Dominant game from someone who needed to be that. The Chiefs biggest advantage was overwhelming the Bengals backups, and while all of the lineman did well (more on that later) but Jones was just massive. A lot was said about his lack of a playoff sack, an unimaginable statistic, especially since he's generally still disruptive. But in this game from flushing Burrow into a sack and then getting a sack on those first two drives. Then the capper to end it with the sack that led to the Bengals needing to punt it back. Aside from maybe Mahomes, he was the best player on the field. To me, the Chiefs would win that game on defense if they could slow Burrow and Co., and because of their best player, they did just that.
Runner-Up: Hasson Reddick (EDGE, PHI)
Nothing exemplified the Eagles dominance, and the sad injury in the game, more than Reddick's play. The first sack-fumble effectively ended the game by taking away Purdy's ability to throw. The second sack against Johnson came in a flash that showed they were going to win that particular battle of OL vs. DL. I hate to credit someone for injuring another player, but it was a clean hit with a bad outcome, and it was due to Reddick's speed and brilliance.
Goat of the Week: Kyle Shanahan (I guess...)
I can't blame him for the predicament he probably found himself in at QB. But we can question if keeping Purdy in the game when he clearly could not throw, and the Eagles knew he couldn't throw, rather than going to some version of a Wildcat. If you're going to run it every play, and the other team knows that, it is far easier to attempt that wildcat style where you get the extra blocker. Anyway, as it comes in the runner-up as well, there weren't huge goats here. We had one close game that was generally well played, and one blowout where the blowout-ness was wholly explainable by one single element with the QB injury.
Runner-Up: The Refs, but not the way you think
The refs didn't cost the Bengals the game. The closest it comes to that was a missed block-in-the-back on the punt return before the game winning field goal. The hold on the Mahomes run really isn't one if you watch the play. The two iffy calls - the 3rd down do-over and the grounding - didn't really effect too much. The reason I still have the refs here is more to say that there weren't many other huge goats and anytime the refs just do a lot, even if it doesn't end up being impactful, the story becomes about the refs, in an annoying way. I just hope the refs aren't a story in the Super Bowl.
Surprise of the Week: 49ers Secondary
The 49ers had one real weakness on defense and it was defending deep passes. The Eagles biggest strength on offense is hitting deep passes. Well, in this one the 49ers absolutely won that matchup. Charvarious Ward was brilliant, but the 49ers secondary on the whole draped the Eagles deep. Of course, it didn't matter in the game itself because of the QB issues on the other side, but the good play by the secondary kept it closer than the game should have really been.
Runner-Up: Chiefs Secondary
After Sneed went down early, the Bengals should have dominated the Chiefs secondary. Part of the reason they didn't is Chris Jones and Co. up front (more on them to come) but the secondary was great given it was three rookies at corner - crystallized by the play where Cook batted the ball to Watson. The youngsters played pretty well against the best receiver group in the NFL. Yes, them letting Chase catch a bomb on 4th down while double-covering him was a bad look, but they still had the coverage and lost to a monster in Chase. We'll see on Sneed's availability, but they'll need to play great again given Brown & Smith are probably right behind Chase & Higgins.
Disappointment of the Week: 49ers predicament
I'm not disappointed in the 49ers, I'm disappointed for them. That game was over the second Purdy got hurt. Johnson was passable (actually threw it better than I expected) but it was clear he was not going to get the time, and the running game, one amazing CMC run aside, was not up to par. That should have been a great game. The NFC has done a lot of that over the years ever since 2015, with great title games on paper becoming laughers (2015, 2017 the main culprits). This wasn't supposed to be one of those, but it was because of just some terrible injury luck.
Runner-Up: Chiefs Running Game
The Chiefs invested a lot in their OL and it has worked. What was a glaring weakness the last time they were in teh Super Bowl, is now a strength. They were silently a top running team this season. Then, in a game where their QB was a bit hobbled and theri WRs were injured, they needed that running game ot show up, and the Chiefs got absolutely nothing from it. Now, granted the Bengals are a good rush defense, but Pacheco and McKinnon were mostly useless, lucky to get 3 yards on a play. The one positive I guess is they were rarely stuffed behind the line, but the Chiefs had to face so many 2nd and 9s. A poor game from what had been a good unit all year.
Team Performance of the Week: Chiefs Front-7
Chris Jones was the superstar performer, but the whole front was excellent. Frank Clark was good in moments. Karloftis was excellent, continuing just a great rookie season for him. Dana was a constant presence. The much-maligned LB core was excellent to, with both Gay and Nick Bolton were excellent against the run, and more importantly shutting down Burrow's throws to his RBs far better than most have in recent weeks. They made Burrow have to try reverting to 2021 Burrow mode where deep shots with Chase and Higgins became the primary focus of the offense again. The Chiefs front was scorched by the Bengals in the regular season game. They got their revenge in this one.
Runner-Up: Eagles OL
With just two games to talk about, it is hard to avoid positive and negative choices here not to often be the converse of each other. That's the case here, with the 49ers DL disappointing, but mainly because the Eagles OL won that matchup left and right. Kelce was great in motion in the middle. Lane Johnson somehow held his own against Bosa despite haivng a serious injury. The rest of the line is excellent and played that way, just bouncing 49ers DL players left and right. Great game by a dominant unit against a really good opponent.
Team Laydown of the Week: Bengals OL
Yes, there were three backups, but those same three backups got their plaudits last week for holding off the Bills, so they should get their flak for being so poor in this one. Obviously Chris Jones is amazing, but around him the Bengals lost consistently. Their run game, which was so good against the Bills, was completely missing here. They invested a lot in the line, and granted they were missing some of their top players, but this was a miserable performance.
Runner-Up: 49ers DL
Yes, the Eagles have the league's best OL, but the 49ers DL got manhandled on most plays. Bosa was reasonably good, but Armstead was silent. Kinlaw was pushed around all over the place. They got burned on cutbacks. If not for both LBs having great games, the numbers would ahve looked even worse. Yes, the 49ers were put in a very tough position, but their all world DL did not help things at all. In a game where they needed those guys needed to step up and be their most dominant best, they just weren't. The clips of 49ers DLineman getting tossed around is just a bad look for a team that also talked a lot.
Storyline that will be Beat Into the Ground: Andy vs the Eagles
Along with the Kelce vs. Kelce matchup, Andy Reid coaching in the Super Bowl against the Eagles will be a huge story. There is some interest, but personally it doesn't really grab me. First, it's been ten years since he last coached there. Reid got fired after 2012, and while they danced with Chip Kelly for a minute, ever since Howie Roseman took back control and Perderson (a Reid acolyte) was hired they've been fine. Secondly, if anything Red leaving Philadelphia and landing in KC has cemented his legacy as a coach far more than had he stayed in Philadelphia. It took a while to crystallize - both with Pederson replacing Kelly and Reid getting Mahomes - but the Reid exit was a true win-win. It's a nice story, but Reid is beloved in Philadelphia (and he was instantly, getting loud cheers when the Chiefs played in Philly in 2013) and seemingly its mutual.
Storyline that Should be Beat Into the Ground: Spags the Conqueror
Steve Spagnuolo is coaching in his 4th Super Bowl. He too was a Philly guy way back when, a disciple of Jim Johnson. But more than anything, he's a big-game coordinator that, I'm guessing due to his disastrous run as a head coach, he gets no real credit for. His Giants back-to-back-to-back performances in 2007 are arguably the greatest three-game run of playoff defense given the level of competition. He remained good in 2008 despite Strahan retiring and Osi tearing his ACL. His run in KC has been consistent in getting middling defensive rosters (admittedly with a couple standouts) into passable units. His defense was as much a key to the 2019 Super Bowl comeback as was the offense. Their worst playoff performance in the Mahomes era was either the Super Bowl loss where the Bucs had excellent field position, or the Bills going super-saiyan and converting a bunch of 4th downs lsat year. His scheme was great again on Sunday, repeatedly finding ways to get Jones and others single-blocked, and making a bunch of rookies into a well connected secondary. He is the real X factor in this game.
