, they were having one of their long methodical drives, gaining yards and taking time off the clock. Then Eagles QB Jalen Hurts fumbled the ball on a QB draw resulting in the ball being picked up by Chiefs LB Nick Bolton for a defensive TD tying the game at 14. Even though there was plenty of game left, it really was a game changing play. The Eagles missed a key opportunity to put the Chiefs in more of a hole than they already were. The Eagles would however, regain their composure after the fumble, and have one of their long methodical drives, gaining yards, and taking time off the clock (aided by a neutral zone infraction by Chiefs DT Derrick Nnadi on a neutral zone infraction in the red zone on 4th and 2), this time successfully resulting in them retaking the lead 21-14 on another TD run by Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. The Chiefs would only gain one first down on their following drive and punt the ball back to the Eagles. What sucked for the Chiefs was that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes re-aggravated his high ankle sprain while trying to gain a first down. This led to a brief period of time where there was doubt as to whether or not Mahomes could even play considering he appeared to be in even worse pain than when he suffered the injury initially against the Jaguars in the Divisional Round.
The Eagles next drive was weird. On the second play of the drive Eagles QB Jalen Hurts threw a deep pass to Eagles WR Devonta Smith. Initially, it was called a catch inside the red zone, except on replay review it was determined that Smith did not catch the ball. It looked to me like a catch, although the ball did come out at the end of the play while Smith was out of bounds, so it was a close call either way. As I said during the Game Capsule that I was surprised the ruling on the field was overturned. What the made the situation weird was that the Eagles would end up in the red zone anyway after some more plays, so the controversy of the Smith catch ultimately didn't amount to much. While in the red zone, the Eagles missed another opportunity to take a bigger lead on the Chiefs. At 19 yard line with one timeout remaining, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts throws a short pass to Eagles WR Keith Gainwell with 15 seconds left. Instead of taking the timeout there and leaving some seconds on the clock to try to take a shot at the end zone and score a TD, Eagles HC Nick Siranni, who up to that point had been aggressive on 4th down multiple times, and had benefited from Chiefs HC Andy Reid's lack of aggression, made the conservative decision to chew the rest of the clock and kick a FG to only go up 10, 24-14. Sure something could have gone wrong and the Eagles could have ended the half only up 7, but when playing the Chiefs, and playing the style that the Eagles play offensively, the bigger the lead, the more likely you are to win the game. An Eagles team that was up 10 should have been 14 or even 17.
Coming out of halftime Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense as a whole looked completely rejuvenated. They had their best drive of the game up to that point and cut the 10 point deficit down to 3 on a TD run by Isiah Pacheco, making the score 24-21. They also chewed clock themselves taking up 6 minutes. This is important to mention because when the Eagles had yet another of their long methodical drives, gaining yards, and chewing up clock, by time they kicked a FG in the red zone to kick to take a 27-21, it was already close to the 4th quarter. After having so many opportunities to keep the Chiefs at bay and put them in a position where they had to overcome multi-possession deficits, the Chiefs could take the lead with a TD... which is exactly what they did on a beyond wide open TD catch to WR Kadarius Toney. After trailing the whole game the Chiefs were up 28-27.
Luckily for the Eagles, even though they would punt on their next series and be victims of the longest punt return in Super Bowl history, Chiefs HC Andy Reid again made another conservative decision. This time it was after the Chiefs scored yet another TD on another beyond wide open catch, this time by rookie WR Skyy Moore. In these type of situations, I'm always in favor of going for 2 instead of kicking the extra point. If you kick the extra point you go up 8. If you go for 2, you have the chance to go up 9 and make the game a two possession game, which especially in the 4th quarter is ideal. If you don't make the 2 point conversion, at worst it is a 7 point game. Chiefs HC Andy Reid decided to kick the extra point and keep it a one possession game, 35-27. Just like before this conservative decision would comeback to hurt the Chiefs because the Eagles would go on to tie the game. This wouldn't have been a problem for the Chiefs in theory because as had been repeatedly mentioned the Eagles are known for their long methodical drives, gaining yards, and chewing up clock. So what if the Eagles tied the game? If they left anytime at all the Chiefs could go down and win the game with a FG. Well, Eagles WR Devonta Smith was left beyond wide open WAY down field and set up a relatively quick score for the Eagles making it 35-33. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts would then get the 2 point conversion on a QB draw, 35-35. Because the Eagles scored relatively quickly, there was 5 minutes left to go in the game meaning that the Eagles were likely to get the ball back and have an opportunity to either force overtime or win the game outright depending on how the ensuing Chiefs drive went.
The Chiefs managed to take the game inside the two minute warning and get themselves into the red zone. Funnily enough, if not for a tackle by Eagles CB CJ Gardner-Johnson around midfield, Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco would have had a go-ahead TD, that in hindsight the Eagles wish would have happened. But even though the Chiefs found themselves in the red zone, it certainly looked like the Eagles would get the ball back either down a FG or a TD. On 3rd and 8 at the 15 yard line, instead of doing the conservative thing by running the football, forcing the Eagles to take their last timeout, and kicking a FG, Chiefs HC Andy Reid did the aggressive thing and called a pass play. At first thing this looked to be a terrible decision as the play resulted in an incomplete pass meaning the Eagles would be able to use their timeout on their next possession down 3. Except the reason the pass was incomplete was because Chiefs WR Ju-Ju Smith Schuster was held by Eagles CB James Bradberry. Had Bradberry not held, it would have been the third time the Eagles defense let a Chiefs WR get beyond wide open for a TD, so I can see why the frustration occurred. Regardless of said frustration because Bradberry held the Chiefs gained an automatic first down and despite Chiefs RB Jerrick McKinnon almost scoring a TD, the Chiefs would chew almost the entire rest of the clock down, kick a FG, and win Super Bowl 57.
Similar to the AFC Championship Game, it was an anti-climactic finish to an otherwise compelling contest. Nonetheless, a penalty is a penalty, and I don't care whether it is a postseason, regular season, or even preseason game, a penalty occurs a flag should be thrown by a referee. The idea that different games have different standards is ridiculous and I'm glad that the refs did throw the flag on what was a holding penalty (albeit one that didn't look as blatant when shown in slow motion, as opposed to real speed where it was very much holding).
Looking Back at My Top 5 Storylines
My contribution to the Super Bowl LVII Game Capsule was what were IMO the Top 5 storylines entering the game. Since the game is over let's look back on them to see how they panned out.
MAHOMES VS. HURTS
Both QBs played quality football. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes ended up winning the Super Bowl MVP, but I have no doubt that if the Eagles had won, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts would have won the Super Bowl MVP, despite his 2nd quarter fumble. Interestingly enough outside of his late 4th quarter run, Mahomes didn't make any crazy flashy insane Mahomes type plays. The Eagles secondary actually did a pretty good of keeping plays like that contained. The TDs mainly came from beyond wide open blown assignments that should result in Eagles DC Johnathan Gannon being taken out of serious HC consideration. Even so, Mahomes certainly didn't play bad and because no one else on offense or defense for the Chiefs really gave an amazing standout performance (although I think if Pacheco had scored that other TD and gotten over a 100 yards he would have had a case for Super Bowl MVP), I think it is fair that Patrick Mahomes got his second Super Bowl MVP. This one was much more deserved than first one IMO.
THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
If you would have told me before the game that the Eagles would end the game with 0 sacks, I would have been shocked. This was a team that dominated on the defensive line and had gotten more sacks than any team in decades. Now to be fair the Eagles offensive line only gave up 2 sacks and the Eagles offense scored 35 points so they certainly did their part to win. But because the defensive line was held in check the Chiefs scored 28 (and if not for a missed FG 31) offensive points.
Call it a hot take all you want, but I think the Chiefs offensive line solidified themselves as one of, if not the best offensive line in football after their victory against the Eagles. The Eagles offensive line played great, but the Chiefs defensive line isn't nearly as good as the Eagles defensive line is and when they went head to head the Chiefs offensive line did play better. A completely unexpected development for sure.
CHIEFS RUNNING GAME VS. EAGLES RUNNING GAME
Both running games turned out be big contributors to their respective teams offenses. Neither team was able to completely able to shut down the run, although the Eagles did manage to keep Isiah Pacheco from winning Super Bowl MVP, so at least they can have that moral victory.
CHIEFS WRs VS. EAGLES WRs
Like the running game both WR corps turned out be big contributors to their respective teams offenses. No receiver had any game changing drops and the clutch plays were made by both QBs running the ball on the ground, so this wasn't one of those Super Bowls defined by a single catch. It was a team effort for sure.
ANDY REID RETIRING?
Andy Reid said after the game on various postgame shows that he is sticking around, so that's that.
Chiefs Fan Mode Activated
I will now remove my NFL Analyst hat and embrace my Chiefs fandom for a segment...
I DON'T EVER WANT TO HEAR ANYONE SAY ANYTHING OTHER THAN PATRICK MAHOMES IS THE BEST QUARTERBACK IN THE AFC EVER AGAIN! JOSH ALLEN AND THE BILLS WERE ALWAYS OVERRATED AND WERE NEVER GOING TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL ANY SUGGESTION OTHERWISE IS A COPING MECHANISM DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE PICKED THE CHIEFS FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT JUSTIN HERBERT OR SEAN PAYTON IN THE AFC WEST THOSE GUYS WILL NEVER WIN ANYTHING AS LONG AS PATRICK MAHOMES IS THE QUARTERBACK OF THE CHIEFS! HE IS THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK OF ALL TIME NOT NAMED SAMMY BAUGH, I DON'T CARE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE SEVEN RINGS HE WILL WIN EIGHT AND IF HE DOESN'T IT WILL BECAUSE OF THINGS OUT OF HIS CONTROL MEANING HE WILL STILL BE THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME NOT NAMED SAMMY BAUGH! KLIFF KINGSBURY SHOULD GET ANOTHER HEAD COACHING JOB JUST BECAUSE HE SAW MAHOMES' TALENT WHEN NO ONE ELSE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL DID! TRAVIS KELCE IS THE GREATEST TIGHT END OF ALL TIME AND WILL GO DOWN AS THE BEST RECEIVING
WEAPON IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL! HE WILL CRUSH JERRY RICE'S PLAYOFF RECORDS AND IF YOU DON'T THINK HE WILL, YOU SHOULD BECAUSE HE WILL! ALSO, CAN EVERY TALKING HEAD PLEASE STOP MAKING FAT JOKES ABOUT ANDY REID?! JUST BECAUSE HE SEEMS TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTIME HE IS NEAR YOU, YOU SHOULD LAUGH AT HIS WEIGHT!
Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs ownership, coaching staff, players, and fans for winning Super Bowl LVII!
And with all of that said that does it for this season's Red Hot Gridiron columns! It has been a great season and I just want to use this opportunity for thank yous. I want to thank Monika for her help with producing this column, without her it would not be as good as it is. I want to thank the big boss Kasey for giving me the opportunity to be the official NFL analyst of this forum. I want to thank DiamondThief for getting me here in the first place. Over the years this has become a routine of mine during football season, and it would be weird if I wasn't writing it at this point. And I want to thank everyone who has read the column. I do appreciate it. The offseason is now upon us! I will see you all when free agency starts. Remember, football is the greatest game in the world. This is spiderfan out.
