Patrick Mahomes And His Failed Heroics
I’m really interested to see how this Super Bowl goes down in history. I went into this subject a little bit last summer, with the Devin Hester historical comic, but when we think back on Super Bowls, they tend to be defined by individual moments. The moments we think of first when the subject of the game comes up. Patriots/Eagles? The Philly Special is probably the moment you thought of first. Broncos/Panthers? Probably the Cam fumble. Giants/Pats? The helmet catch or the Manningham catch, depending on which one it is. The less entertaining a Super Bowl, the more difficult it is to remember, because it doesn’t have that one thing that brings it into your head. Rams/Patriots from 2 seasons ago? Uh…I guess maybe the Jared Goff overthrow or the Gronk Catch, but I had to strain to remember those, and that game was literally two seasons ago. I still remember dozens of plays from much older games.
This most recent bowl is interesting because the only thing I’ve really seen discussed at length since it happened was the Mahomes throw. Nothing the Bucs did was particularly spectacular. They just dominated effectively. No circus catches, no big defensive plays: the only thing Bucs related that feels relevant is the Winfield taunt to Tyreek Hill. That taunt ruled by the way, totally worth it. The circumstance of the game itself probably should have been the moment, but with the stands basically full the COVID element of the year was lost. Tom Brady celebrating in an empty stadium would have been a sight burned in our minds. Instead, the most enduring image of the super bowl was Mahomes herculean effort in service of failure.
I would like to reiterate that the 4th down throw that he made, running for his life, horizontally a foot off the ground, is probably the best throw I’ve ever seen in my life. The previous throw might have been the second best. Mahomes was wrapped up, bought himself one more spin move, and threw a wobbler that felt destined to get picked but landed only out of reach of a Chief in the endzone. Then he follows that up with yet another incredible scramble, falls down while being tackled, and throws a perfect goddamn spiral 30 yards from a foot off the ground while sideways. It was a perfect throw. It would have made the first down, if not the touchdown, when the team desperately needed it. It plunked off 31’s helmet. The greatest throw on one of the greatest individual efforts I have ever seen plopped to the ground, destined to be forgotten. And yet it hasn’t been. Maybe it won’t be.
Maybe that image of Mahomes, floating in space preparing to launch his final desperate attempt to save this game, will be the enduring legacy of this matchup. A man doing literally all he can do in a doomed effort. It should be a legacy moment for the man himself. A symbol of inspiration to never give up no matter how bad things get. I will fight anyone who says Mahomes was bad that game. The man left it all on the field in ways we rarely see. Reducing that throw to an incompletion on a stat sheet is removing the humanity and majesty of that moment, removing what made it special.
If his receivers hadn’t all shared a big bucket of greasy hot wings before the game started, Mahomes may have had a chance. It seemed like every good throw he made just bounced off his target.
AN-DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY
Exactly!
There were no less than 2 sure TDs that literally bounced off the receivers face.
That’s right, you’re not innocent in this Tyreek
This Super Bowl will go down as Tom Brady’s crowning achievement to most people more than likely. It’s just that, for once, Tom Brady had an extremely dominant win, so he didn’t get a chance at an NFL Films type moment to cement everything. I guess his trophy celebration will be that moment, but I doubt many were watching by that point besides Bucs fans and Brady Cultists like myself.
What bothers me is how little flak Andy Reid is receiving for this letdown. This loss entirely on him and his god-awful gameplanning. They didn’t try to establish the run even though it was working for the most part and left two backup tackles on islands with Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul for most of the game while still trying to run long-developing concepts. It was evident from the getgo that they weren’t going to get the same shot-plays they had been getting most of the season, yet they still tried to force it and left themselves in even deeper holes with each passing drive. Say what you will about Brady’s yardage, but Tampa had a much better gameplan for KC’s defense. If they want to blitz all night just work the underneath stuff and get the ball out quick. If Byron Leftwich could make this adjustment I don’t see how or why Andy Reid couldn’t have adjusted to what Tampa was running.
I’d be curious what the reaction to this Super Bowl would have been if it was less of a blowout. Oddly enough a less dominant win might have made Brady seem more impressive as there’d be less talk about how the Bucs’ defense stifled the Chiefs and we’d have had a more compelling game. That the Bucs won in and of itself shouldn’t have been that much of an upset, but I think most people expected a close back and forth game. It’s why I was ultimately OK with the Bucs beating the Packers two weeks ago.
Although it’s really an apples and oranges comparison (because of Todd Bowles’ game plan and Andy Reid’s lack of), I fully expect the 22 point margin in this one Super Bowl verses an aggregate 29 point margin over six Super Bowl wins with the Pats to be brought up in almost every Belichick/Brady argument for the next 100 years.
It’s pretty much what you said. If it were a back and forth shootout that culminated in a Brady win, he’d be crowned a God and the media reaction would be 100x more insufferable than it already is (I know that’s hard to believe lmao).
It was just an all around dominant team win for Tampa. Brady played excellent. The defense put up a masterclass. And Tampa celebrated its second Super Bowl win at the end of the 3rd quarter basically. Not really much to talk about outside of how astoundingly bad Kansas City was, because that was the only real surprise of the night.
Exactly all of this. I’ve been saying for three years now that if Mahomes would have a better coach, he could end up in the discussion of GOAT with Brady, et al (he’s not yet, and he still wouldn’t be even if he won Sunday. Great athlete, but no the GOAT). But he doesn’t, and Reid proved it this game. He never changed his game plan, deciding to stick to his star playmakers that couldn’t make plays the whole game because he got 100% outcoached.
Lol a better coach than Andy Reid… like you can just go to Wal-Mart and pick up a coach with a .629 win percentage, has taken two franchises to the Super Bowl, ace at player development, beloved by his locker rooms, and consistently innovates ahead of the rest of the league. Yeah, Kansas City better fire THAT guy before he ruins Patrick Mahomes.
Andy Reid is not without his flaws. This was a classic Andy Reid playoff loss where he failed to self scout tendencies, and his opponent took advantage of this predictability. The loss is squarely on him for not making adjustments to account for the fact that he was putting two backup tackles against two talented veteran pass rushers.
Two backup tackles is too simplistic for how badly the Chiefs oline was hit. The backup right tackle was shifted to left tackle, a guard was shifted to right tackle, and a backup guard was put in. Essentially three positions went to the backup, including a third string at left tackle
Yeah I think it’s going a bit too far to start talking about Reid like he’s some no name bum head coach that’s preventing Mahomes from reaching stardom. Reid is a critical reason for why Mahomes has exploded onto the scene the way that he has in such a short time, and he deserves a ton of credit for Kansas City’s success.
That being said, Patrick Mahomes really did make a lot of people (myself included) forget about Reid’s not so great playoff track record. As good a coach as he is, his game management has always been his Achilles heel, and there was a reason that he was never able to win a Super Bowl before Patrick Mahomes showed up in town. Hell, the same thing that happened on Sunday happened in Super Bowl 54, but Mahomes was able to pull out some late game magic and help KC drop 21 points in the span of 5 minutes to turn a 10 point deficit into an 11 point win. Patrick Mahomes is the reason that they’re a Super Bowl contender now, unlike the team led by Alex Smith.
I can’t and won’t put this loss on Mahomes. He did everything he could but at the end of the day no QB is saving a bad gameplan. Andy Reid deserves all the blame for how badly KC played.
Do you enjoy sucking Tom’s dick in every comic about him?
He barely had over 200 yards. It was a good game from him, but nothing spectacular. The Bucs defense deserves a lions share of the credit for the win.
I give Tom Brady credit where credit is due. If you think that’s sucking him off then yes, I enjoy stroking the man dry.
What exactly do you expect him to do when he’s up by double digits for most of the game? He finished the first half with an 80% completion percentage and 3 TDs passes, both of which were playoff records and extended his lead in third quarter. Are you really trying to say that he didn’t do much because he didn’t statpad in a blowout win? Forget the highly efficient game, the 125.8 passer rating or the 81.5 QBR, he only threw for 200 yards! Nope, no credit for him!!!!
I literally said the defense put up a masterclass in my last post, but I guess you stopped at “Tom Brady did good” and immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was giving all the credit. Do you enjoy stroking your hate boner for the man every time you see someone praise him?
that was one of Brady’s best games all year. he knows not to do too much. he was calm, efficient, and focussed. these are facts. if that’s suckin his d (i suppose you’d rather we sucked his D, but that’s 11 penises instead of just the one), well then, i guess i better get the chamomile tea brewing for my sore throat tomorrow.
In a row?
Dead
“i suppose you’d rather we sucked his D, but that’s 11 penises instead of just the one”
Okay this made me laugh way harder than it should have.
But seriously, I don’t get it with some people. It’s as if he’s upset with the thought of giving Brady an ounce of credit for playing well in a win.
Plus as good as the defense was, someone still have to put up the points on board. Some people acted like the guy Trent Dilfer his way to a win. Probably watched SB 53 tape by mistake.
What I think a lot of these people screaming about the defense are forgetting is that it is entirely possible for a QB to play well separate of how their defense plays. Tom Brady had a great game and his defense played amazing. Both can be true.
As an Eagles fan…. that’s Andy Reid. He got better for a couple of years, but it’s ingrained to him that, eventually, he will:
a) screw up the clock [that 2nd TO at the end of the first half was inexcusable, and the lack-of-hurry near the end of the game was the same as his first SB]
b) fail to adjust to whatever the defense is doing
c) forget that “run the ball” is something that is actually allowed
Yeah. Patrick Mahomes made me forget who his coach was and how bad said coach’s playoff trach record is. Kansas City basically pulled the same stunt that they did in Super Bowl 54, but this time around they were facing the really good ex-Patriots QB instead of the backup ex-Patriots QB and Patrick Mahomes couldn’t bail him out again.
In this game, Mahomes was Darth Maul in the Phantom Menace. Flipping all over the place, raising our expectations of what is even possible to see, and losing. Meanwhile, Tom Brady was Obi-Wan in Rebels (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeG215-yu-k). Just totally calm and in control on the field, completely surgical. And I totally get why Mahomes/Maul looks way more impressive than Brady/Obi-Wan. But I think that Brady clearly straight up had a better game, and not just based on the results.
Brady didn’t face pressure all game because he recognized it pre-snap, adjusted his protection, and got the ball off immediately to his check downs. In the Super Bowl, he had one of the fastest average times to throw of any QB in any game all year. Mahomes kept running for his life because he kept sending guys deep while he scrambled, looking for the home run play.
You could not have summarized this game any better than that, honestly.
Speaking of the Devin Hester comic… It’s about time for the laterals series to return right? Maybe in the Superbowl spirit we could get one on the early 90’s bills that just could not beat the NFC east
At first, I thought maybe the difference was Britt Reid because I hadn’t heard of him before the game, but he’s a linebacker coach so probably not.
If you think Britt Reid wasn’t going through Andy Reid’s head the whole time I feel bad for your father-child relationship(s?)
100%. Big Red was 1000 yard staring from the opening kickoff. Dude was not in it that game, and how could you be?
If something like that happens with my son when he’s older, it is absolutely going to take a toll on me
I don’t know why you would think that is a problem since KC’s Linebackers do nothing anyway. They all are average linebackers who will make a big play here and there. The difference-maker was the o-line not doing their one job. That is why Mahomes is featured in the comic, trying to replicate Manziel at A&M.
THEIR HEAD COACH WAS EXTREMELY SAD AND ANXIOUS AND DEPRESSED. That has an effect on the whole team.
I’m sure that is why the o-line couldn’t hold their blocks for 2 seconds. And the fact that they dropped the ball at least 10 times or the receivers running horrible routes. Andy Reid had the second biggest game of his life and I’m sure he was worried about that the entire game. Sure, I would be worried too, but he had a good night’s sleep and was even checked on by a counselor pre-game! The team was depressed because they were playing badly. Believe it or not, when you are getting blown out you don’t feel happy about it! That then caused them to play horrible all game long.
In couple of the plays Mahomes probably had more cardio than many of us have due to the lockdown.
Honestly the play i remember most from Rams/Pats was Zeurlein’s missed FG
i remember trying out my GF’s brother’s VR rig and drinking (too much) Japanese Single Malt. (Nikka Coffey Grain!)
the game itself… uh, i guess i remember the gronkdown.
Aaron Rodgers had a similar play that would have been a TD and was taken back due to a penalty. https://youtu.be/EZscwgCvV80?t=437
That was a very blatant hold by #63 to be fair. He just threw the guy to the ground.
That drop really sealed the game. Had they completed it, it could’ve been the momentum shifter. The Chiefs would still need 2 TDs, but at least they’d have a miracle play to build on.
I mean, to be fair, the throw should have been intercepted before it even made it to the receiver, the ball went straight through the defender’s hands. It was a superhuman effort, all credit to Mahomes, it just is not really an example of his team letting him down, the pass was lucky to avoid a turnover before it was unlucky to get a incompletion.
4th down.
Poor Fitzpatrick didn’t even get to keep the “Best Pass Ever” title for more than a few months.
At least he still has the best completion ever
I agree Dave. For me this game was defined by 3 or 4 plays where Mahomes did everything possible, evaded really strong pressure, and made a throw most other QBs wouldn’t even try, only to have it dropped, or missed.
I love Gronk, he had a good day, ran some people over, but nothing truly amazing, just blocked and got open well.
TB played very well, but mostly in a metriculating kind of way (very good comp%, meh YPA)
Fournette did his job well, but in a “taking what the defense gives” kind of way, not a “Henry 1v11” kind of way
The defense played well, but there wasn’t a standout “big hero play”
The Chiefs may have been called for too many penalties on D, and too few on offense, but overall the officiating wasn’t the story.
The game wasn’t even excruciatingly bad like the pats/rams game
Patrick Mahomes was the only man on the Chiefs who has absolutely nothing to apologize for in this loss. He did everything you could ask for a Quarterback to do, everything you might dream of a quarterback doing, and he did it while running for his life on damn near every play. There is not one man in the world or the history of the NFL that could have been dropped into that position and not suffered accordingly or worse. Anyone who says that Mahomes sucked in this game did not watch it, and does not understand the sport.
Nah, when I think of the Broncos/Panthers SB, the moment that comes to my mind is the Von Miller strip sack into a touchdown. That was the moment where I realized that we had a real shot to win that thing.
Look upon this beauty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dk0KqS2Pb4
They had to shift like 3 guys on the OL just because their LT Eric Fisher got injured. Teams with good OL forget how important the OL is until someone gets injured and then it all goes to hell.
Also, those throws where Mahomes was inches from being sacked were insane. The way he was able to get those passes off while being sideways was insane. Greatest throws I’ve seen in my life.
I have to give absolute credit to the Buccs best weapon in this game. Their Defense, while good, had nothing on the Chiefs’ defense. So many stupid holding calls. So many. Not to mention those phantom PIs. Muah! Lovely. God I love Refball and am in no way at all pissed off about Tom Brady winning ANOTHER FUCKING SUPER BOWL! It’s not like he hasn’t been to half the superbowls in my lifetime or something like that… No no no… He’s only one 6 of the 18 that I’ve personally been alive for. Fuck you Tom. Go kiss your son on the lips you lucky bastard.
The thing I remember the most from the Pats/Rams superbowl is the punting. There was some very good punting in that game. I’m still mad the MVP didn’t just go to the winning punter
Has anyone got a timestamp for The Mahomes Throw? I still have no desire to watch the game itself, I just want to see these two passes. I remember Ryan Tannehill attempting a pass from a similar angle a few years back, if not a similar altitude. 4th Quarter I’m assuming?
Just look for it on YT. There are a lot of videos showing them
For the Patriots/Eagles Super Bowl, the play that I think of is Brady getting strip-sacked. IMO, it was absolutely the play of the game.
Patriots/Rams II, the play that I think of is Jason McCourty’s insane speed to break up the pass to Cooks in the end zone.
https://giphy.com/gifs/mahomes-superbowllv-thedrawplay-8ld0IZoYzYwm0t8Usc
The game, in a GIF.