5 issues we discovered from the Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl loss to the Eagles

Even for those who thought the Philadelphia Eagles may win Tremendous Bowl LIX over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, you in all probability didn’t anticipate Sunday night time’s 40-22 beatdown, ending the group’s probability for a record-setting third consecutive Tremendous Bowl win.

Kansas Metropolis was utterly dominated from the opening whistle. The Chiefs didn’t simply lack the solutions to the questions the Eagles offered. In lots of instances, it appeared that they didn’t even know what sort of questions could be on the check.

Listed here are 5 issues we discovered as Kansas Metropolis got here up quick.

1. Champions are outlined by pivotal moments

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I made this identical level after the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Payments within the AFC Championship recreation.

It’s nonetheless true. Besides this time, we lastly discovered the second that was too huge for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his teammates.

Midway by the second quarter, the sport was nonetheless in attain. The Chiefs have been down 10-0, beginning a drive on the 30-yard line. They merely wanted to get on the board. However the offensive line gave up back-to-back sacks earlier than Mahomes threw an ill-advised pick-6 to the Eagles’ standout rookie defensive again Cooper DeJean.

The sport was filled with moments like that one.

Two drives later, Mahomes threw one other interception on the primary play of a drive deep in his territory. Early within the second half, the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs — and instantly gave up a back-breaking deep landing move to DeVonta Smith.

Championships are outlined by how a group responds in important moments. On this recreation, the Chiefs repeatedly got here up quick.

2. It’s onerous to win the Tremendous Bowl and not using a left deal with

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It’s not Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney’s fault that he struggled on this recreation. He ought to by no means have been pressed into service because the beginning left deal with within the Tremendous Bowl.

Nor do I blame head coach Andy Reid for selecting to go along with Thuney on this recreation — however I do blame Reid and the entrance workplace for placing the group into the place the place he needed to do it. For the second time in 5 seasons, a failure on the offensive line value the Chiefs a shot at profitable the championship.

There is no such thing as a doubt: Joe Thuney is a warrior. Sadly, Kansas Metropolis didn’t have any alternative however to roll with him.

However that’s solely as a result of the Chiefs whiffed on the second-round choice of left deal with Kingsley Suamataia — and what’s worse, they misjudged whether or not could be prepared to start the season because the beginning at left deal with.

And simply to make it worse: proper deal with Jawaan Taylor has proved to be one of many worst signings in Veach’s profession.

3. Parick Mahomes is human

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Mahomes picked an inopportune time to have the worst recreation of his profession.

Whereas the offensive line did him no favors, he was off proper from the start. He missed throws on the run that he usually makes. Then he began urgent, making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. He misplaced eye self-discipline, staring down his receivers. He obtained comfortable toes within the pocket, scrambling into sacks.

Sure… he was working for his life for a lot of the recreation. However that doesn’t excuse his decision-making. All night, he regarded out of types and uncomfortable.

4. The protection did its job

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It’s not typically that an opposing group scores 40 factors, and you’ll say it wasn’t the protection’s fault. But it surely wasn’t.

I assumed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo got here out with recreation plan to carry the Eagles’ all-world working again Saquan Barkley to only 57 yards dashing on 25 makes an attempt. Contemplating the period of time it spent on the sphere (particularly within the first half), the protection held up fairly effectively. It actually performed its coronary heart out.

There are some issues Kansas Metropolis might want to deal with within the offseason, together with getting quicker within the secondary and enhancing the move rush. However on an evening the place nothing went the Chiefs’ manner, there was rather a lot the protection did proper.

5. The revenge tour begins now

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Sunday night time’s recreation was onerous to swallow. However for the Chiefs, it was nonetheless a superb season — regardless that it was a wild experience on each step of the best way.

In some ways, this defeat may mark the tip of a chapter within the Chiefs’ historical past. Within the coming weeks, they’ll have a number of roster selections to make as they put together free of charge company and the draft.

There’s a good probability the 2025 group will look a lot totally different than it does now, however so long as they’ve Reid and Mahomes, they are going to be within the combine.

There’s a motive no group has three-peated in the course of the Tremendous Bowl period: the league is about as much as stop it. Nonetheless, the Chiefs got here nearer to a three-peat than every other group has ever completed—and even after this horrible loss, they’re nonetheless the AFC’s group to beat.