I think the game was actually a great game of football.
I didn't care for the halftime entertainment at all. Something must be done about that going forward.
Here is the reason I knew it was going to be a stomp.
Call me a homer, but call me correct because it is exactly what happened.
--->
No one really had Philly's number this season. I know, I know. KC 15-2.. 16-1 in reality if they cared to play starters, but of those 15 wins, way too many of them were won on an opponent missing a FG, a blocked FG, some stupid sort of flag.
Nothing absolutely impressive about the Chiefs this season from and outsider's perspective.
Mahomes had elite protection besides Juwaan Taylor, yet Taylor was allowed to line up 5 yards off the LOS practically every play.
"Refs can't call him for a flag ever play".
KC never had a rhythm nor flow all season. This may have even been one of Mahomes' worst year's I've seen..
It was bound to catch up to them once the nonsense of a Home Field Advantage ended.
For the record, I don't think the Bills would have played THAT much better. It would have been closer though and THAT much better would have been a 7 or 10pt game in the end.
Key Differences:
Josh Allen is not a quitter. Today, for the 3rd time in the spotlight, I saw Mahomes Quit on his team. 2 times in the Superbowl (Both Losses TB and PHI) and then the "Playing with their food game" vs Cincy where they lost the opportunity to go to the Superbowl after dominating the first half. Calling senseless 2pt conversions and all that early.
I am shocked and crestfallen that KC played like they didn't even care at all. Mahomes got owned by Brady all telecast. He was not built for the extreme moment of a big comeback. Brady's 28-3 obviously lives in infamy, but so does that 27-3 I believe in Brady's last game where late in the 3rd again he navigated it back to a 27-27 game only for Stafford to bomb one to Cooper Kupp and chip a GW FG thus ending Tom's career.
The ominous thing was KC got the ball back to start the 2nd half. Had Mahomes had his head in the game, I think we were looking at a Ravens vs SF Part 2 where it was like 21-7 at the half in that game I think. Something like that and the late JaCoby Jones (RIP) Ran back the opening Kick Off to make it 28-7 and then Goodell turned the lights out. Then it seemed all the momentum shifted and the ORIGINAL "Lamar" Kaepernick + Frank Gore with JIM HARBAUGH and GREG ROMAN led a crazy comeback that went all the way down to the final Goal Line Stand. Legends made plays on that stand. Ed Reed had a TD saving open field tackle. (Youtube the final sequence if you want). It was just special.
I swore that Mahomes had the legendary power in him, but he was M.I.A. tonight. I don't care what his rating and stats looked like from Garbage time. This was the worst Superbowl Performance possible Ever from a QB who is "expected" to be challenging for GOAT status. The absolute worst. Bar none. No Excuses.
Anyone with a real NFL Football mind would know that Josh Allen would have not went out that way. Even if he turned it over 6 times he would have still bulled his way forward. Cook would have carried the ball as needed and the WRs + TE's would have not stood around. He would have found a way to get to 400 yards passing, 100 yards rushing and make a game of it.
Some will say Mahomes had no time today. Philly got home too quickly and easily. I call BS. I realize Mahomes was no where near a MVP/All Pro this year, but that has me nervous that he possibly has peaked in some ways. Mahomes/Reid/Coaching needed to make much better adjustments. Mahomes was throwing pure ducks into the ground. Not even giving Kelce or anyone a chance really. Hopkins (thankfully got a Superbowl TD as a memory) was the only one who dropped a legit ball and after that he was basically erased from the game plan. A player like him... you go back to. Over and Over.
A good portion of that team was on 1 year deals and it will take being creative to figure it out next year. Especially with Rashee Rice's impending Off the Field issues. I really don't think we will see the same team next year at all and with Herbert Year 2 under Jim Harbs and Greg Roman in LAC... they will figure it out. A Playoff team this year already and not even that good. Then there is Sean Payton and the Broncos with Big Bad Bo Nix... He will improve. The Raiders may stink, but Jayden Daniels proved it takes 1 guy to turn it all around.
That's just KC's division. What about CJ Stroud, Allen, Lamar, even a potential turnaround of Lawrence and more QBs coming in like Cam Ward, Shadeur.. You just never know.
The Chiefs defense was nothing like we have seen all season. It was bullied. It was dominated. Finally a team that didn't let KC play on their terms.
Finally, a Team that didn't beat themselves... I was almost sure when Jalen Hurts took 3pts off the board early with that foolish "Lamarian" INT that it would change the game, but watching that Philly Defense come out and get Jalen Hurt's back immediately confirmed to me it was OVER.
The first matchup went basically the same way except Hurts put the ball on the ground for a Fumble-Scoop-6 that shifted all the momentum down to the final moments where the refs inserted themselves into the game for that Bogus P.I. by 99% of all fans who had no rooting interest other than betting or seeing a Man's Game played by Men, called consistently to the finish which that flag was incoherent and effectively ended the game.
It's no secret I am a Ravens fan. I would have really enjoyed Ravens vs Philly 2 this year. Those were truly the 2 best teams in the league. The NFL doesn't always give the real Heavyweight Showdown. It is like March Madness. Sometimes it is pretty obvious a team will win a matchup 8/10 times and they just had that bad day and Poof, the season is over.
The main reason I knew that Philly was the best team by far this season was Philly was the only team since Lamar joined the NFL that put a real whooping on a healthy Ravens squadron.
It simply never happens.
Baltimore's Coaching wouldn't have quit like KC's did. I have no idea what Spaqs did tonight. Part of me wants to think he had a terrible game plan. The other part wants to think that there was that 1 Brotherly Shove that KC lined up offsides for, but Chris Jones and some others got the snot knocked out of them not being ready for the way Philly runs it unlike any other team.
Bills don't run it correctly. Ravens use a TE for it. It is simple the most dangerous play every invented in NFL history and it should be banned.
I will always think the best matchup would have been Baltimore vs Philly, Henry vs Saquan Part 2. Lamar vs Hurts. A revamped Defense with an OL that was cooking vs Philly's machine... Both sides would have only had advantages in the RB/Running QB + TE matchups really.
Now onto the MVP side of this ----->
KC survived Baltimore with no chemistry on how to play Henry and Lamar together with a new OL Week 1. KC barely won with a Toe on the Line (KD? anyone?)...
Ravens had some losses that were "bad" like to the Raiders and Browns. Lamar suffered the fate of being the only All Pro #1 QB that wasn't MVP I believe. He wasn't OPOY either. His numbers were astronomically better than anyone elses.
It never came down to supporting cast in my book like some may say for Allen vs Lamar. It also doesn't come down to Voter's fatigue. Allen vs the Chiefs this year and they had a clunker at home vs the visiting Patriots, but Allen was able to "will" them to victory.
Had Allen lost that game to NE, Lamar takes all the MVP/Awards again. It is as simple as that. MVPs don't lose to teams that "get up for a game" like Minshew Magic, Jameis Winston, or even the Stillers who got some wonky bounces in a weird one.
In the end, the right guy won the MVP. Lamar is obviously the best player, but the MVP is always going to be a Team Award in disguise. If Mahomes even had a Half Decent season he would have won it. Allen's 1 extra win basically was the real difference being the 2 seed vs the 3 seeded Ravens. It's that simple. And I do believe the votes sealed after Week 18. Allen sat out. He earned the award.
Good season.
PS: The only irking thing I noticed with Goodell talking about the Refs and KC is he said he thought it was comical that people thought there was some connection.... BUT HE DID NOT DENY IT TO THE BONE. The integrity of the sport is in question every week that KC plays and that is not an understatement. Houston had something to say about it. It showed up vs Buffalo. Philly left it to no doubt.
My Exact Score Wager was 38-13 Eggles btw. I knew it would be a smash. I don't care who believes me or not in retrospect, but I just knew what I saw Philly do all season. The Lions/Vikes/Packers proved a product of a weak schedule. Even the Bears clipped 6 or 7 wins I believe.
So realistically the best team won this season and it is just a shame we didn't get the best matchup, but that is how the cookie crumbles.... Food For Thought.
Onto the NFL Draft and where T-Mac + Jonah are going to be drafted. Should be exciting.
1.) This post was way too long.
2.) I did read the whole thing.
3.) This year's Chiefs team was the
worst great team I think I've ever seen.
Quote from: |ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ| on February 10, 2025, 03:08:40 AM1.) This post was way too long.
2.) I did read the whole thing.
3.) This year's Chiefs team was the
worst great team I think I've ever seen.
Same, except I didn't read the entire thing, once I recognized the length of the post.
In regards to the beginning, I agree that the Chiefs were the worst best team ever. With a rebuilt defense, injuries across the board (most WR/OL) and a brutal schedule, it was fun to watch close wins on a weekly basis.
Taylor WAS flagged for the most penalties of any player in the MFL. He's the worst lineman of all time and I can't wait until KC gets Savaiinaea as a replacement. We had Thuney, who has never played Tackle in his left, protecting the blind side. The only "elite protection" was in the middle, which doesn't help prevent the blitz.
Also, the Chiefs play half of the games away from home...and were flagged for the most penalties of any team during the 2nd half and OT, so the "home field advantage" discussion is an internet rumor.
Josh Allen deserves nothing. Good guy. Obviously not a Super Bowl champion, nor is any other AFC QB, not named Mahomes.
Eagles defense dominated a beat up O-line and Sweat deserves to be the MVP, although Hurts did his job well (and was prepared). Barkley was shut down and it didn't matter because the Eagles offense started in wonderful field position because of their D-Line.
Congrats to the Philly fans (if any exist on this site)!
Gotta tip your hat to the Eagles. That was flat out domination from the first snap to the end
Quote from: KansasCityCats on February 10, 2025, 05:19:04 AMAlso, the Chiefs play half of the games away from home...and were flagged for the most penalties of any team during the 2nd half and OT, so the "home field advantage" discussion is an internet rumor.
All you have to do is go to Pro Football Reference and look at the Refs selected for KC games in the playoffs along thing journey. Like last season on the Road @ Baltimore you can look at 1 simple example
https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/betting/chiefs-ravens-shawn-smith-referee-trends-impact/
Amongst MANY. As they all looked this way. This season it was the same way for Houston to deal with and Buffalo. I believe Clay Martin and Clete Blakeman. One of those 2 the KC Chiefs were undefeated when they were reffing and by wide margins of lopsided flagging.
This is why the NFL Universe has had enough of it. Even the first fake flag thrown last night was egregiously boo'ed. Tom Brady and Burkhardt couldn't handle it. Mike Pereira said those weren't flags.
After that fiasco, the NFL just left Mahomes for dead I guess and the truth came out.
They were not the worst good team of all time. Pitt has many iterations of that under Tomlin. I think they were close though.
There are no excuses, though. I have never seen a team quit like last night and I really don't expect KC to get back to the Superbowl for free anymore. That whole event was bad optics for the sport.
It's easy to say "what if another official called the game?". Below are actual numbers, that support the fact that the Chiefs are typically at a disadvantage, in regards to penalties:
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39483957/super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-penalties-conspiracy
The offensive PI call was pretty weak, despite the fact that our DB was slapped in the face while the ball was in the air. It wasn't nearly as detrimental as the awful PI call for the uncatchable ball to Goedert over the middle...OR the missed "punch to the face" on Mahomes, which would have negated the strip-sack and given KC 15 yards.
Regardless, Kansas City would have lost the game yesterday because Philly showed up "ready". As Foos mentioned, you have to "tip your hat" to their staff and starters.