GLENDALE, Arizona — Opponents of the Kansas City Chiefs tried to cease enjoying a lot zone towards them as a result of Patrick Mahomes would eat them alive. So this 12 months all of them received the thought to play the Chiefs with extra man protection.
It’s an unenviable determination to must make.
The Chiefs gained Super Bowl LVII 38-35 Sunday night time towards the Eagles largely as a result of they took benefit of favorable matchups at essential moments. Philadelphia’s protection wasn’t unhealthy — it held Mahomes’ offense to 31 factors and, as Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned, 24 factors when not together with the chip-in landing after the Kadarius Toney punt return — however they weren’t adequate on three landing performs.
The Travis Kelce, Toney and Skyy Moore touchdowns have been all merchandise of the Chiefs getting favorable matchups for his or her gamers after which having them go win towards one man.
“Man protection is one thing that lots of people needed to play us on this 12 months,” Chiefs senior offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy mentioned. “Sometimes there’s success with it and so they received nice gamers and nice scheme, however our guys, after they’re enjoying man protection, they gotta win.”
The Chiefs did a very good job of holding the Eagles protection off stability, discovering success within the display screen recreation and on the bottom. They used Mahomes underneath heart at a barely larger price than their season common, once more contributing to creating the protection assume twice.
What additionally helped was a slippery area that Haason Reddick referred to as the worst area he is performed on in his life. The slipperiness harm the vaunted Philly cross rush, and all night time the Chiefs regarded like they have been higher ready for the sphere situations. Veteran tools man Allen Wright was in fixed communication with the groundscrew all week and knew the Chiefs would want the seven-stud cleats for the sphere Sunday.
Kelce’s 18-yard landing within the first quarter got here when he did a brief movement contained in the receiver and received matched up on security Marcus Epps. He ran an in-out-and-up route that had Epps — you guessed it — slip in protection and provides him simply sufficient area to make an uncontested landing catch.
Once Mahomes noticed the security overlaying Kelce, it was apparent the place he was going with the soccer. It additionally helped that Mahomes had a clear pocket for a lot of the night time to maintain the time wanted for Kelce to get open.
“I believe when you have got time it sort of offers you a chance,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy mentioned. “And we now have Pat Mahomes sitting underneath heart. And if you happen to give him sufficient time, issues can occur. I believed we did a fantastic job of giving him sufficient time, that additional second to make that exact throw. On prime of that simply his athletic means within the pocket too to step up and make some performs occur as properly.”
In the fourth quarter down 27-21, the Chiefs once more used movement with Toney, who hadn’t actually been concerned within the offense as much as that time. Toney, one of many quickest offensive gamers within the league, seemed to be getting in a jet movement earlier than stopping and altering course on the snap. Darius Slay was able to cross it off however Toney’s cease and alter of course was too fast.
“We noticed one thing a bit totally different on tape and we knew we might make the most of what they weren’t doing,” Bieniemy mentioned. “Kadarius did a hell of a job of discovering a method to get himself open.”
Said Kelce: “On sure motions, they have been making an attempt to cross issues off or issues like that and so they simply received caught on a foul protection towards a very good play and that is what makes Andy Reid one of the best.”
Less than three minutes later and due to the 65-yard punt return by Toney, the Chiefs could be knocking on the top zone door once more. Kansas City ran a play that is barely totally different, this time with Moore. He ran the identical type of movement as Toney earlier than altering course simply as James Bradberry started to cross him off to a different Eagles defender.
Wide-open landing.
“As quickly as I went in movement and I noticed him are available in movement with me, I knew I had him,” Moore mentioned after the sport.
“That’s only a credit score to Coach Reid and his play calling and his system and the whole lot that comes with our offense. Studying and doing numerous altering the appears round to get what we wish. And I really feel prefer it labored to perfection tonight.”
Two Super Bowl victories in 4 years and the early makings of a dynasty is what the Chiefs have. Reid, 64, promised he’d be again subsequent season to proceed his Hall of Fame profession with the best younger quarterback the league has ever seen.
With these two collectively — and a first-ballot Hall of Fame tight finish — who’s going to derail them? When you may’t play zone towards them, they will get you in a disadvantageous place in man protection and win anyway.
“I believed, collectively as a employees, our guys, we now have a fantastic collective group of coaches,” Bieniemy mentioned. “Obviously, it begins with our head man. Our guys examine onerous, we put together, and as a employees we do a fantastic job of over-communicating and it is not about any egos. We all the time need to do what’s finest for our guys, placing them in the precise place to allow them to exit and be one of the best that they are often. Today we did a fantastic job of that.”
