National Football League

[Nomad]

but as long as they have Reid and Mahomes, KC has a serious chance to go deep into any playoff year.

Precisely...and as long as Mahomes stays healthy (he's been very lucky not to be hit by a major injury).

It's still hard to believe that this team was only 11-6 this year (remember when they lost to Denver & Philly in a 3 week span, the talking headswere were saying this would be a down year for KC. LOL!). It just goes to show how long the season is & you don't need to win an overwhelming number of games in the regular season to succeed in postseason (go ask John Harbaugh how his 13 win season & top seed in the playoffs went. Lol). Just win enough games to win your division & peak for the playoffs is probably more the recipe for success in this marathon season of the NFL.

Moving forward, I'd say an "off-year" for KC would be losing in the championship game. Otherwise, I think they can contend for a few more SBs.

 

[SHAD0W93]

That's true...but you can reward MVP to a defensive player (e.g. Von Miller in SB 50). So, is there anyone on KC's D that you would reward MVP to?

It was Mahomes' 2nd half performance that changed the game. His overall stats were 333 yds passing, 2 TDs, 66 yds rushing on 9 scrambles (leading rusher) - that's almost 400 yds of total O! And this is in the SB against a top-10 defense. His playmaking skills were outstanding when chips were down. His leadership ability in big games was exceptional. Players will play extra-hard for a QB of his magnitude.

This was a tale of 2 halves. Football is a game of adjustments - particularly at halftime. The first half means almost nothing in the NFL these days (Tbh, I didn't even watch the first half of the game instead going to the gym for my Sunday workout where I practically had the whole joint to myself. Lol).

Question: Do you think KC could have achieved this kind of success if they had kept Alex Smith instead of acquiring Mahomes? And it's GM Brett Veach that gets all the credit for discovering Mahomes, Veach, who was co-director of player personnel & KC's top scout of that time period, was sold on Mahomes clear back in his freshman year at TT calling him the "best quarterback he's ever seen." In fact, Reid said that Veach kept pestering him to do whatever it would take to draft Mahomes when he became draft eligible.

View: https://youtu.be/kdJN7hFyUXA?si=ZOsXFOpAjcuH7WqH

Chris Jones if I had to pick due to him stopping multiple first downs and potential touchdowns, but it was the defense and special teams as a whole. Not just a specific person like in Von Miller’s case but Jones was the best of the unit. Like how Edelman won in 2018 though the defense as a whole was the MVP.

Mahomes and the offense didn’t start playing well until the punt fumble recovery. They went interception, three and out, and a drive for a field goal similar to the first half. After the fumbled punt the Chiefs offense finally came alive, before that they were anemic. And as great as he played after that touchdown the Chiefs would have still lost if it had not occurred by 7 or 8 points. Both teams offenses and defenses were on par with the other, it was the Chiefs special teams that ended up being superior over Niners. As again, you can’t give the MVP to the whole unit the next person is the quarterback who finally looked himself the last two drives.

Maybe they win one or with another quarterback but that wasn’t the question or what was stated. Nor do I think Chiefs would have had this success with any other quarterback, just like Brady and the Patriots. But just like Brady if he didn’t have the time to develop he would have flopped substantially on another team, especially when he said it took him multiple seasons to learn defenses.

 

[movingtarget]

Steelers releasing QB Mitchell Trubisky after two seasons

www.nfl.com

 

[movingtarget]

Niners LB Dre Greenlaw suffered torn Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII loss

www.nfl.com

 

[Nomad]

Niners LB Dre Greenlaw suffered torn Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII loss

www.nfl.com

The dynamics of that injury was weird - that would be more like something that would happen to someone my age & not a 26 yr old stud athlete. Lol

 

[movingtarget]

The dynamics of that injury was weird - that would be more like something that would happen to someone my age & not a 26 yr old stud athlete. Lol

Think he had an achilles issue in the past.............probably damaged already and the sideline misstep was all it took. All that jumping up and down was weird as he would have already been warmed up but he he seemed to slip or stumble.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

While it's possible Greenlaw had lower leg issues before this game even started (or early in the game) his past history has been a few calf strains, not achilles. Are the two intertwined? I'm no doctor, but... The oddest thing to me is that he wasn't even moving that fast, cutting, or anything like that, it was mid-game, so he couldn't have been that cold, and it was on grass, and what seems to be a very well kept field. Very odd. This current injury is a Pedal Achilles Tear Grade 3. Basically a full rupture.

It certainly didn't help SF one bit once he went out of the game. Don't forget, SF was already missing safety Hufanga since about week 10, considering Hufanga was a 1st team all-pro in 2022, and Greenlaw was a 2nd team all-pro this year.

I tried looking up what starters KC lost during the season, and the only name starter I can find who missed key games late (and the SB) was Joe Thuney. Charles Omenihu tore his ACL in the championship, but he's a back-up DE usually. It's quite surprising (impressive!) they were able to stay so healthy for so long this season. In a Cleveland game late in the year there was a graph they put up saying the Browns were the most injured team in the NFL. I seem to recall the least was the Rams. KC couldn't be far behind the Rams they held up so well.

I think Nomad is spot-on. The NFL season is now a marathon, and there is going to be an increasingly detailed strategy for teams to build depth and contingency plans into rosters and when to play/rest/develop players. And who to pay how much. Look at Chris Jones for example. A superb DT. But his contract is up at the end of the year, will KC pay (or tag) him at $20m-$25m to come back next year? My guess is someone else will, someone with no quality DTs. Thuney is at a potential out year after making $15m. That's a lot for an injured (somewhat aging) guard. Keep paying him, or not?

The irony of the "marathon" season is that it's likely both Greenlaw and Hufanga will be back by December of next season. Meaning they could play 4-6 games, then the playoffs. Ideal, right? However, if you look around the league, several marquee players who suffered severe injuries like this were not the same level of player even when healthy enough to play. Look at Buffalo, both Tre White and Von Miller are former 1st team All Pro players. Both tore ACL's in recent years, and neither have been the same player since.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Good article on SB nation about how the 49ers shouldn't be off-the hook for the disastrous trade to draft Tre Lance.

We’re almost three years removed from one of the worst trades in NFL history, but one which has been largely ignored or hand-waved away because current performance trumps languishing in history.

That said, when you lose the Super Bowl twice in four years there’s a tendency to search for answers.

Who did the 49ers miss out on? ...They could have had:

No. 12 overall in 2021: Micah Parsons, Rashawn Slater, Christian Darrisaw
No. 29 overall in 2022: George Karlaftis, Christian Watson, Breece Hall
No. 29 overall in 2023: Sam LaPorta, Joey Porter Jr, Brian Branch

Ouch!

 

[SHAD0W93]

Good article on SB nation about how the 49ers shouldn't be off-the hook for the disastrous trade to draft Tre Lance.





Ouch!

Add more insult to injury, Purdy was last pick. They gave up their futures and payed for it.

 

[movingtarget]

Good article on SB nation about how the 49ers shouldn't be off-the hook for the disastrous trade to draft Tre Lance.




Ouch!

Meanwhile Lance is still sitting at the Cowboys. Hasn't played since he got there as he was the number 3 maybe 2 from now on with the back up moving on. Hard to develop when not playing. Hard to see a way forward for him.

I doubt that the 49ers retain Darnold and there has to be a chance that Jennings won't be back although he will be a restricted free agent especially with Aiyuk having to be paid. All depends on how much Jennings wants while Chase Young could also go, he will probably test the market and the 49ers are already paying big money for their D line. Trent Williams said he will be back next season but I think it will be his last. Expect the 49ers to draft a left and right tackle. McKivitz has been exposed at right tackle many times although he wasn't too bad in the playoffs. Feliciano is probably going to retire and Williams is starting to slow down especially against the quality younger opposition. 49ers stars are aging compared to teams like the Lions, Rams and Hawks who have a healthy amount of rookies playing regularly now. They and the Cowboys definitely will need some new blood maybe the Eagles as well.

 

[jmdirt]

Only thing I would change is the overtime 15 mins should actually end at 00:00 even if still on the second teams initial drive. Otherwise the second team continues to have the massive benefit of 4 downs, knowing the score they need to get, and potentially going for 2 to win.

SF chose to take the ball in overtime so they gave KC the advantage you describe.

 

[jmdirt]

Offensive line on both teams was given a very very liberal interpretation of holding. Was truly heartbreaking to see replay of guys trying to rush the passer or running back, with arms around them, as if dancing.
I bet the standard squares, just a piece of graph paper and there numbers are randomly selected. The two I did were halftime and overall win and the other was the same, just overall score. So if your box intersects w 2-5 you win and halftime was 0-3..
My biggest headache yesterday was multi layered.. Had to explain who Taylor Swift is.. Majority of the room are completely unfamiliar with her.
Had to explain, she doesn't own the team.. Had to explain she was not performing at halftime..
I tried to explain the sudden and bizarre fascination with her, her romance, her overnight involvement w NFL..
I have watched lots of football and never seen a guy on special teams deserve a quarter of the highlight reel!! Downing the ball on the one!! Catching it like Derek Jeter at shortstop and a 100 mph clothesline tackle that made me spill my drink it was so gigantic!!
Mixed feelings about Kelce flare up.. He was being unprofessional and a baby about not being the target.. but when in the second half he got the ball he made the most of it..and weird camera work Kelce wanted out, was getting to the sideline at any cost, lowered his shoulder and TV crew put camera on injured defensive back 2 or 3 times while he was holding and rubbing his Kelce krushed arm..
I was also happy with new overtime rules.. Think it should be standard

I don't think that he was upset about not being the target, he was upset that he wasn't in on the NEXT play when he felt that he would have made the block for Pacheco to run it in for 6.

That being said, his reaction was way over the top. All 32 coaches will take that outburst to have a plyer like him though.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Meanwhile Lance is still sitting at the Cowboys. Hasn't played since he got there as he was the number 3 maybe 2 from now on with the back up moving on. Hard to develop when not playing. Hard to see a way forward for him.

I'm very curious what Dallas does with Dak. He has proven to be a great QB...against weak teams. And a QB who repeatedly falls flat in big games, especially the playoffs. A few years in a row now, this year being the very worst. They owe him $40m next season, but it will cost $60m against the cap because of how it's structured. I see a situation where Lance gets a LOT of snaps in camp, plays heavily in pre-season. Will it work? Who knows? But does anyone out there think Dak is worth re-structuring/extending at $45m or more a year? Dallas might.

SF chose to take the ball in overtime so they gave KC the advantage you describe.

Came across this article. Apparently many 49ers were not aware of overtime rules, while the Chiefs had thoroughly discussed it as a "what if...just in case" in the week leading up to the game. Unreal blunder by SF, in a game with its share of blunders. It's of course impossible to say if they put their D back on the field if they had been able to hold KC to 3 points (having 3 TO's would have helped some) first. And no guarantee if KC scores 3 then SF scores 7. Or if on O they had gone for it on 4th down and got it then got a TD, etc. etc.

I don't think that he was upset about not being the target, he was upset that he wasn't in on the NEXT play when he felt that he would have made the block for Pacheco to run it in for 6.

That being said, his reaction was way over the top. All 32 coaches will take that outburst to have a player like him though.

Sean Payton? Mike Tomlin? Bill Belicheck?

I would agree with "most", but I also think Andy Reid was not happy with it at all during, and now after the fact.

 

[SHAD0W93]

SF chose to take the ball in overtime so they gave KC the advantage you describe.

Right but that doesn’t negate that second team has all the upside with no downside. Knowing they still have to finish their drive within the 15 mins helps give them some downside.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I don't think that he was upset about not being the target, he was upset that he wasn't in on the NEXT play when he felt that he would have made the block for Pacheco to run it in for 6.

That being said, his reaction was way over the top. All 32 coaches will take that outburst to have a plyer like him though.

He sure looked upset the way he pouted and had his arms in the air when the ball wasn’t thrown to him until he realized they had an even bigger catch. But he sorted himself out at halftime came up big for them.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Came across this article. Apparently many 49ers were not aware of overtime rules, while the Chiefs had thoroughly discussed it as a "what if...just in case" in the week leading up to the game. Unreal blunder by SF, in a game with its share of blunders. It's of course impossible to say if they put their D back on the field if they had been able to hold KC to 3 points (having 3 TO's would have helped some) first. And no guarantee if KC scores 3 then SF scores 7. Or if on O they had gone for it on 4th down and got it then got a TD, etc. etc.

A huge blunder indeed not to go over it when it’s a possibility and hadn’t been done since the rule change. Chiefs players had also said they had the game plan to go for 2 if they went second and needed a touchdown to win, maybe even go for 2 if they went first. That is a lot of preplanning Niners lacked and one has to wonder if all Shanahan saw replaying through his mind was Super Bowl 51 when they went out for the coin flip. Shanahan also blundered not using their 3 timeouts to try and get the ball back before regulation ended to set up a field goal. Or even calling a timeouts in overtime to give the defense rest though maybe they thought if time ran out the game would end if Chiefs didn’t score too.

 

[jmdirt]

I'm very curious what Dallas does with Dak. He has proven to be a great QB...against weak teams. And a QB who repeatedly falls flat in big games, especially the playoffs. A few years in a row now, this year being the very worst. They owe him $40m next season, but it will cost $60m against the cap because of how it's structured. I see a situation where Lance gets a LOT of snaps in camp, plays heavily in pre-season. Will it work? Who knows? But does anyone out there think Dak is worth re-structuring/extending at $45m or more a year? Dallas might.

Came across this article. Apparently many 49ers were not aware of overtime rules, while the Chiefs had thoroughly discussed it as a "what if...just in case" in the week leading up to the game. Unreal blunder by SF, in a game with its share of blunders. It's of course impossible to say if they put their D back on the field if they had been able to hold KC to 3 points (having 3 TO's would have helped some) first. And no guarantee if KC scores 3 then SF scores 7. Or if on O they had gone for it on 4th down and got it then got a TD, etc. etc.

Sean Payton? Mike Tomlin? Bill Belicheck?

I would agree with "most", but I also think Andy Reid was not happy with it at all during, and now after the fact.

Dak has been a QB who doubled his yards in many games by driving 70 yards and then throwing an interception, then driving 80 years and throwing an interception... all= zero points with a lot of passing yards. I will say that McCarthy 'controlled' him more this year, but it ended the same none the less.

No he is not worth his contract/cap hit. Lance isn't their guy moving foward, IMO.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Dak has been a QB who doubled his yards in many games by driving 70 yards and then throwing an interception, then driving 80 years and throwing an interception... all= zero points with a lot of passing yards. I will say that McCarthy 'controlled' him more this year, but it ended the same none the less.

No he is not worth his contract/cap hit. Lance isn't their guy moving foward, IMO.

The old bend but don’t break method of the 2012-2019 Patriots. Give up a lot of yards but stop them from scoring touchdowns with field goals or turnovers. It’s also crazy how some fans say Chiefs haven’t had a top 10 defense till this year because they were second in yards allowed, but 4 times have been top 10 in points allowed. Any coach will love the opponent going 99 yards and coming away with 0 or 3 points, especially if the opponent is down.


But Cowboys most likely won’t be able to get over the hump until Jerry is gone unless he stops trying to be everything in one. Their furthest year was when Zeke and Dak were rookies and they choked it away to the Packers.

 

[Unchained]

Right but that doesn’t negate that second team has all the upside with no downside. Knowing they still have to finish their drive within the 15 mins helps give them some downside.

I don't know if this statistic still holds true, but it was historically true that the team that scores first wins the majority of the time, and the team that is ahead at halftime has a higher probability of victory.
Last night I watch late-night shows ,all trying and often failing to put comedic spin on events.. Super Bowl highest amount of viewers in history, highest international viewers of any Super Bowl and highest female audience and highest audience sub 14 years old.
It either sounds silly or it doesn't that pro football players would be unaware of the new overtime rules..

 

[Nomad]

Mahomes and the offense didn’t start playing well until the punt fumble recovery. They went interception, three and out, and a drive for a field goal similar to the first half. After the fumbled punt the Chiefs offense finally came alive, before that they were anemic. And as great as he played after that touchdown the Chiefs would have still lost if it had not occurred by 7 or 8 points. Both teams offenses and defenses were on par with the other, it was the Chiefs special teams that ended up being superior over Niners. As again, you can’t give the MVP to the whole unit the next person is the quarterback who finally looked himself the last two drives.

Maybe they win one or with another quarterback but that wasn’t the question or what was stated. Nor do I think Chiefs would have had this success with any other quarterback, just like Brady and the Patriots. But just like Brady if he didn’t have the time to develop he would have flopped substantially on another team, especially when he said it took him multiple seasons to learn defenses.

Do I sense a Mahomes' hater here? Lol. No question that Mahomes & the O didn't play well until the 4th qtr, but this is what comebacks are all about. This is his third double-digit comeback & most in SB history (Brady is next with two).

The Gunslinger's numbers were very impressive in the 4th qtr: 16/22 154 yds 1 TD (107 rtg), and 4 rushes for 33 yds. But how these runs came is what took the wind out of the SF D: 3 were 3rd down runs for 1st downs & the other was a critical 4th down run for a 1st - all extending the drives. In fact, the 4th down play was a read option where he faked the run to Edwards-Helaire & took off through the alley (I can't ever recall him running a read option play before where he actually took off running).

So, he's clearly the MVP in my opinion because you wouldn't be able to have this kind of a comeback without that caliber of a QB...period. Mahomes can beat you with his arm, feet & mind. Football is about making plays - and when your QB is a top playmaker - and wins close games - that puts a smile on the coach's face and keeps them employed. (just go ask Belichick how things worked out over there with Jones & Zappe? LOL).

Super Bowl 2024: Patrick Mahomes caps another historic comeback in achieving Super Bowl first for his position

Mahomes makes even more history with his latest comeback

www.google.com

 

[movingtarget]

Dak has been a QB who doubled his yards in many games by driving 70 yards and then throwing an interception, then driving 80 years and throwing an interception... all= zero points with a lot of passing yards. I will say that McCarthy 'controlled' him more this year, but it ended the same none the less.

No he is not worth his contract/cap hit. Lance isn't their guy moving foward, IMO.

Trouble is I don't think Jerry has much enthusiasm for searching for a new QB. The last negotiation went on forever but sooner or later someone is going to say that this good regular season QB can't get them to the SB. If a new coach said that Jerry might listen., Jimmy G was seven minutes from winning a SB but that 49ers team was loaded even more so than the current team and Mostert and the defense had done more in the playoffs to get them there than Jimmy had. Dak isn't sitting in front of the 2019 49ers team.

Jerry might go with a change but at the moment I think they will probably give Dak his ridiculous pay rise after lots of media agonizing with Skip Bayless and co. Geno is getting around 35, Carr and Jones are getting 40, Cousins about the same. Dak will want probably 50 or so with the top paid QBs around 60 and it keeps going up anyway unlike RB salaries.............. what the Cowboys decide to do with Lance is anyone's guess. I don't expect them to do much unless Dak gets injured and Lance starts to show more potential than he has shown so far. Teams will have limited interest in Lance as he doesn't have veteran leadership or veteran experience which many back up QBs do have. Usually it's new QBs that are developed now that are already starting. Unfortunately many teams won't give Lance the time he needs simply because he's a back up and in a totally different situation to the one Love was in. Lance is getting closer to being shuffled around the league jumping from team to team and still not playing. The Cowboys might be his last chance at seeing if they can really improve him.

 

[movingtarget]

Do I sense a Mahomes' hater here? Lol. No question that Mahomes & the O didn't play well until the 4th qtr, but this is what comebacks are all about. This is his third double-digit comeback & most in SB history (Brady is next with two).

The Gunslinger's numbers were very impressive in the 4th qtr: 16/22 154 yds 1 TD (107 rtg), and 4 rushes for 33 yds. But how these runs came is what took the wind out of the SF D: 3 were 3rd down runs for 1st downs & the other was a critical 4th down run for a 1st - all extending the drives. In fact, the 4th down play was a read option where he faked the run to Edwards-Helaire & took off through the alley (I can't ever recall him running a read option play before where he actually took off running).

So, he's clearly the MVP in my opinion because you wouldn't be able to have this kind of a comeback without that caliber of a QB...period. Mahomes can beat you with his arm, feet & mind. Football is about making plays - and when your QB is a top playmaker - and wins close games - that puts a smile on the coach's face and keeps them employed. (just go ask Belichick how things worked out over there with Jones & Zappe? LOL).

Super Bowl 2024: Patrick Mahomes caps another historic comeback in achieving Super Bowl first for his position

Mahomes makes even more history with his latest comeback

www.google.com

The defense didn't allow Kansas to play well but the two turnovers killed the 49ers momentum. They needed more points on the board at the end of the first half. It never looked like being enough. They had plenty of field position but not enough points and everyone knows what happens when Mahomes is allowed to hang around. Just ask the Bills ! 49ers couldn't finish off drives and the Kansas DC was really the MVP as Purdy was continually under the pump while CMC was managed and Kittle and Deebo were virtually no shows albeit both had injury issues during the game. Kansas defense has been getting them over the line all season and the 49ers O line was found out in the playoff in all three games. They got away with it in the regular season but they obviously need upgrades. Mahomes didn't have to do anything spectacular, it all seemed inevitable when it went to extra time. 49ers had plenty of chances to win but just like 2019 they couldn't seal it and the opposition won the coaching battle and had the better QB back to finish it off.

 

[Nomad]

Steelers releasing QB Mitchell Trubisky after two seasons

www.nfl.com

This is unbelievable that this guy couldn't make it as a franchise QB. How does something like this happen? He's now potentiality a top-10 all-time bust. Lol.

Take a look at his pre-draft analysis. Remember this was the first QB selected in 2017 - and #2 OA only behind Myles Garrett!

His prospect rating was a "7.0" = "Pro-Bowl Talent" (one of highest rating scores on their system). His attributes were good size, big arm, great accuracy, intelligence & agility.

Mitchell Trubisky Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

www.nfl.com

Did the scouts blow this one or what? Lol

 

[Nomad]

The defense didn't allow Kansas to play well but the two turnovers killed the 49ers momentum. They needed more points on the board at the end of the first half. It never looked like being enough. They had plenty of field position but not enough points and everyone knows what happens when Mahomes is allowed to hang around. Just ask the Bills ! 49ers couldn't finish off drives and the Kansas DC was really the MVP as Purdy was continually under the pumn while CMC was managed and Kittle and Deebo were virtually no shows albeit both had injury issues during the game. Kansas defense has been getting them over the line all season and the 49ers O line was found out in the playoff in all three games. They got away with it in the regular season but they obviously need upgrades. Mahomes didn't have to do anything spectacular, it all seemed inevitable when it went to extra time. 49ers had plenty of chances to win but just like 2019 they couldn't seal it and the opposition won the coaching battle and had the better QB back to finish it off.

WTF? What does this have to do with Mahomes' playmaking ability that ignited the comeback??? You guys keep ranting & whining about how the 49ers killed themselves with turnovers, didn't score enough points, didn't know the OT rules & what other BS you guys want to come up with. I'm surprised you guys don't alleged the game was rigged with the Taylor Swift crap.

Newsflash: The 49ers did have plenty of chances to win but they didn't and the Chiefs did! The name of the game is the team with the most points wins. FFS, did some of you guys bet a bundle on the 49ers & loose your shirts???

 

[movingtarget]

This is unbelievable that this guy couldn't make it as a franchise QB. How does something like this happen? He's now potentiality a top-10 all-time bust. Lol.

Take a look at his pre-draft analysis. Remember this was the first QB selected in 2017 - and #2 OA only behind Myles Garrett!

His prospect rating was a "7.0" = "Pro-Bowl Talent" (one of highest rating scores on their system). His attributes were good size, big arm, great accuracy, intelligence & agility.

Mitchell Trubisky Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

www.nfl.com

Did the scouts blow this one or what? Lol

Probably the same guys that rated Purdy..................