Super Bowl LIV Thoughts and Reaction

I have never done this before, but I might make this an annual thing, where I go over things that happened in the Super Bowl.  I will go over how it affects how I view each of the two teams, what I thought about the officiating, and how it impacts everyone's legacies.

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for the first time in fifty years.  Despite the Seahawks playing in the same division as them until 2001, I have always liked the Chiefs.  They've almost always been a fun team to watch (except for the Brodie Croyle/Tyler Thigpen years).  I think the Chiefs are now my second favorite team, after the Seahawks.  The Chiefs haven't beaten the Seahawks (at least not recently), as the Hawks beat them in Seattle in 2018.  They are about as fun to watch as they've ever been, with a superstar quarterback in Patrick Mahomes.  They've also got passionate fans with a great stadium atmosphere.

I thought the game was fairly entertaining; it was definitely more entertaining than last year's game.  The officiating was good, although a few calls stand out that I'd like to go over:

- The offensive pass interference call on George Kittle: Watching Sportscenter after the game, Scott Van Pelt said it's technically a correct call according to the rulebook, but that he didn't like it.  The only reason I didn't really like the call was because I've seen that sort of small push-off with one arm not called most of the time.  I also thought Kittle would have caught the ball without that push-off.  But any push-off by a receiver that gives you an advantage is by rule, offensive pass interference.  This was just a call that was strictly enforced, and 49ers fans can only be upset at the fact that that referee noticed it.

- Damien Williams touchdown reception: Was it a touchdown?  It was mighty close.  What I find most hard to believe is that on the biggest football game of the year, they can't have a camera that goes right down the goal line.  They had one that was close, but it was still at a slight angle.  Why can't we get one where the goal line and the sideline make a right angle?  Who knows.  Honestly, I think his foot stepped out a very split second before the ball broke the plane of the goal line, but they couldn't overturn it without clear evidence.  On first watch of the play at live speed, I didn't think he was in.  The replay, however, made me think it was very close.

- The 49ers delay of game not called: I hate that teams can technically get away with a delay of game if they time it right.  For a delay of game, the umpire needs to see the clock at 0, then he has to see the ball.  If the ball is starting to get snapped, they let it go.  On a replay, they showed the umpire starting to run up to signal a delay of game, but then the ball got snapped, so they let it go.  It should only take a split second for the umpire to notice the ball hasn't been snapped at 0, and then immediately blow his whistle.  However, to the 49ers fans that are upset that they didn't call delay of game because the play resulted in a turnover on downs, what if a first down happened on that play?  You would've been glad you got away with it.  I don't think it was poorly handled by the officials, but I do think the NFL needs to tighten up on when they signal for delay of game.

- Pass interference on 49ers defender covering Travis Kelce: On one of the Chiefs touchdown drives in the 4th quarter, a 49ers defender (sorry, didn't get the name) was called for defensive pass interference while covering Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.  This was the correct call.  I only bring this up because I heard or read somewhere that 49ers fans were salty about that call.  It's textbook.  The defender did not turn to play the ball, and inhibited Kelce from being able to make a play on the ball while making minor contact.  Kelce wasn't trying to come back to the ball, but anytime contact is made on a play like that, pass interference is going to be called.

- The Chiefs being offsides on 49ers 3rd down attempt: It was Tanoh Kpassagnon who was close to being offsides on this play.  I will say he definitely started moving before anyone else.  Watching it in real time, it's not overtly clear he was offsides unless you watch him specifically.  I didn't see it when I watched it live, and I always watch the lines at the start of plays.  In watching multiple replays, yes, it does appear he was offsides, if barely.  So should this have been called?  Probably, but I've seen this type of offsides call missed many times before.  Usually, the offsides that gets called on defensive lineman is when they jump early and go back, trying to get back before the ball is snapped.  By the way, Kpassagnon didn't seem to gain any unfair advantage from the play, as he was pancaked on the play and was not one of the rushers chasing after Garoppolo.  And, even if it was called, the down becomes 3rd and 9, which is still a tough conversion to make.

The problem with these borderline and close calls is that they all went the Chiefs way.  There was a forceable blow to each quarterback's helmet, both went uncalled, so it didn't favor either team.  But when so many calls go one team's way, it's understandable for people to think the officials are favoring one team.  They cannot go into a play thinking "Well, we just favored the Chiefs on the last call, the next close call we should favor the 49ers".  That is not how they are supposed to officiate.  They officiate by trying to make the correct call each time.  No one call had a significant impact on the outcome of the game, and the 49ers really only have themselves to blame.

Officiating aside, what does this mean for each of the teams?  Well for the Chiefs, it means only good things.  The Chiefs could be the AFC's next dynasty.  Andy Reid cemented his legacy as one of the greatest coaches of his era and will be in the Hall of Fame some day.  Patrick Mahomes has gotten off to one of the best starts to a career ever by a quarterback, and even if he doesn't win another Super Bowl, he's probably bound for the Hall of Fame, so long as he plays close to another ten plus years.  As for the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan will be scrutinized for sure.  He was the offensive coordinator for the Falcons when they blew a 28-3 lead.  He seemingly can't protect a lead on the biggest stage.  But he and his team are very young and have many opportunities in front of them.  They cannot let this heartbreaking loss affect them going into next season.

I think both the Chiefs and 49ers will be competitive next season as well, although it's hard to expect both of them to return to the Super Bowl.  Last year at this time, I would've bet money the Rams would return to the playoffs, yet they did not.  Anything can happen in the crazy league that is the NFL, and 2020 should be just as entertaining as the previous season.  Can't wait!

My Top 5 Super Bowls

I love the game of football, so I obviously watch the Super Bowl every year.  On some occasions due to working a retail job, I've had to miss the start of a game, but I have seen the majority of every Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXXII, when the Denver Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers.  With Super Bowl LIV just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to list my Top 5 Favorite Super Bowls ever.  These are the most memorable Super Bowls to me, and the ones I had the most fun watching.

Honorable Mention: Super Bowl XLIX - Patriots vs. Seahawks
I have to include this as an honorable mention, because I really enjoyed the first 98% of this game.  I just didn't like the ending.  But knowing we were about to (probably) get our second straight Super Bowl win, and to beat one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history was a sweet feeling--at the time.

5. Super Bowl XLVII: Ravens vs. 49ers
A blackout, the longest play in Super Bowl history, and an almost epic-comeback.  What more could you ask for?  Oh, how about watching your least favorite NFL team lose on the biggest stage possible?  To see the 49ers comeback effort fall short was just music to my ears.  They had been our division rivals for a decade now, so I had built up enough animosity towards them.

4. Super Bowl XXXVII - Buccaneers vs. Raiders
A team I really enjoyed watching in the early 2000's was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  They had one of the greatest defenses of all time with Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, and Ronde Barber.  And it was Dexter Jackson who won Super Bowl MVP, go figure.  It wasn't a close contest, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  I remember I had a small wager with my grandpa on the game--he thought the Raiders would win.  It wasn't for much (a dollar) but it was more for the pride in knowing I picked the better team.

3. Super Bowl LI - Patriots vs. Falcons
Now, I dislike the Patriots, but I love a good comeback.  I also was thinking in the couple years before this game, that we were very due for a Super Bowl that goes to overtime.  And this was the first Super Bowl in history to go to overtime.  And of course, one of the greatest comebacks in sports history happened in this game, so I had to include it.

2. Super Bowl LII - Patriots vs. Eagles
This Super Bowl set all kinds of records for offensive production including most total yards between the two teams.  The Philly Special play is one of the best Super Bowl plays of all time, seeing as it came on 4th and goal.  And to top it off, Brady got strip sacked, proving he was mortal.  The Eagles had gotten revenge for Super Bowl XXXIX.

1. Super Bowl XLVIII - Seahawks vs. Broncos
Was there any question?  The Seahawks got the quickest score in Super Bowl history (although it wasn't anything they did).  This game is quintessential Legion of Boom at their peak.  But it was Malcolm Smith of all people, who had the key defensive play on a pick six.  It was forced by Cliff Avril hitting Manning as he threw, so Smith was just in the right place at the right time.  The Hawks started the 2nd half with a kickoff return touchdown from Percy Harvin and never looked back.  The Hawks first (and so far only) Super Bowl win may forever be my favorite Super Bowl ever.

Super Bowl LIV is just 9 days away, and I think there's a decent chance it could make this list.  The Chiefs enter as 1.5 point favorites, a very close line for a Super Bowl, and it's hard to get closer than that.  As a Seahawks fan, I will of course be rooting for the Chiefs, but also because I would fully support the Kansas City Chiefs as the new AFC dynasty.

Super Bowl LIV was definitely enjoyable and close (until the end).  If it were to make the list, it would be at #5, and it would really only supplant Super Bowl XLVII because it was more recent.  

The Seattle Mariners are Cursed

The Seattle Mariners are cursed.  They find ways to lose games, and they find ways to miss the playoffs.  They did something to anger the baseball gods, although I do not know what that would have been.  But I have believed for a long time now that the Mariners are cursed.  They have the worst luck of any team I have seen both in games and season by season.  The Red Sox used to have a curse, the "Curse of the Bambino".  The Cubs used to have a curse, the "Curse of the Billy Goat".  I believe the Mariners were inflicted with a similar curse.

The year would've been 2001.  The baseball gods are not happy with the Seattle Mariners.  They helped assemble us some of the best talent of their generation.  Four sure fire Hall of Famers played on the Mariners in the late 90's.  And we let three of them go.  We were supposed to win a World Series with these players, but couldn't even get there.  Then we let them go.  Randy was traded.  Griffey was traded.  We let Alex test free agency and he signed with the rival Rangers.  Edgar stayed, but was older than all of them and closest to the end of his career.  The baseball gods did not like this.  We then spurned them by signing Bret Boone and Ichiro.  We won 116 games, which I'm sure made the gods angry.  How was this team, without A-Rod, Griffey, and Randy, winning 116 games?  They promptly inflicted us with fatigue and prevented us from reaching the World Series.  Not only that, but they inflicted the Mariners with bad luck in everything they do: Trades, free agency, and in games. 

When you ask a casual baseball fan about the Seattle Mariners, they might say that the Mariners don't make the playoffs much.  It's not for lack of trying.  And many teams have been very close.  Five times since 2002 the Mariners have been the best team in the American League NOT to make it to the playoffs.  That's more times than they've made the playoffs in THEIR ENTIRE HISTORY.  That's right: The Mariners have more often been a few games away from making the playoffs in the past 17 years than they have made the playoffs in all of their existence.  What kind of team has this kind of luck?  A cursed team.

Speaking of playoffs, the Mariners have made the playoffs in just four of their 43 seasons.  When there were four playoff teams, any team had a 27% chance of making the playoffs.  Now that there are five playoff teams with the addition of another wild card, the playoff chances rise to 33%.  But the Mariners have made it for just 9% of their existence.  And most notably and recently, the Mariners have the longest playoff drought in all of North American professional sports at 18 years.  That is like spinning an item, and for 18 consecutive tries never getting it to face North.  Unreal.

It's amazing to me how often Mariner's opponents get a lucky break and how often the Mariners get a bad one.  Watch pretty much any one of their games.  A ball that lands foul for the Mariners is a fair ball for their opponents.  It also seems on replay reviews that calls go against the Mariners for more often than their opponents.  I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard Mariners play-by-play man Dave Sims say, "Tough break for the Mariners." 

What shall we name this curse?  The easiest answer would be to find a player who left after 2001.  The most notable I see is Jay Buhner.  We could call it the "Curse of the Bone".  It's kind of got an eerie and dark vibe to it.  Granted, Jay Buhner only played 19 games in 2001, but he was still a clubhouse presence and leader on that team.  My other choice would be the "Curse of the Big Three."  The big three being Randy, Griffey, and A-Rod.  They were the big three that left, and aside from 2001 we haven't made the playoffs without them... at all.  Not before them, not after.  But I'll stick with the "Curse of the Bone". 

Jerry Dipoto has decided to have this team go through a rebuild process.  He acquired quite a few prospects and he'll probably acquire even more as the trade deadline draws near.  The expected run at the playoffs will happen in 2022.  All I'm going to say is this: If a lot of these prospects fail (as so many of ours have in recent years), and we fail to make the playoffs during that run, there will be no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this team is full on cursed.  And there shouldn't be any doubt in your mind, either.