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!
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