What a game!! The Super Bowl can live up to the hype, but often falls short (see last year). However, this year, we had the 2 best teams playing in the biggest game. Not to mention, a really great halftime show.
Game Recap
SF had a great game plan. Make the Chiefs beat them by going short against a solid zone and more often than not, only rushing 4 guys and dropping the other 7 in coverage. The Chiefs did get some traction early though.
After an opening SF FG drive, the Chiefs went on a 15 play, 75 yard drive. On 3rd and 11 at the SF 15 yard line, QB Patrick Mahomes (286 yards passing, 2 TDs, 2 INTs – 29 yards rushing and a TD) scrambled and was almost decapitated, picked up the 1st down, but fumbled the ball backwards to force a 4th and 1. I understand that OC Eric Bieniemy pulled the 4th down play from a game in the 40s or something when all 3 guys in the backfield did a pirouette before a direct snap to RB Damien Williams (104 yards rushing, 29 yards receiving and 2 TDs) who got the first down. 2 plays later, Mahomes ran it in (which cashed a lot of first TD tickets). Then, after a Jimmy Garappolo (219 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs) INT, the Chiefs got another FG to take the lead 10-3 at the start of the 2nd quarter.
I give Kyle Shanahan some credit for being very inventive with reverses and dizzying play action. SF answered the Chiefs’ FG with a 7 play, 80 yard drive utilizing WR Deebo Samuel (92 total yards) on 2 big plays and ultimately, Jimmy G found FB Kyle Juszczyk (39 yards receiving, 1 TD) for a tough TD to tie the game 5:05 to play in the half.
Then, a missed opportunity for both teams. KC squandered a decent drive at midfield with a bad reverse call on 2nd down. Then, SF with 59 seconds and 3 timeouts (Shanahan didn’t use TOs to get more time), the 49ers ran twice then Chiefs’ HC Andy Reid called a TO, which SF completed a circle route and long run to get to mid-field. However, after an Offensive Pass Interference call on TE George Kittle (4 catches for 36 yards), the half ended tied at 10-10.
In the 3rd quarter, SF milked the clock and put up enough points to see victory in sight. An opening drive FG put the 49ers on top for the first time at 9:29 left in the 3rd, 13-10. Then, Mahomes after a near turnover on a sack fumble, threw a bad ball for his first playoff INT in his career. More balls to Samuel and Juszczyk set up a TD by RB Raheem Mostert (12 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD) to give SF a commanding 20-10 lead with 2:35 left in the 3rd completing a 17-0 scoring run.
KC was able to move the ball on their next drive, but a sidearm throw behind WR Tyreek Hill (16 targets, 9 catches, 104 yards) led to a tip INT deep in SF territory which seemed like a dagger in the Chiefs with 11:57 to play in the game. However, KC’s D picked up their star QB. After a quick 1st down, KC forced a rare incompletion from Jimmy G, then a false start, and KC forced the first SF punt of the game with 8:53 to play.
Then, it was time for the KC stars to take over. WRs Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watknis were running lose in the SF secondary all day, but the pressure on Mahomes didn’t allow him to hit them, that would change. After an initial first down, the Chiefs faced a 3rd and 15 on their own 35 yard line after a Hill pass was reversed on 2nd down. Leave it to Mahomes to find his guy, as he lofted a ball up to the wide open Hill for 44 yards to the SF 21 yard line. Probably the most important play of the game. Then on 3rd and 10 from the 21, Mahomes threw one up to TE Travis Kelce (43 yards receiving, 1 TD) who had a quiet day, but he drew a Defensive Pass Interference in the end zone putting the ball at the 1 yard line. On the next play, Mahomes would find Kelce in the back of the end zone for the TD, 20-17.
On the next drive, SF and Garappolo went into conservative mode. A run and 2 quick incompletions meant another punt setting up the Chiefs with the ball at their own 35 with 5:10 to play. Game on!!
Mahomes was much more comfortable on this drive. First quick hitters to Hill, Kelce and Hill again. Then, Sammy Watkins (5 catches, 98 yards) beat CB Richard Sherman badly for a 38 yard catch to put KC at the SF 10 yard line with 3:44 to play. After a Mahomes run and then a sack, KC had 3rd and Goal from the 5 yard line. Damien Williams made a play, taking a short pass in the flat, shedding a tackle and just barely breaking the plane before his right foot touched the sideline. The review was inconclusive, and with a TD called on the field, Williams had the score and gave the Chiefs a 24-20 lead with 2:44 left.
SF was now the hunted instead of the hunter. Jimmy G had to actually throw the ball to win. Mostert got a nice 17 yard run to start the drive. Then Jimmy G hit Kittle for 8 yards to get out to the 35 yard line at the 2:00 warning. Another longer completion to WR Kendrick Bourne (2 catches, 42 yards) for 16 looked like the drive SF needed. However, the Chiefs have been good at rushing the passer all year, and on back to back drop backs, DT Chris Jones got in Jimmy G’s face to force incompletions. Then, on 3rd down, WR Emmanuel Sanders (3 catches, 38 yards) beat the defense deep, but Jimmy G missed him for a go ahead TD forcing 4th and 10 from the SF 49 yard line. DC Steve Spagnuolo brought the house on Garappolo sacking him (forcing an “in the grasp call”) as Jimmy tried to chest pass the ball while being hit.
KC needed to run out the clock with 1:25 left, and Damien Williams wasn’t done. He took the second down carry to the house for another TD putting the Chiefs up, 31-20 completing a 21-0 4th Quarter marking their 3rd straight double digit comeback – the first time that has ever happened in playoffs in the Super Bowl era.
The game ended after a Jimmy G INT and some Mahomes run around and kneel downs. Patrick Mahomes was named the Super Bowl MVP.
Chiefs win the Super Bowl 31-20.
Predictions Super Bowl (Entire Playoffs): S/U: 1-0 (6-5) ATS 1-0 (7-4) Total 1-0 (10-1).
Interesting Facts:
- The Chiefs win the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years.
- Andy Reid wins his first Super Bowl – like Don Shula who also took 2 teams to the Super Bowl who won it with the 2nd team.
- Patrick Mahomes becomes the youngest player to win the NFL MVP and Super Bowl ever at just 24 years old. Plus, Mahomes has thrown for 10 TDs in his first 5 playoff games. He is now 4-1 in his playoff career. Not bad.
Game Analysis
My take on the Super Bowl is pretty simple. As good as SF was on Defense, their offense was not aggressive enough to win. KC was held down for 3 quarters, but eventually, they were going to score. I did not like how Shanahan blew an opportunity to score at the end of the half by not using his timeouts well. Plus, it was clear he did not trust Jimmy G to win this game, and maybe he was right in the end. To me, the Super Bowl is won by players and not systems. SF has a great offensive scheme, and all the mis-direction, bootlegs made it easy for Jimmy G. Garappolo’s 7.1 Yards Per Completion is just not good enough in a game like this. Kittle and Sanders were ineffective in the game. You need your players to play big in the big game and trust them to make plays. Sure, if Jimmy hit Sanders on that 3rd down, then we would be having another conversation. However, it was the Chiefs’ Defense that impressed me, and maybe fooled Shanahan, as SF RBs only got 17 carries for 86 yards, not the recipe for SF success.
Andy Reid out-coached Shanahan. Hill, Kelce, Williams and even Watkins were asked to make plays and they did. Mahomes didn’t play his best, but when push came to shove, he was able to dissect the zone and avoid the pressure enough to get his guys open. The Chiefs Offensive Line held up well enough along with Mahomes’ mobility to move the ball for almost 400 yards. You had 3 players – Williams (104 yards rushing), Hill (105 yards receiving) and Watkins (98 yards receiving) that reached near 100 yards. Shot plays are critical in the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs did that against a formidable SF D.
I think the Chiefs will be back again next year given Mahomes and all the weapons they have. The D will only get better as players will want to play on this team. Plus, now they know how to win. It took OT by the Pats to beat them last year. I expect this team to be in the AFC Title Game at least 3 out of the next 5 years.
SF will also be tough next year, but it is a lot tougher to get out of the NFC and their division than the Chiefs. Garappolo has to improve.
Until next year, NFL – Draft Season is upon us.
Wegs