A Championship From the Ashes, and For The Ages
The Kansas City Chiefs and their fans awake today, when they did, or when they do, as champions. In perhaps the most deceptive score line in the history of the Super Bowl, the final total that will be burnt in the memories of all, and emblazoned on t-shirts, headlines, plaques, and statues hardly tells the story of a thrilling, tortuous, frustrating, and in the end exhilarating football game for the ages.
Kansas City Chiefs 31 San Francisco 49ers 20.
Kansas City tans today will tell each other that they believed all along, and they will be lying. On the game telecast and in the tales that will be told, the story line will be that the game was like the other two playoff games in which the Chiefs eradicated a double digit deficit to record a double digit win. But this was so different. In those first two games a bad start by the Chiefs was vanquished by the end of the third quarter and stresses and profanities were replaced by fourth quarters of toasts and relaxation.
This time, champagne sitting on ice looked like a cruel joke when on third and six from the San Francisco 23, Patrick Mahomes threw his second truly bad interception of the game with the Chiefs trailing 20-10. At that moment in time Jimmy Garroppolo was sitting on a quarterback rating of slightly over one hundred and Mahomes’ rested in the forties. The 49ers defense had truly done what no one before had accomplished, completely frustrate the magical Andy Reid offense, allowing only one play of any real substance all night, a long pass to Sammy Watkins in the first quarter. On the previous play, Mahomes had turned in his only significant scramble of the night, a thirteen-yarder to set up a reasonable third down attempt. It didn’t matter, it hadn’t mattered all night.
San Francisco’s cover three scheme, and tenacious defensive front, had made Mahomes and the Chiefs look mighty mortal pretty much all night. Far unlike the previous two games, the Chiefs start had been better. After the Niners drove to a field goal on their opening drive, which seemed like a defensive win, and after the Chiefs third straight opening three-and-out of the playoffs, life in Miami turned, and seemed good. Hard Rock Stadium was two-thirds full of Chiefs fans, who watched their squad move down the field for a leading touchdown, and even when they only got three after a Garroppolo interception, it was okay. But settling there, and even the touchdown drive, would look to be precursors.
The first touchdown drive took fifteen plays. There was no lightning, moving the ball for the Chiefs was uncharacteristic hard work. Mahomes was constantly harassed, and was making throws we saw maybe once a game, behind receivers, over their heads, into the ground. The game would turn for the first time after the field goal, The Niners had used trickery to get their first score, the drive that would tie the game was San Francisco bully ball. The running game took the heat off Jimmy G, allowing him to relax after his bad interception.
The worm had turned. The Chiefs were forced to punt, and even when Kyle Shanahan played it cozy at the end of the half and didn’t press for a score, the Niners had to be pleased. At the break Mahomes had barely thrown for a hundred yards, at less than six per attempt, and San Francisco was playing the game on their terms. Shanahan looked even smarter when the 49ers owned the third quarter, scoring ten points to make it a seventeen point run, with the Chiefs only possession resulting in the first of Mahomes two interceptions. Garroppolo had looked poised and sharp, his play-action game on point, and he seemed on his way to Disney World.
And after the second Mahomes pick early in the fourth, the die seemed to be cast. The Chiefs and their transcendent quarterback would have to wait. He would have to absorb his first true negative learning experience. The wait for a Kansas City title would moved past the half-century mark. Any Reid’s close-but- no-cigar legacy would continue. The Niners picked up a first down and were near midfield, there were barely more than ten minutes left. Today people will tell each other they had faith. In my house, the vibe was game over. But I said to my wife that Mahomes and the Chiefs were not done. However, one or two more first downs would make me a liar.
The first down wouldn’t come for San Francisco. But even that didn’t seem to matter when on second and fifteen Tyreek Hill’s first down conversion catch was overturned, the ball touching the ground for another nail in the coffin. But then it happened.
The play that was everything. There were 124 plays from scrimmage run in Super Bowl LIV, and the other 123 mattered less than third and fifteen from the Chiefs thirty-five with 7:13 on the clock. It would be pretty much the only explosive play of the game to that point for the Chiefs, forty-four yards to Tyreek Hill. It is Hosmer sprinting home, Brett homering off Gossage, Otis Taylor dancing down the sidelines. Without that magic after muck, the Chiefs were done. Now destiny’s fire was lit.
Pass interference committed against Kelce, a short TD run, a defense that had been confused and bullied, rising up. After fifty two minutes plus where down-to-down San Francisco was clearly the better team, those minutes became irrelevant. Garroppolo, Shanahan, the and the Niners offense had multiple chances to either put the game away or rally, and the Chiefs defense wouldn’t let it happen.
After Damien Williams went dancing to the end zone when really the Chief only needed to run out the clock, the party was truly on. The champagne was needed. The fireworks could actually be lit and not saved for next Fourth of July. In the end it would be a real example of resilient, complimentary football.
Mahomes would be the one going to Disney World, but his MVP award came in a game where he had his fourth worst quarterback rating of his career. There were no Canton moments, but he could care less, and you truly believe he thinks that way, one of the many reasons he owns Kansas City.
And you truly believe how much he, his teammates, and thousands of others treasure this for Andy Reid. It was just a joy to watch his unmitigated delight after the game. Giddy as Scrooge on Christmas, completely dumping his “Time is your’s” facade for glee.
There are gleeful hangovers all over Kansas City. My wife is leaving for Europe on Wednesday and she is having all kinds of trouble securing a cab or limo to go to the airport. (I’m currently unavailable, but that may have to change). I believe that the parade will likely outstrip even the incredible Royals celebration. Man caves will have to make way for another stunning aerial crowd photo. The NFL rules, so Kansas City will shine even brighter. It appears this might be the start of a dynasty, but that should be left aside for right now. The moment should be, and will be, savored. Just remember…..
Third and fifteen.