Here’s my take on Super Bowl 55. First, congratulations to Tampa Bay. They beat our Chief’s in every possible way and didn’t need any help from the Zebra’s even though they got some, but referees did not cost KC the game.
The Chiefs were poorly prepared to play and seemed distracted throughout the contest. I have two theories to share.
First is that repeating as a Super Bowl champion is one of the most difficult tasks in sports. The Chiefs won 16 games in getting back to the championship game in Tampa.
In every game, their opponents gave our Chiefs their very best effort. In defeating Buffalo 38-24 for the conference championship KC dominated in a game that veterans like Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers claim is “the hardest game of all to win.” My theory is that after whopping the Bills our Chiefs relaxed and celebrated their job well done – fooling themselves a bit in the process.
Fans and the media didn’t help with discussions about whether or not to have a parade and other topics to celebrating our not yet complete “Run It Back” season.
Feeling this well earned, but the premature sense of accomplishment the Chiefs did not prepare enough for a Buccaneer squad that had totally transformed itself since playing the Chiefs in November. 31-9 is the proof.
Andy Reid is a coach known for making adjustments on the fly and always finding a way. Sunday the Chief’s offensive game plan got shredded early and often yet the Chiefs kept sending out receivers while failing to protect their absurdly talented quarterback who scrambled for 498 yards avoiding the Bucs pass rush. Reid seemed completely distracted.
As you likely know Reid’s son Britt, a Chiefs assistant coach, Thursday hit 2 parked cars with his truck. Afterward, he admitted to having had 2 or 3 beers. He also uses Adderall a prescription drug that doesn’t mix well with alcohol. Britt Reid who has a substance abuse history was reportedly coming from the Chief’s practice facility which raises other questions.
Two children were injured in the wreck – one a five-year-old girl who as of Sunday was in critical condition.
Do you suppose these events could have taken Andy Reid’s concentration away from the Super Bowl game? Something certainly did!
Put a team that had already reached a very difficult goal with a coach revisiting his family’s history of tragedy involving drugs against a supremely motivated team led by a freak of nature quarterback, and Sunday’s results are a lot easier to understand.
I rest my case and ask for prayers for the five-year-old girl.
I’m Steve Sauder
