At this point, I'm just trying not to die before Sunday night.
Friday, January 31, 2020
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
A point I had in my head but kinda forgot to make here regarding the additions of Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu.
Both of them had proven themselves as playmakers in the NFL, but hadn't yet found postseason success. They both brought the combination of NFL experience + the hunger of never being here. That hunger and leadership has proved invaluable so far.
Both of them had proven themselves as playmakers in the NFL, but hadn't yet found postseason success. They both brought the combination of NFL experience + the hunger of never being here. That hunger and leadership has proved invaluable so far.
Monday, January 27, 2020
The Game That Put The Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV
One year ago, was the farthest I've ever seen the Chiefs go.
It was an incredible season—first Chiefs MVP—and first time Arrowhead hosted the AFC Championship. It brought so much excitement and joy to the city even though it ended in an overtime loss.
There was hope they could return to the AFC Championship. But then the season starts and there are new challenges and challengers.
The Patriots are 8-0 with a historic defense.
Lamar is the new MVP and everyone's favorite.
Mahomes injured his ankle in Week 1 and dislocated his kneecap in Week 7.
And then Derrick Henry went on an unprecedented run.
So many ways that this ends with the Chiefs not making the AFC Championship Game.
The one no one saw coming was getting blown out at home by the Texans.
- - -
I have a fascination with incredible sports moments and whether or not they lead to a championship.
Some Random Famous Moments That Led to a Championship
Laettner's Shot was in the Elite Eight, but Duke won the Title
Miracle on Ice was not the final game. US needed to beat Finland after to win Gold.
Tyree's Helmet Catch got the Giants to the 23 yard line. Still needed to get in the end zone to win the Super Bowl.
The Mets getting the ball by Buckner was in Game 6. Still needed to win Game 7.
The 28-3 Patriots comeback.
Some Moments that Didn't Lead to a Championship
Illinois' 15-point comeback in 4 minutes over Arizona, would lose to UNC in the title game
Kearse's insane catch to put the Seahawks inside the 10, would lose when Butler intercepts Wilson from the 1
Marcus Paige with a miraculous off-balance three pointer to tie the UNC-Villanova title game with 4 seconds left, would lose to Jenkins' next shot
The Bills 35-3 comeback
At this point the Chiefs 24-0 comeback hasn't been placed into either category. But in a week, it will.
- - -
So the Chiefs make it back to AFC Championship by scoring 51 and rewriting the record books.
They had another chance to lift the Lamar Hunt trophy at home. But everyone was afraid of Derrick Henry and the "nobody believes in us" Titans.
And before you could blink, it's 10-0 Titans in the first quarter. But everyone on the Chiefs and everyone on the Titans knew that KC had come back from worse the previous week. That's an incredible confidence boost to know that you can come back.
And then right before halftime, Mahomes pulls off a signature highlight TD run that will be played for years to come. That highlight joins the 24-0 comeback...depending on the next game it might be remembered like the Elway helicopter run.
And then right before halftime, Mahomes pulls off a signature highlight TD run that will be played for years to come. That highlight joins the 24-0 comeback...depending on the next game it might be remembered like the Elway helicopter run.
My Boys' First Game of Madden
Time for a palate cleanser, something that has nothing to do with the Super Bowl. Over the weekend, I taught my boys how to play Madden for the first time and we simulated the Super Bowl—damnit. Oh well.
I was the blue icon.
H was the green icon.
G was the red icon.
Throughout the first half, we had trouble learning how to run routes and get open. We would routinely end up with 4th and long and I would try to scramble for the first down to keep drives alive. (Also, they would often go in motion before the snap, messing up the routes we had just learned.)
For example of not understanding the route running, at 1:17 the red receiver gets open and as soon as I throw it, runs back toward the QB.
But then at 1:38 something crazy happened. We completed a pass! And then completed another 3 in a row to score.
Although we got the hang of offense, defense was a problem. As the red icon had a tendency to do an uncalled corner blitz leaving the opposing receivers wide open.
So late in the game, it's tied and we're driving for the win.
With 1:30 to go, it looks like Williams is open if I can put the ball to the sideline...but somehow it goes straight to a defender. Well, only one thing left to do. Try to force a fumble with Pat Mahomes using the truck stick.
I was the blue icon.
H was the green icon.
G was the red icon.
Throughout the first half, we had trouble learning how to run routes and get open. We would routinely end up with 4th and long and I would try to scramble for the first down to keep drives alive. (Also, they would often go in motion before the snap, messing up the routes we had just learned.)
For example of not understanding the route running, at 1:17 the red receiver gets open and as soon as I throw it, runs back toward the QB.
But then at 1:38 something crazy happened. We completed a pass! And then completed another 3 in a row to score.
Although we got the hang of offense, defense was a problem. As the red icon had a tendency to do an uncalled corner blitz leaving the opposing receivers wide open.
So late in the game, it's tied and we're driving for the win.
With 1:30 to go, it looks like Williams is open if I can put the ball to the sideline...but somehow it goes straight to a defender. Well, only one thing left to do. Try to force a fumble with Pat Mahomes using the truck stick.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Road to Super Bowl LIV: Holy Shit, We Made It
Right after Super Bowl LIII, the Chiefs were announced as the favorites to win Super Bowl LIV. It both made sense and was hard for me to wrap my head around it.
And as the season started I changed the way I framed how I would write about the season. Instead of just recapping games, I approached it from a Road to the Super Bowl, something I've never done. There was a risk of a jinx, but I figured the goal is the Super Bowl, I can't really avoid it anyways. Plus, who believes in jinxes?
And for the first time in my life, the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl. So how did they get there? Let's work our way backwards.
The Chiefs managed to avoid the Patriots and the Ravens, the two best teams in the regular season. Now I'd love to sit here and say that the way the Chiefs played when they were healthy in the playoffs, they could have beaten any team. But I also know this is the first time they've made it and it's the first time they got an easy path to the playoffs. We'll never know if the Chiefs could have beaten Titans-Patriots-Ravens but I'm glad I don't have to find out. So how did they earn this easy path?
They had to go 12-4 and own the tiebreaker over the Patriots. 11-5 would have made them the 3-seed. So every single one of those 12 wins was crucial on the Road to Super Bowl LIV. You flip one of those wins and they don't get the bye and maybe they're not here.
Which is great for the purpose of this blog post. Let's go back and look at all the close wins that got the Chiefs to this point.
- - -
The first two wins over the Jags and Raiders were never in doubt.
In Week 3, the Chiefs built a 17 point lead over the Ravens that was cut to 5 with two minutes to go. The Chiefs converted a 3rd and 9 with a screen pass to Williams to run the clock out.
In Week 4, the Lions took a 30-27 lead with just over two minutes to play. It was 4th and 8 and the Chiefs were desperate. Good thing they had Patrick Mahomes.
In Week 7, the defense responded without Mahomes and carried the team to a victory.
After the Lions game, the next win that came down to a few plays was the win over the Vikings. I went over it in detail here, but Matt Moore made a miraculous fumble recovery, Butker made two clutch field goals, and the defense held strong. In a game without the league's best QB, the rest of the team stepped up.
In the game vs Chargers in Mexico City, Clark and Mathieu rised up. And the game was clinched with a Sorensen interception.
And the last close game of the year was the one in Gillette Stadium. Just like against the Ravens, the Chiefs built a big lead that the Pats started chipping away at. On the final drive, Breeland knocked away a game-tying pass.
Honestly, I'm a little surprised they weren't more close games. Of all the teams they beat, the Chiefs were closest to losing against the Lions. That 4th and 8 conversion helped the Chiefs get to the Super Bowl.
And for the first time in my life, the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl. So how did they get there? Let's work our way backwards.
The Chiefs managed to avoid the Patriots and the Ravens, the two best teams in the regular season. Now I'd love to sit here and say that the way the Chiefs played when they were healthy in the playoffs, they could have beaten any team. But I also know this is the first time they've made it and it's the first time they got an easy path to the playoffs. We'll never know if the Chiefs could have beaten Titans-Patriots-Ravens but I'm glad I don't have to find out. So how did they earn this easy path?
They had to go 12-4 and own the tiebreaker over the Patriots. 11-5 would have made them the 3-seed. So every single one of those 12 wins was crucial on the Road to Super Bowl LIV. You flip one of those wins and they don't get the bye and maybe they're not here.
Which is great for the purpose of this blog post. Let's go back and look at all the close wins that got the Chiefs to this point.
- - -
The first two wins over the Jags and Raiders were never in doubt.
In Week 3, the Chiefs built a 17 point lead over the Ravens that was cut to 5 with two minutes to go. The Chiefs converted a 3rd and 9 with a screen pass to Williams to run the clock out.
In Week 4, the Lions took a 30-27 lead with just over two minutes to play. It was 4th and 8 and the Chiefs were desperate. Good thing they had Patrick Mahomes.
In Week 7, the defense responded without Mahomes and carried the team to a victory.
After the Lions game, the next win that came down to a few plays was the win over the Vikings. I went over it in detail here, but Matt Moore made a miraculous fumble recovery, Butker made two clutch field goals, and the defense held strong. In a game without the league's best QB, the rest of the team stepped up.
In the game vs Chargers in Mexico City, Clark and Mathieu rised up. And the game was clinched with a Sorensen interception.
And the last close game of the year was the one in Gillette Stadium. Just like against the Ravens, the Chiefs built a big lead that the Pats started chipping away at. On the final drive, Breeland knocked away a game-tying pass.
Honestly, I'm a little surprised they weren't more close games. Of all the teams they beat, the Chiefs were closest to losing against the Lions. That 4th and 8 conversion helped the Chiefs get to the Super Bowl.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Super Bowl LIV: Revisiting My Season Preview
In August, I predicted a few things. Let's check out how I did.
I said the easiest division order to predict was Chiefs-Chargers-Broncos-Raiders. I said the Chargers were a regression candidate, but even I didn't see their collapse coming.
I was spot on on the Ravens and Bengals. And the Patriots winning the division was easy to call but I didn't overthink it.
I did less great in the NFC. I got the Eagles and Saints right but missed by picking the Rams and Bears.
But the Big Kahuna...for the first time ever I officially predicted that the Chiefs would go to the Super Bowl and I was right.
I also predicted they would win...
I said the easiest division order to predict was Chiefs-Chargers-Broncos-Raiders. I said the Chargers were a regression candidate, but even I didn't see their collapse coming.
I was spot on on the Ravens and Bengals. And the Patriots winning the division was easy to call but I didn't overthink it.
I did less great in the NFC. I got the Eagles and Saints right but missed by picking the Rams and Bears.
But the Big Kahuna...for the first time ever I officially predicted that the Chiefs would go to the Super Bowl and I was right.
I also predicted they would win...
Super Bowl LIV: Who I'm Rooting For
One thing that I didn't expect, but makes complete sense, is that when your team makes a Super Bowl run, you get completely enamored with certain players.
The two key defensive additions were Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs invested a lot in them in through the first 6 games, I think a lot of fans expected more out of them. And then when Mahomes went down, the defense completely responded and Clark and Mathieu were leading the charge. And then in the home stretch + playoffs, they became electric.
On defense, it's Mathieu, Clark, Jones.
On offense, it's Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, Hardman, Williams. Plus, Butker.
And the coach, of course, Andy Reid.
I mean, it's 2020 and people are still rehashing tired takes that Andy Reid is bad with challenges, time outs, and time management. But seriously, it hasn't been a problem. He consistently is better with time outs and challenges than opposing coaches. And critics don't ever want to give him credit for that because it doesn't fit their narrative.
So yeah, I'm rooting for the Chiefs. But I'm also rooting for these guys.
The two key defensive additions were Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs invested a lot in them in through the first 6 games, I think a lot of fans expected more out of them. And then when Mahomes went down, the defense completely responded and Clark and Mathieu were leading the charge. And then in the home stretch + playoffs, they became electric.
On defense, it's Mathieu, Clark, Jones.
On offense, it's Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, Hardman, Williams. Plus, Butker.
And the coach, of course, Andy Reid.
I mean, it's 2020 and people are still rehashing tired takes that Andy Reid is bad with challenges, time outs, and time management. But seriously, it hasn't been a problem. He consistently is better with time outs and challenges than opposing coaches. And critics don't ever want to give him credit for that because it doesn't fit their narrative.
So yeah, I'm rooting for the Chiefs. But I'm also rooting for these guys.
Super Bowl LIV: Mahomes in the Playoffs
So I sort of already covered this, but I found this graphic and couldn't resist.
QBs aren't supposed to be this good, this early. Even the best of all-time aren't like this early in their career.
So he plays like the MVP of the league in the regular season.
He's somehow even better when they're losing.
He's also somehow even better in the playoffs too?
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Super Bowl LIV: Miami Has Been Good to the Chiefs
All year, the best three teams in the AFC were the Ravens, Patriots and Chiefs. And it sure looked like they were going to be seeded in that order.
The Chiefs playoff run was made quite a bit easier in Week 17 when the Miami Dolphins pulled a shocking upset. Instead of hosting the Titans in the Wild-Card Round, the Chiefs received the #2 seed and a first-round bye.
In the wild-card round, the Tannehill-led Titans knocked off the Patriots. So instead of facing the Patriots, the Chiefs got to host the #4 seed Texans.
The Titans then beat the #1 seed Ravens. Thanks to them, the Chiefs didn't have to face either New England or Baltimore. And why did the Titans make the playoffs? Because Miami traded Tannehill to Tennessee in March.
Miami has been key for the Chiefs in the playoffs. And now KC gets to play for the Lombardi in Miami.
The Chiefs playoff run was made quite a bit easier in Week 17 when the Miami Dolphins pulled a shocking upset. Instead of hosting the Titans in the Wild-Card Round, the Chiefs received the #2 seed and a first-round bye.
In the wild-card round, the Tannehill-led Titans knocked off the Patriots. So instead of facing the Patriots, the Chiefs got to host the #4 seed Texans.
The Titans then beat the #1 seed Ravens. Thanks to them, the Chiefs didn't have to face either New England or Baltimore. And why did the Titans make the playoffs? Because Miami traded Tannehill to Tennessee in March.
Miami has been key for the Chiefs in the playoffs. And now KC gets to play for the Lombardi in Miami.
Super Bowl LIV: Mahomes Already an All-Timer?
This is a strange cherry-picked stat but I think its worth it. Here's the complete list of playoff performances with 250 passing yards, 3 tds, and 50 rushing yards.
In case it's not clear, the only QBs to have multiple of those performances: Joe Montana and Patrick Mahomes.
- - -
Okay, let's do something less cherry-picked. How about regular season QB stats, all-time. (Just did a minimum of 100 completions to weed out any trick plays)
First by passer rating.
What about Adjusted Yards/Attempt?
Adjusted yards/attempt?
With 4 games under his belt, Mahomes is up there at the top of the all-time playoff QBs as well.
Maybe one of these years the Bears will have the chance to draft a QB like Mahomes.
In case it's not clear, the only QBs to have multiple of those performances: Joe Montana and Patrick Mahomes.
- - -
Okay, let's do something less cherry-picked. How about regular season QB stats, all-time. (Just did a minimum of 100 completions to weed out any trick plays)
First by passer rating.
What about Adjusted Yards/Attempt?
Hmm...weird. Just the best numbers of all time, huh?
Now I realize it's easier to have outlier numbers with a small sample size. But it's also rare to have your best seasons as your first seasons. Also, Mahomes, Jackson, Watson, all in good positions on the all-time list. AFC should be fun for years to come.
Ah, but that's the regular season. What about in the playoffs?
Passer rating...
Adjusted yards/attempt?
Maybe one of these years the Bears will have the chance to draft a QB like Mahomes.
Super Bowl LIV: Old Takes Exposed
Going into the AFC Championship, the Chiefs were 7.5 point favorites. But that didn't stop people from talking shit. Now I don't care if you say you want the Titans to win or that you think the Titans will win. Of course, that's fine. But I didn't really care for people guaranteeing the Titans victory or saying stuff like Mahomes is all hype, etc. I mean, you're entitled to say whatever you want. But I'm entitled to post it here and laugh at it too.
And then Frank Clark went off on Henry saying he wasn't hard to tackle. I didn't think it was a great idea to talk like that before the game and people starting making jokes early
Well, KC held Henry to under 70 yards. If you're gonna talk, you gotta back it up.
There were way more Titans guarantees but I didn't save them at the time. It's okay. We're on to San Francisco.
Going to Super Bowl LIV: Sights and Sounds
The first moment I allowed myself to believe the Chiefs were going to the Super Bowl
The call of the game-sealing sack
Chiefs Kingdom celebrating far and wide
Some great mic'd up moments and Mitch Holthus calls
AHHHHHHHH 😁 pic.twitter.com/vVIcO1bSw1— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2020
The call of the game-sealing sack
.@mitchholthus' call of the sack that sealed the game 🦈 pic.twitter.com/SM3DmDxpvo— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 21, 2020
Chiefs Kingdom celebrating far and wide
#ChiefsKingdom, we are Super Bowl bound! pic.twitter.com/TRgYKNOKiQ— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 21, 2020
Some great mic'd up moments and Mitch Holthus calls
Super Bowl LIV: Diving Into The Numbers
The first thing I want to do is take a deeper look at something I posted last week.
Here are the raw numbers from the last two Chiefs seasons.
In the first quarter of their playoff games, Chiefs were outscored 31-7.
The rest of the way, Chiefs outscored Texans and Titans 79-34.
49ers outscored opponents 14-7 in the first quarter.
And also outscored them 50-23 the rest of the way.
Mahomes plays at a MVP level all the time. But somehow plays his best when trailing. We just don't get to see it all that often because the Chiefs usually build up a sizable lead.
So the checklist to beating the Chiefs is something like this:
Don't fall behind early
Don't take the early lead
Double team Hill and Kelce, get a great pass rush and keep two spys on each end to prevent him from scrambling.
Here are the raw numbers from the last two Chiefs seasons.
Chiefs 2018 numbers
Chiefs 2019 numbers
But I don't think that tells the whole story.
Here's how the Chiefs ranked in 2018:
Offense: 1st
Defense: 24th
And here's how they did in 2019:
Offense: 5th
Defense: 7th
Last year, the Pat Mahomes offense dragged a bottom-half defense to overtime in the AFC Championship Game but the offense never saw the ball in overtime. And many people said if the defense could just improve to league average, 16th, that would be enough to get the Chiefs to the Super Bowl.
So Veach and Reid overhauled the entire defensive roster including coaching staff and took the D from 24th to 7th in points allowed.
Back on February 12, 2019, I wrote the following:
This site is nothing if not homer optimism. But last February I predicted a top 5 offense and maybe a top 10 defense. I predicted they would be a Super Bowl Caliber team. This year I'd say the Chiefs, 49ers and Ravens were all Super Bowl Caliber, with Saints, Titans close enough that they could have made it with a few lucky bounces. And then on top of that, I predicted they would go to Miami. I don't get 'em all right. But I nailed these.
Chiefs 2019
Offense: 5th
Defense: 7th
49ers 2019
Offense: 2nd
Defense: 8th
So the conventional wisdom of Mahomes O vs elite 49ers D is wrong? 49ers scored more points and allowed more too.
Well, the defenses are basically the same and with the Mahomes injury, I think it's fair to say that these teams are evenly matched on offense and defense.
Or maybe points for and points against are too old school. Here's the DVOA numbers:
Chiefs better offense, 49ers better defense, Chiefs better special teams. According to this the Super Bowl matchup is the 2nd vs 4th best team in the league.
- - -
The rest of the way, Chiefs outscored Texans and Titans 79-34.
49ers outscored opponents 14-7 in the first quarter.
And also outscored them 50-23 the rest of the way.
Mahomes plays at a MVP level all the time. But somehow plays his best when trailing. We just don't get to see it all that often because the Chiefs usually build up a sizable lead.
So the checklist to beating the Chiefs is something like this:
Don't fall behind early
Don't take the early lead
Double team Hill and Kelce, get a great pass rush and keep two spys on each end to prevent him from scrambling.
Super Bowl LIV Anthem
Back on September 22, 2019, the good people at The Ringer published this video.
The Chiefs were 3-0. It was a fun little song to listen to.
And then everything in this video came true.
✅Won the division
✅Beat Phil Rivers twice
✅Beat Tom Brady
✅Headed to Miami
❓ Go all the way
When you've never seen your team in the Super Bowl and there's a song in September talking about your team going to the Super Bowl, you listen and you hope and you dream. You wonder what that would be like. And now it's here.
Kansas City, this one's for you.@PatrickMahomes: A Special Live Music Video pic.twitter.com/a1k4rVd9HX— The Ringer (@ringer) September 22, 2019
The Chiefs were 3-0. It was a fun little song to listen to.
And then everything in this video came true.
✅Won the division
✅Beat Phil Rivers twice
✅Beat Tom Brady
✅Headed to Miami
❓ Go all the way
When you've never seen your team in the Super Bowl and there's a song in September talking about your team going to the Super Bowl, you listen and you hope and you dream. You wonder what that would be like. And now it's here.
The Chiefs-Lions Super Bowl Bet Is Over
On May 6, 2011, Mark and I made a wager. He even started it, betting that the Lions would reach the Super Bowl before the Chiefs.
THE BET
Over the next two seasons following the bet, the Lions had a better record both times. Here were their cumulative records.
Lions: 14-18
Chiefs: 9-23
It didn't look good for either team.
Nine seasons after making the bet, the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl.
Assuming that we redeem this in Kansas City, I'll have a choice to make. For Brazilian we could go to Fogo de Chao or Porto Do Sul. I had an excellent steak at Pierpont's at Union Station, but I haven't been to 801 Chophouse or J. Gilbert's.
I guess I'll just pick whatever's most expensive.
THE BET
Over the next two seasons following the bet, the Lions had a better record both times. Here were their cumulative records.
Lions: 14-18
Chiefs: 9-23
It didn't look good for either team.
Nine seasons after making the bet, the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl.
Assuming that we redeem this in Kansas City, I'll have a choice to make. For Brazilian we could go to Fogo de Chao or Porto Do Sul. I had an excellent steak at Pierpont's at Union Station, but I haven't been to 801 Chophouse or J. Gilbert's.
I guess I'll just pick whatever's most expensive.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Super Bowl LIV: What It Means To Me
I just made a list of 9 individual blog post topics surrounding the Chiefs making Super Bowl LIV. But I don't want to get into those just yet. I'm sitting here in Cape Coral, visiting my mom. And I want to sit here with my emotions and try to let it sink in.
The first Super Bowl I have a good memory of was Super Bowl XXIV. The 49ers beat the Broncos like a drum 55-10. That was 30 years ago. I was six.
So I missed 23 Super Bowls due to not being born/being too young. I've seen 30 Super Bowls. The 31st that I'll see has my team in it. With 16 AFC teams fighting for one spot, it seems that waiting 31 years is a little overdue. But I'm not complaining. Thanks to the Patriots, Steelers and Peyton Manning, most of the AFC teams have been waiting a while. This is a league of haves and have nots and the Chiefs have been a have not for the last 49 years.
Going back to not complaining...my kids won't know what it's like. They don't really care about football. But even if they did, they wouldn't know how to appreciate it. They were bummed last year when the Dee Ford offsides prevented the Chiefs from making Super Bowl LIII. But they don't know what it's really like to invest in something and have it so often result in disappointment.
I cried in 2003 when Peyton's Colts beat the Chiefs in the no-punt game. That KC team was 13-3 and started 9-0 and I believed in them.
In 2007, the Chiefs lost the first Burger Bet to the Lions.
I watched them get blown out in the playoffs by the Ravens in 2010 at Niraj's apartment on Milwaukee.
In 2012, they went 2-14 with Jamaal Charles and I was here on Hoagie Central handing out game balls.
In 2013, I was ready to finally see them win a playoff game. They were up 38-10. They lost when Andrew Luck recovered a fumble and scored on the same play.
With Alex Smith, I saw them get knocked out of the playoffs three years in a row, capped off by the Mariota touchdown pass to himself.
And then last year, there was a moment I thought KC was going to the Super Bowl. And then a flag was thrown. Dee Ford offsides. Mahomes never saw the ball in overtime.
Four times I've paid good money to go to Arrowhead Stadium and walked out a loser...including this year vs the Colts. I specifically bought tickets this year because I hadn't seen Mahomes in person yet... And because if the Chiefs went to the Super Bowl, I wanted to say I was there for a game that year. That I saw that team in person.
And this list doesn't even include all the regular Sundays where a Chiefs loss has ruined my weekend. Where I'll be in a bad mood, not quite sure why, and then remember that the Chiefs lost.
So above all else, my goal is to appreciate this. Like, really savor each moment.
Marino made one Super Bowl. Rodgers made one Super Bowl. Brees made one Super Bowl.
Lots of people are projecting that the Chiefs are set up well for the next decade, but nothing is certain. The Chiefs could lose this game and not make it back for another 50 years.
Nothing is guaranteed.
But here's what I do know. There are things that cannot be taken away from me or this team.
Today, Clark Hunt got to raise the trophy with his father's name on it for the first time.
Today, Patrick Mahomes ran in a 27-yard touchdown that will be an all-time highlight. I will see this in ten years on the best plays of the 2020's. Go ahead and add it to the best playoffs highlight reel.
Today, the 50-year drought is over. Win or lose, this is the farthest that I've ever seen this team go.
Today, the fans at Arrowhead got to leave in the best way possible. They saw the last home game of the season not because we lost but because we ran out of games that aren't played at neutral sites. They got to see red and gold confetti and a trophy presentation at home.
Today, I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears that the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl. It's the first time that's ever happened, and win or lose, nothing can take that memory away.
The first Super Bowl I have a good memory of was Super Bowl XXIV. The 49ers beat the Broncos like a drum 55-10. That was 30 years ago. I was six.
So I missed 23 Super Bowls due to not being born/being too young. I've seen 30 Super Bowls. The 31st that I'll see has my team in it. With 16 AFC teams fighting for one spot, it seems that waiting 31 years is a little overdue. But I'm not complaining. Thanks to the Patriots, Steelers and Peyton Manning, most of the AFC teams have been waiting a while. This is a league of haves and have nots and the Chiefs have been a have not for the last 49 years.
Going back to not complaining...my kids won't know what it's like. They don't really care about football. But even if they did, they wouldn't know how to appreciate it. They were bummed last year when the Dee Ford offsides prevented the Chiefs from making Super Bowl LIII. But they don't know what it's really like to invest in something and have it so often result in disappointment.
I cried in 2003 when Peyton's Colts beat the Chiefs in the no-punt game. That KC team was 13-3 and started 9-0 and I believed in them.
In 2007, the Chiefs lost the first Burger Bet to the Lions.
I watched them get blown out in the playoffs by the Ravens in 2010 at Niraj's apartment on Milwaukee.
In 2012, they went 2-14 with Jamaal Charles and I was here on Hoagie Central handing out game balls.
In 2013, I was ready to finally see them win a playoff game. They were up 38-10. They lost when Andrew Luck recovered a fumble and scored on the same play.
With Alex Smith, I saw them get knocked out of the playoffs three years in a row, capped off by the Mariota touchdown pass to himself.
And then last year, there was a moment I thought KC was going to the Super Bowl. And then a flag was thrown. Dee Ford offsides. Mahomes never saw the ball in overtime.
Four times I've paid good money to go to Arrowhead Stadium and walked out a loser...including this year vs the Colts. I specifically bought tickets this year because I hadn't seen Mahomes in person yet... And because if the Chiefs went to the Super Bowl, I wanted to say I was there for a game that year. That I saw that team in person.
And this list doesn't even include all the regular Sundays where a Chiefs loss has ruined my weekend. Where I'll be in a bad mood, not quite sure why, and then remember that the Chiefs lost.
So above all else, my goal is to appreciate this. Like, really savor each moment.
Marino made one Super Bowl. Rodgers made one Super Bowl. Brees made one Super Bowl.
Lots of people are projecting that the Chiefs are set up well for the next decade, but nothing is certain. The Chiefs could lose this game and not make it back for another 50 years.
Nothing is guaranteed.
But here's what I do know. There are things that cannot be taken away from me or this team.
Today, Clark Hunt got to raise the trophy with his father's name on it for the first time.
Today, Patrick Mahomes ran in a 27-yard touchdown that will be an all-time highlight. I will see this in ten years on the best plays of the 2020's. Go ahead and add it to the best playoffs highlight reel.
Today, the 50-year drought is over. Win or lose, this is the farthest that I've ever seen this team go.
Today, the fans at Arrowhead got to leave in the best way possible. They saw the last home game of the season not because we lost but because we ran out of games that aren't played at neutral sites. They got to see red and gold confetti and a trophy presentation at home.
Today, I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears that the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl. It's the first time that's ever happened, and win or lose, nothing can take that memory away.
THE CHIEFS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL
Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZC8Ts5dHqK— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2020
THE LAMAR HUNT TROPHY IS HOME 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NLgQZTEuLz— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2020
Thursday, January 16, 2020
The Top 10 Passages in “Choose Your Own Trump”
Find yourself somebody that loves you the way that I love my own writing. Here are my favorite moments from my 2018 book Choose Your Own Trump. The context, in case it wasn't clear, is that you are President Trump and it's up to you skillfully navigate or bungle your way through your presidency.
10. The choices for how to spend your last night before becoming King.
Most of the choices are purely functional. But every now and the options themselves crack me up.
9. A rare look at President Trump's inbox
It didn't take a huge stretch of the imagination, but I just love the idea of Trump getting promotional emails from Applebee's in the middle of a crisis.
8. Locker Room talk
Parodying the famous "locker room talk" defense is low-hanging fruit. And if there's one thing you should know about me: when I see low-hanging fruit, I pick it. Also, some of the sharpest criticism in the book is when I directly quote the man.
7. Denouncing the Nazis
In the wake of Charlottesville, I thought the best way to make a contrast would be to show easy it would be to handle the situation. And of course, since he loves to compare himself to Obama, I thought it only fair to give him a mic drop too.
6. Trump's unexplained hatred of Oklahoma
First of all, strong opening. Second, there's a ton of character traits that we already know and hate about Trump. But it made me laugh to have a recurring theme of him not liking Oklahoma without ever explaining why.
5. Starting World War 3
All-axis pass still gets me. But I love how this passage ends because I think it's absolutely true.
4. 1/x
Nobody on earth likes seeing a tweetstorm of undetermined length.
3. Trump takes Melania's advice to out a celebrity.
I kinda feel like I nailed the Colbert impression.
2. Locker Room talk ends poorly
The Belichick comment is a niche joke but kills me every time.
1. Adding product placement to his tweets.
I love that Trump rhymes sad with the legally-mandated #ad. But my absolute favorite is attacking Dems for being soft on crime and turning it into product placement.
10. The choices for how to spend your last night before becoming King.
Most of the choices are purely functional. But every now and the options themselves crack me up.
9. A rare look at President Trump's inbox
8. Locker Room talk
Parodying the famous "locker room talk" defense is low-hanging fruit. And if there's one thing you should know about me: when I see low-hanging fruit, I pick it. Also, some of the sharpest criticism in the book is when I directly quote the man.
In the wake of Charlottesville, I thought the best way to make a contrast would be to show easy it would be to handle the situation. And of course, since he loves to compare himself to Obama, I thought it only fair to give him a mic drop too.
6. Trump's unexplained hatred of Oklahoma
First of all, strong opening. Second, there's a ton of character traits that we already know and hate about Trump. But it made me laugh to have a recurring theme of him not liking Oklahoma without ever explaining why.
5. Starting World War 3
4. 1/x
Nobody on earth likes seeing a tweetstorm of undetermined length.
3. Trump takes Melania's advice to out a celebrity.
2. Locker Room talk ends poorly
1. Adding product placement to his tweets.
I love that Trump rhymes sad with the legally-mandated #ad. But my absolute favorite is attacking Dems for being soft on crime and turning it into product placement.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Chiefs 2018 vs Chiefs 2019
Chiefs 2018 numbers
Chiefs 2019 numbers
Both were good enough to host the AFC Championship. The offense was mostly slowed by injuries. Mahomes, Hill, Damien Williams all missed multiple games, and Mahomes was hobbled by an ankle injury even before the kneecap injury. The improved defense gives us a better chance in the playoffs.
In Defense of Bill O'Brien
This is kind of weird because the last eleventy posts have been from a Chiefs fan perspective and this one is from the perspective of seeing someone getting raked over the coals...and I'm not sure they deserve it.
First, the complaints surrounding Bill O'Brien coaching performance on Sunday:
1. Should have gone for it on 4th and 1 up 21-0
2. Shouldn't have gone for a fake punt up 24-7
3. These actions are inconsistent in aggression and therefore bad—ie, always go for it or never go for it
1. Should have gone for it on 4th and 1 up 21-0
The context surrounding decision number 1. Everything is going right for the Texans and more specifically everything is going wrong for the Chiefs. At this point, the Chiefs have dropped 7 balls in a row, including a punt. Also had a punt blocked. The Chiefs aren't dead but they are dormant. You don't want to give them any signs of life.
I think the decision to go for it is almost 50-50.
On the one hand, you know the Chiefs will start scoring at some point and you need all the points you can get. Your offense has been rolling pretty well. You have Deshaun Watson. Going up 28-0 would be great. But giving the defense a chance to make a 4th down stop would give them a spark.
Going from 21 to a 24 point margin essentially makes it a four-possession lead as three conversions in a row is unlikely. Taking the field goal adds points without any risk of losing momentum. If it was 4th and 10, you take the 24-0 lead and you're still feeling great. There's no shame in leading 24-0.
As a Chiefs fan, I was hoping they would go for it because I needed something to change. I needed a 4th down stop. And coaches would be better off if they did what opposing fans don't want. Either way you slice it, it's roughly a 50-50 call and you can't kill someone for what they do in that situation.
2. Shouldn't have gone for a fake punt up 24-7
The game is a lot different at this point. KC just got a touchdown in 2 plays. They crowd is into it. The Chiefs just forced a 3 and out. You could sense that the Chiefs players believed in themselves now. It's 4th and 4 on their own 31.
What happens if you punt here? The Chiefs score in less than 2 minutes. How do I know? That's how long their 8-play 90-yard touchdown drive took later in the quarter. If you can see that the reigning MVP is rolling the solution is not give him the ball farther back. The solution is keep the ball.
Again, they needed 4 yards. And they had a play where their guy had the ball in space and needed to make one man miss.
It's actually kind of brilliant. The Texans picked up 2 yards on the run, coming up 2 yards short. If that tackle isn't made and the Texans go down and make it 31-7 with 5 minutes to go...the story is a lot different.
When I saw it was a fake, my heart sank. I thought we were getting the ball and in that split-second it looked like he had the edge.
3. These actions are inconsistent in aggression and therefore bad—ie, always go for it or never go for it
The most obvious reason this is a bad take is that the game had changed. He took the low-risk play when the Texans had the momentum and the crowd was out of it. When the momentum shifted he took a high-risk play to try to stem the tide.
Also, if you're super consistent, you become predictable. By being unpredictable in aggression, you make it more likely for a fake to work.
- - -
The bottom line is that the Chiefs were at least 20 points better than the Texans at home at this point in the season. KC came out rusty and the Texans did a great job to capitalize to build a 24-0 lead and tried to do everything they could to swing the game back. Also, the kickoff return fumble at 24-14 was an even bigger swing and that wasn't a coaching mistake. I thought O'Brien made smart choices. The Chiefs are just better.
First, the complaints surrounding Bill O'Brien coaching performance on Sunday:
1. Should have gone for it on 4th and 1 up 21-0
2. Shouldn't have gone for a fake punt up 24-7
3. These actions are inconsistent in aggression and therefore bad—ie, always go for it or never go for it
1. Should have gone for it on 4th and 1 up 21-0
The context surrounding decision number 1. Everything is going right for the Texans and more specifically everything is going wrong for the Chiefs. At this point, the Chiefs have dropped 7 balls in a row, including a punt. Also had a punt blocked. The Chiefs aren't dead but they are dormant. You don't want to give them any signs of life.
I think the decision to go for it is almost 50-50.
On the one hand, you know the Chiefs will start scoring at some point and you need all the points you can get. Your offense has been rolling pretty well. You have Deshaun Watson. Going up 28-0 would be great. But giving the defense a chance to make a 4th down stop would give them a spark.
Going from 21 to a 24 point margin essentially makes it a four-possession lead as three conversions in a row is unlikely. Taking the field goal adds points without any risk of losing momentum. If it was 4th and 10, you take the 24-0 lead and you're still feeling great. There's no shame in leading 24-0.
As a Chiefs fan, I was hoping they would go for it because I needed something to change. I needed a 4th down stop. And coaches would be better off if they did what opposing fans don't want. Either way you slice it, it's roughly a 50-50 call and you can't kill someone for what they do in that situation.
2. Shouldn't have gone for a fake punt up 24-7
The game is a lot different at this point. KC just got a touchdown in 2 plays. They crowd is into it. The Chiefs just forced a 3 and out. You could sense that the Chiefs players believed in themselves now. It's 4th and 4 on their own 31.
What happens if you punt here? The Chiefs score in less than 2 minutes. How do I know? That's how long their 8-play 90-yard touchdown drive took later in the quarter. If you can see that the reigning MVP is rolling the solution is not give him the ball farther back. The solution is keep the ball.
Again, they needed 4 yards. And they had a play where their guy had the ball in space and needed to make one man miss.
It's actually kind of brilliant. The Texans picked up 2 yards on the run, coming up 2 yards short. If that tackle isn't made and the Texans go down and make it 31-7 with 5 minutes to go...the story is a lot different.
When I saw it was a fake, my heart sank. I thought we were getting the ball and in that split-second it looked like he had the edge.
3. These actions are inconsistent in aggression and therefore bad—ie, always go for it or never go for it
The most obvious reason this is a bad take is that the game had changed. He took the low-risk play when the Texans had the momentum and the crowd was out of it. When the momentum shifted he took a high-risk play to try to stem the tide.
Also, if you're super consistent, you become predictable. By being unpredictable in aggression, you make it more likely for a fake to work.
- - -
The bottom line is that the Chiefs were at least 20 points better than the Texans at home at this point in the season. KC came out rusty and the Texans did a great job to capitalize to build a 24-0 lead and tried to do everything they could to swing the game back. Also, the kickoff return fumble at 24-14 was an even bigger swing and that wasn't a coaching mistake. I thought O'Brien made smart choices. The Chiefs are just better.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Real Talk
Before the season, Titans coach Vrabel had this interview:
The Titans become a team of destiny because of that kind of dedication. But then, right before the Chiefs game, Vrabel has clarified that he's not serious about cutting off his penis.
Look for all the Titans' luck to vanish without this vow. Chiefs by 20.
Chiefs vs Playoff Teams
Here's a look at the Chiefs vs playoff teams. Chiefs were of course the 2-seed.
1-seed Ravens: Chiefs beat in Week 3
3-seed Patriots: Chiefs beat in Week 14
4-seed Texans: Chiefs lost in Week 6, Chiefs beat in Divisional Round
5-seed Bills: did not play
6-seed Titans: Chiefs lost in Week 10, ?????
1-seed 49ers: did not play
2-seed Packers: Chiefs lost in Week 8, ?????
3-seed Saints: did not play
4-seed Eagles: did not play
5-seed Seahawks: did not play
6-seed Vikings: Chiefs beat in Week 9
Chiefs entered the playoffs 3-3 against playoff teams. They avenged their regular season loss to the Texans. Now they face the Titans. With a chance to face to play the Packers.
1-seed Ravens: Chiefs beat in Week 3
3-seed Patriots: Chiefs beat in Week 14
4-seed Texans: Chiefs lost in Week 6, Chiefs beat in Divisional Round
5-seed Bills: did not play
6-seed Titans: Chiefs lost in Week 10, ?????
1-seed 49ers: did not play
2-seed Packers: Chiefs lost in Week 8, ?????
3-seed Saints: did not play
4-seed Eagles: did not play
5-seed Seahawks: did not play
6-seed Vikings: Chiefs beat in Week 9
Chiefs entered the playoffs 3-3 against playoff teams. They avenged their regular season loss to the Texans. Now they face the Titans. With a chance to face to play the Packers.
Ranking Super Bowl Matchups
4. Titans vs Packers
The biggest game in the country appealing to the markets of Nashville and Green Bay.
The two stars would be Rodgers and Henry but they don't face off.
No real history between them.
3. Titans vs 49ers
Henry vs the 49ers defense is an intriguing matchup
The network is happy to get San Francisco market
Garoppolo vs Tannehill is kind of a dud though
2. Chiefs vs 49ers
You know how the Chiefs didn't have a win from a starting QB for 20+ years. It's because they started 5 QBs that played for the 49ers. Montana, DeBerg, Grbac, Bono and Alex Smith. They could have all five there and have them take off their overcoats to reveal the jersey of the team they are rooting for.
The Chiefs were a Dee Ford offsides away from the Super Bowl last year—would be funny for both Chiefs and Dee Ford to make it this year.
Mahomes vs 49ers defense is a classic O vs D storyline
Mahomes + SF market is the best matchup for the network
1. Chiefs vs Packers
The NFL turned their 100th year into a big deal—NFL100—enough to bump the Super Bowl champs from opening night in favor of Bears-Packers. The ultimate Super Bowl matchup for the league would be a rematch of Super Bowl I Packers-Chiefs.
This is ultimately a QB-drive league and Mahomes vs Rodgers would be one of the best.
State Farm would have a heart attack if their two spokesmen were both in the game.
- - -
We never got Brees-Brady or Rodgers-Brady or Rodgers-Manning. Despite being the best QBs in a QB-driven league it's hard for the dream matchups to align. Here's the matchups we've had:
Brady-Goff
Brady-Foles
Brady-Ryan
Manning-Newton
Brady-Wilson
Manning-Wilson
Flacco-Kaepernick
Brady-Manning
Roethlisberger-Rodgers
Manning-Brees
Roethlisberger-Warner
Brady-Manning
Manning-Grossman
You get the idea. For every Manning-Brees there is a Flacco-Kaepernick.
Also kind of nuts that two brothers won Super Bowls in back to back years.
The point is, dream QB matchups are rarer than you think. Mahomes-Rodgers would be special.
The biggest game in the country appealing to the markets of Nashville and Green Bay.
The two stars would be Rodgers and Henry but they don't face off.
No real history between them.
3. Titans vs 49ers
Henry vs the 49ers defense is an intriguing matchup
The network is happy to get San Francisco market
Garoppolo vs Tannehill is kind of a dud though
2. Chiefs vs 49ers
You know how the Chiefs didn't have a win from a starting QB for 20+ years. It's because they started 5 QBs that played for the 49ers. Montana, DeBerg, Grbac, Bono and Alex Smith. They could have all five there and have them take off their overcoats to reveal the jersey of the team they are rooting for.
The Chiefs were a Dee Ford offsides away from the Super Bowl last year—would be funny for both Chiefs and Dee Ford to make it this year.
Mahomes vs 49ers defense is a classic O vs D storyline
Mahomes + SF market is the best matchup for the network
1. Chiefs vs Packers
The NFL turned their 100th year into a big deal—NFL100—enough to bump the Super Bowl champs from opening night in favor of Bears-Packers. The ultimate Super Bowl matchup for the league would be a rematch of Super Bowl I Packers-Chiefs.
This is ultimately a QB-drive league and Mahomes vs Rodgers would be one of the best.
State Farm would have a heart attack if their two spokesmen were both in the game.
- - -
We never got Brees-Brady or Rodgers-Brady or Rodgers-Manning. Despite being the best QBs in a QB-driven league it's hard for the dream matchups to align. Here's the matchups we've had:
Brady-Goff
Brady-Foles
Brady-Ryan
Manning-Newton
Brady-Wilson
Manning-Wilson
Flacco-Kaepernick
Brady-Manning
Roethlisberger-Rodgers
Manning-Brees
Roethlisberger-Warner
Brady-Manning
Manning-Grossman
You get the idea. For every Manning-Brees there is a Flacco-Kaepernick.
Also kind of nuts that two brothers won Super Bowls in back to back years.
The point is, dream QB matchups are rarer than you think. Mahomes-Rodgers would be special.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Titans at Chiefs
This was supposed to be a wild-card game. This feels like a wild-card game. The 6-seed at the 3-seed.
The reason we didn't see it in the wild-card round? Because Ryan Fitzpatrick and the tanking Dolphins went up to Foxborough and beat Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in Week 17.
- - -
These two teams played in November in Nashville. Chiefs were up 5 under two minutes and forced a turnover on downs.
Then the Chiefs couldn't get a first down, couldn't snap a field goal, couldn't stop the Titans, got back in field goal range and then got a field goal blocked. Titans were 4-5 at the time. If the Chiefs execute one of those plays, the Titans drop to 4-6.
A month ago, needed to beat the Texans to win the division and they couldn't. Henry ran 21 times for 84 yards. Tannehill threw for 279 yards, two tds, 1 int. They still felt like a pretty typical 8-6 team.
Now they're coming in as a one-man wrecking crew with a running back who remembered he's built like a semi truck. In their two playoff wins, Henry has ran for over 180 yards and Tannehill has thrown for under 100.
In both games the Titans were leading at halftime and able to control the game. We know the Chiefs can dig themselves out of a hole. Can the Titans do the same?
The Updated AFC Champ QB List
Here's an updated list:
QBs to appear in the AFC Championship Game since 2001 when Brady entered the league
Brady: 13
Manning: 5
Roethlisberger: 5
Flacco: 3
Mahomes: 2
Sanchez: 2
Tannehill: 1
Stewart: 1
Gannon: 1
McNair: 1
Plummer: 1
Rivers: 1
Luck: 1
Bortles: 1
So right away pretty cool that Mahomes already has a better resume than Rivers. Although Rivers was never MVP, so I guess Mahomes already had him beat. But this list is a little unwieldy and not that helpful when trying to project the future. So let's narrow our focus to QBs that have been born since 1990.
QBs to appear in the AFC Championship Game that were born since 1990
Mahomes: 2
Bortles: 1
Jackson: 0
Watson: 0
Others that are also on zero but don't even merit being included: Allen, Mayfield, Lock, Brissett, Minshew, Darnold, Carr.
Also, Blake Bortles is no longer a starting quarterback nor in the AFC, so you could remove him but it's kinda funny to leave him in. And he does satisfy all the requirements.
So even if next year is Jackson vs Watson, they're still chasing Mahomes.
QBs to appear in the AFC Championship Game since 2001 when Brady entered the league
Brady: 13
Manning: 5
Roethlisberger: 5
Flacco: 3
Mahomes: 2
Sanchez: 2
Tannehill: 1
Stewart: 1
Gannon: 1
McNair: 1
Plummer: 1
Rivers: 1
Luck: 1
Bortles: 1
So right away pretty cool that Mahomes already has a better resume than Rivers. Although Rivers was never MVP, so I guess Mahomes already had him beat. But this list is a little unwieldy and not that helpful when trying to project the future. So let's narrow our focus to QBs that have been born since 1990.
QBs to appear in the AFC Championship Game that were born since 1990
Mahomes: 2
Bortles: 1
Jackson: 0
Watson: 0
Others that are also on zero but don't even merit being included: Allen, Mayfield, Lock, Brissett, Minshew, Darnold, Carr.
Also, Blake Bortles is no longer a starting quarterback nor in the AFC, so you could remove him but it's kinda funny to leave him in. And he does satisfy all the requirements.
So even if next year is Jackson vs Watson, they're still chasing Mahomes.
Which was most accurate?
Obviously Ravens had a great regular season. But I thought people were going a bit overboard in November. To quote Bill Simmons who is paraphrasing Winston Wolf, let's not start sucking each other's popsicles yet.
Road to Super Bowl LIV: One Home Game Away
The winner would host the AFC Championship. The Chiefs came in as 10-point favorites at home. And the first quarter was the worst you could imagine. Offense, defense, special teams, just horrifically awful.
Give up an opening drive TD to a wide open Kenny Stills.
Drop the ball on 3rd down. Get the punt blocked for a TD.
Drop the ball on 3rd down. Get a stop on D and then muff the punt on your own 6. TD.
It's 21-0 in the first quarter. The crowd is silent. I mean the Chiefs can't catch a single pass. They can't catch a punt. They can't even punt. It's a disaster in every phase.
Mark and I are texting. At 21-0, I remind him that last year in the AFC Championship Game, Chiefs were down 14-0 at the half and got it to overtime. At that point, I'm hoping to cut it to a 14 point deficit by halftime. I texted Mark, "Need this quarter to end so we can start going the good way."
In early 2nd quarter, Texans have a 3rd and 9. Sorenson makes the tackle a foot short of the first down. Texans line up to go for it but aren't ready and call timeout. This was the turning point of the game. The Chiefs needed some momentum. I was hoping Texans would go for it and get stopped and they would be the spark the Chiefs needed. Mark (also rooting for the Chiefs) wanted them to kick because he didn't think Chiefs could get the stop. After the timeout, O'Brien decides to kick on 4th and 1 and make it 24-0.
Mecole Hardman catches the ensuing kickoff at the goal line. He's a rookie. He's also in the Pro Bowl as a returner.
He takes it 58 yards and everything changes. The crowd is into it.
Next play: Mahomes to Kelce is the first good offensive play.
Next play: Mahomes to Williams for the score. It took less than a minute once Hardman touched the ball.
Chiefs force a 3 and out. And you can feel that the momentum has shifted.
On 4th and 4 from the Texans 31, they call a fake punt. As soon as it's snapped, my heart sinks. They only needed 4. It looks like the runner has the edge easily. But Dirty Dan Sorensen makes the tackle of his life.
With a short field, Mahomes goes to Kelce twice in a row and finds the sweet nectar of the end zone.
At 24-14 I said now it's a normal game again. We don't have to panic, just play our game, try to get stops.
Ensuing kickoff...Sorensen pops the ball out of the returners' hands. The ball did something that you never see happen. It pops up. And floats directly into the hands of Darwin Thompson. Like out of a movie.
On 3rd and goal, Mahomes rolled out and found Kelce again.
In less than 5 minutes, the Chiefs scored 3 touchdowns and turned a blowout into anybody's game.
Chiefs D forces a punt and KC takes over on their own 10. Most of the time in the NFL, that's a recipe for a punt. But most of the league doesn't have Patrick Mahomes.
90-yard drive before the half ends with Mahomes dragging his toe across the line of scrimmage for a legal pass.
21 points was the largest deficit Mahomes had faced in his career. He erased it one quarter.
Halftime: 28-24 Chiefs. The most first half points in playoff history.
Oh yeah, the Chiefs would open the 2nd half with an 85-yard TD drive.
On 3rd and 5, Frank Clark was down on the ground after missing Watson, but then got up and still sacked him.
Chiefs come back and score another TD. That's 41 in a row.
The Texans finally score. So the Chiefs score again to make it 48-31. That's seven straight touchdowns. Yeah, that's never happened in the playoffs.
So what happens when Mahomes faces a huge deficit? He reels off more TD drives than anyone in playoff history. This is something I've noted before. Like at the end of the Pats game last year, the Titans game this year, when he's in a hole and desperately needs to manufacture something...he delivers. We just don't noticed how incredibly clutch he is because they've often built a huge lead early.
The Chiefs close the game out by stopping them on 4th down and adding a field goal to hang a 50-burger on them.
How rare is a 50-burger in the playoffs? Since the merger, there have been 8.
All winners by the way. So that's a surefire way to win a playoff game. Just score 50.
Where does this rank on playoff comebacks?
1. Bills 41, Oilers 38, OT, in AFC Wild Card (Jan. 3, 1993)
Biggest deficit: 32 points. Houston led 35-3 with 8:53 remaining in the third quarter.
2. Colts 45, Chiefs 44 in AFC Wild Card (Jan. 4, 2014)
Biggest deficit: 28 points. Kansas City led 38-10 with 11:48 remaining in the third quarter.
3. Patriots 34, Falcons 28, OT, in Super Bowl 51 (Feb. 5, 2017)
Biggest deficit: 25 points. Atlanta led 28-3 with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter.
t-4. 49ers 39, Giants 38 in NFC Wild Card Round (Jan. 5, 2003)
Biggest deficit: 24 points. New York led 38-14 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter.
t-4. Chiefs 51, Texans 31 in AFC Divisional Round (Jan. 12, 2020)
Biggest deficit: 24 points. Houston led 24-0 with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Now we're on the list of top 5 playoff comebacks in a good way. Just one point behind 28-3.
Oh yeah, it was also the best comeback in Chiefs franchise history. Previous record was 21 points set by the 2016 Chiefs vs the Chargers on opening day.
The other cool record is only team to ever win by 20 in the playoffs after trailing by 20. Turned a blowout into a blowout for them.
When it's phrased like this, it really sinks in how improbable that game was. To trail by 24 in the first half and have the lead at halftime you have to be horrendously bad for a solid stretch and then flip it completely to be even better than the other team was just beating you. There's a reason this has never happened. It's just that crazy.
In the first half, I had a flashback to the feeling I had on March 26, 2005. All of that season I had been expecting Illinois to go to the Final Four. And then Illinois was losing by 15 late in the second half and I had to come to terms with the fact that Illinois was not going to the Final Four.
When the Chiefs were down 21-0 and Brittany is asking me what is happening, I had no answers. I thought this team could go to the Super Bowl and they're getting their doors blown off, just like the Ravens had the night before. I felt dumb for making a big deal of taking a picture of my kids in our Chiefs gear. I felt dumb for thinking this team was special.
My mental flashback wasn't related to the comeback. It was about processing disappointment.
And then all of a sudden, I was right back there on Bash Court Apartment 3 for a different reason. Watching the best comeback in my team's history. For both games, Mark and I were rooting for the same team, watching each play together. Just this time he was on the other side of the world.
- - -
On Sunday, January 19th, the 50th AFC Championship Game will be played.
In the 48 seasons without Patrick Mahomes: Chiefs made the game 1 out of 48 times.
In the 2 seasons with Patrick Mahomes: Chiefs are 2 for 2.
(Also, the one without him was on the road. Both with him are home games. Just neat.)
He becomes first player under 25 to throw 5 TDs in the playoffs.
- - -
Fun Frank Clark Facts: He set the Chiefs playoff record for three sacks. And makes it to the Conference Championship round, something he never did with the Seahawks. Seeing them get eliminated last night, he probably felt pretty good about signing with KC.
- - -
The Chiefs are one game away from the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are one home game away from the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are one home game vs the 6-seed away from the Super Bowl.
Oh my God.
Breathe.
- - -
And now we're on to the AFC Championship Game.
Win and you advance to a Super Bowl. A chance for Reid to secure his legacy. A chance for Mahomes to make the ultimate mark on his resume.
Lose and people start to talk. They'll bring up Reid's string of losses in the NFC Championship Game as Eagles coach. That Reid and Mahomes can't win the big one, ignoring how difficult it is to reach the Championship Game in the first place.
No pressure.
- - -
The Chiefs went from a team that couldn't catch a pass, catch a punt, or even punt the ball to a team that rewrote the history books.
Hardman with the return.
Sorensen with the fake punt tackle and forced fumble.
Travis Kelce couldn't be stopped.
Frank Clark got pressure by himself.
Mathieu making plays in the secondary.
Damien Williams scored three times.
And Patrick Mahomes played perfectly from start to finish. Didn't force a pass when trailing big. Made plays with his feet when they took away the receivers. Played lights out.
Last year when previewing the Colts playoff game, my confidence was founded in the fact that we have Patrick Mahomes and you don't. And that is even truer today.
Give up an opening drive TD to a wide open Kenny Stills.
Drop the ball on 3rd down. Get the punt blocked for a TD.
Drop the ball on 3rd down. Get a stop on D and then muff the punt on your own 6. TD.
It's 21-0 in the first quarter. The crowd is silent. I mean the Chiefs can't catch a single pass. They can't catch a punt. They can't even punt. It's a disaster in every phase.
Mark and I are texting. At 21-0, I remind him that last year in the AFC Championship Game, Chiefs were down 14-0 at the half and got it to overtime. At that point, I'm hoping to cut it to a 14 point deficit by halftime. I texted Mark, "Need this quarter to end so we can start going the good way."
In early 2nd quarter, Texans have a 3rd and 9. Sorenson makes the tackle a foot short of the first down. Texans line up to go for it but aren't ready and call timeout. This was the turning point of the game. The Chiefs needed some momentum. I was hoping Texans would go for it and get stopped and they would be the spark the Chiefs needed. Mark (also rooting for the Chiefs) wanted them to kick because he didn't think Chiefs could get the stop. After the timeout, O'Brien decides to kick on 4th and 1 and make it 24-0.
Mecole Hardman catches the ensuing kickoff at the goal line. He's a rookie. He's also in the Pro Bowl as a returner.
He takes it 58 yards and everything changes. The crowd is into it.
Next play: Mahomes to Kelce is the first good offensive play.
Next play: Mahomes to Williams for the score. It took less than a minute once Hardman touched the ball.
Chiefs force a 3 and out. And you can feel that the momentum has shifted.
On 4th and 4 from the Texans 31, they call a fake punt. As soon as it's snapped, my heart sinks. They only needed 4. It looks like the runner has the edge easily. But Dirty Dan Sorensen makes the tackle of his life.
With a short field, Mahomes goes to Kelce twice in a row and finds the sweet nectar of the end zone.
At 24-14 I said now it's a normal game again. We don't have to panic, just play our game, try to get stops.
Ensuing kickoff...Sorensen pops the ball out of the returners' hands. The ball did something that you never see happen. It pops up. And floats directly into the hands of Darwin Thompson. Like out of a movie.
On 3rd and goal, Mahomes rolled out and found Kelce again.
In less than 5 minutes, the Chiefs scored 3 touchdowns and turned a blowout into anybody's game.
Chiefs D forces a punt and KC takes over on their own 10. Most of the time in the NFL, that's a recipe for a punt. But most of the league doesn't have Patrick Mahomes.
90-yard drive before the half ends with Mahomes dragging his toe across the line of scrimmage for a legal pass.
21 points was the largest deficit Mahomes had faced in his career. He erased it one quarter.
Halftime: 28-24 Chiefs. The most first half points in playoff history.
Oh yeah, the Chiefs would open the 2nd half with an 85-yard TD drive.
On 3rd and 5, Frank Clark was down on the ground after missing Watson, but then got up and still sacked him.
Chiefs come back and score another TD. That's 41 in a row.
The Texans finally score. So the Chiefs score again to make it 48-31. That's seven straight touchdowns. Yeah, that's never happened in the playoffs.
So what happens when Mahomes faces a huge deficit? He reels off more TD drives than anyone in playoff history. This is something I've noted before. Like at the end of the Pats game last year, the Titans game this year, when he's in a hole and desperately needs to manufacture something...he delivers. We just don't noticed how incredibly clutch he is because they've often built a huge lead early.
The Chiefs close the game out by stopping them on 4th down and adding a field goal to hang a 50-burger on them.
How rare is a 50-burger in the playoffs? Since the merger, there have been 8.
All winners by the way. So that's a surefire way to win a playoff game. Just score 50.
Where does this rank on playoff comebacks?
1. Bills 41, Oilers 38, OT, in AFC Wild Card (Jan. 3, 1993)
Biggest deficit: 32 points. Houston led 35-3 with 8:53 remaining in the third quarter.
2. Colts 45, Chiefs 44 in AFC Wild Card (Jan. 4, 2014)
Biggest deficit: 28 points. Kansas City led 38-10 with 11:48 remaining in the third quarter.
3. Patriots 34, Falcons 28, OT, in Super Bowl 51 (Feb. 5, 2017)
Biggest deficit: 25 points. Atlanta led 28-3 with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter.
t-4. 49ers 39, Giants 38 in NFC Wild Card Round (Jan. 5, 2003)
Biggest deficit: 24 points. New York led 38-14 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter.
t-4. Chiefs 51, Texans 31 in AFC Divisional Round (Jan. 12, 2020)
Biggest deficit: 24 points. Houston led 24-0 with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Now we're on the list of top 5 playoff comebacks in a good way. Just one point behind 28-3.
Oh yeah, it was also the best comeback in Chiefs franchise history. Previous record was 21 points set by the 2016 Chiefs vs the Chargers on opening day.
The other cool record is only team to ever win by 20 in the playoffs after trailing by 20. Turned a blowout into a blowout for them.
In the first half, I had a flashback to the feeling I had on March 26, 2005. All of that season I had been expecting Illinois to go to the Final Four. And then Illinois was losing by 15 late in the second half and I had to come to terms with the fact that Illinois was not going to the Final Four.
When the Chiefs were down 21-0 and Brittany is asking me what is happening, I had no answers. I thought this team could go to the Super Bowl and they're getting their doors blown off, just like the Ravens had the night before. I felt dumb for making a big deal of taking a picture of my kids in our Chiefs gear. I felt dumb for thinking this team was special.
My mental flashback wasn't related to the comeback. It was about processing disappointment.
And then all of a sudden, I was right back there on Bash Court Apartment 3 for a different reason. Watching the best comeback in my team's history. For both games, Mark and I were rooting for the same team, watching each play together. Just this time he was on the other side of the world.
- - -
On Sunday, January 19th, the 50th AFC Championship Game will be played.
In the 48 seasons without Patrick Mahomes: Chiefs made the game 1 out of 48 times.
In the 2 seasons with Patrick Mahomes: Chiefs are 2 for 2.
(Also, the one without him was on the road. Both with him are home games. Just neat.)
He becomes first player under 25 to throw 5 TDs in the playoffs.
- - -
Fun Frank Clark Facts: He set the Chiefs playoff record for three sacks. And makes it to the Conference Championship round, something he never did with the Seahawks. Seeing them get eliminated last night, he probably felt pretty good about signing with KC.
- - -
The Chiefs are one game away from the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are one home game away from the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are one home game vs the 6-seed away from the Super Bowl.
Oh my God.
Breathe.
- - -
And now we're on to the AFC Championship Game.
Win and you advance to a Super Bowl. A chance for Reid to secure his legacy. A chance for Mahomes to make the ultimate mark on his resume.
Lose and people start to talk. They'll bring up Reid's string of losses in the NFC Championship Game as Eagles coach. That Reid and Mahomes can't win the big one, ignoring how difficult it is to reach the Championship Game in the first place.
No pressure.
- - -
The Chiefs went from a team that couldn't catch a pass, catch a punt, or even punt the ball to a team that rewrote the history books.
Hardman with the return.
Sorensen with the fake punt tackle and forced fumble.
Travis Kelce couldn't be stopped.
Frank Clark got pressure by himself.
Mathieu making plays in the secondary.
Damien Williams scored three times.
And Patrick Mahomes played perfectly from start to finish. Didn't force a pass when trailing big. Made plays with his feet when they took away the receivers. Played lights out.
Last year when previewing the Colts playoff game, my confidence was founded in the fact that we have Patrick Mahomes and you don't. And that is even truer today.
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