Super Bowl LIV: Groundhog Day?
With 12:05 remaining you just picked off your opponents QB for the 2nd time in the 2nd half, normally a formula for success in a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, your offense manages to stall and your punter makes his 1st appearance with 9:01 remaining, again normally a formula for success in a Super Bowl.
However in the NFL these days, normal is relative. We've seen this movie too as the 49ers (or Mahomes and KC depending on how you look at it) might have had a little Zebra assist, you be the judge...
Better yet, since the down was played with no offsides call, how about the late out of bounds hit on the QB for 15 yds and an automatic 1st down? In all cases, no call, and the 49ers punted for the 1st time in the game, leading to the Chiefs 1st 4th quarter TD. The stench of Zebra taint gets stronger, you be the judge...
Above, with 7:13 remaining KC converted a 3rd and 15 for the biggest play of the game, a 44 yd completion to Tyreek Hill. On said play, KC offensive left tackle Fisher can be seen literally tackling SF DE Bosa which materially affected the outcome. This is normally holding and the Chiefs face 3rd and 25 and probably punt on 4th. As the impartial Sportscenter analysis by Hasselbeck notes, the Chief O-line was seen holding most of the game, yet none were called all day. More no holds barred, you be the judge...
Half a dozen things that make you go Hmm... during the regular and post season...
1. No team in the NFL was called for more penalties on pass plays than the Kansas City Chiefs, none called on Sunday.
2. The KC defense topped the league with 22 defensive holding infractions, and were #7 in pass interference infractions with 11, none called on Sunday.
3. The SF offense was called for offensive pass interference twice in the prior eighteen games, now three total for the year.
4. The KC defense at #7 benefited from offensive pass interference three times during the regular season, now four total for the year.
5. The KC O-Line tied for #9 in offensive holding calls 23 for 224 yds with 9 being declined for a total of 32 infractions, none called on Sunday.
6. The SF defensive pressure was #7 in drawing offensive holding calls, 28 for 271 yds with 5 being declined for a total of 33 infractions forced, none called on Sunday.
There's alot of no calls above, and that sounds vaguely familiar? Sundays referee in charge? The same referee in charge of the 2018 NFC Championship Game between the Saints and the Rams, at fault for the infamous defensive pass interference no call, Bill Vinovich. Coincidence?
Were those non calls made, perhaps no KC 1st TD and 2nd TD of the 4th quarter, no KC rally, no fairy tale ending for KC and Reid? In the 4th quarter, the Chiefs ultimately had to execute, while the 49er's failed?
How likely is it that all the above gently nudged the Chiefs in position, and influenced the games outcome? Trailing by 10+ pts with less than 7 minutes to play, what were the Chiefs odds of winning?
This season in 165 games such teams were 1-164 for a six tenths of one percent chance of winning or 99.4% chance of losing, now 2-165. No nudges, no chance, there are no coincidences.
FYI - Up 20-10 with 6:30 to play, this was the 2nd biggest Q4 blown lead in SB history, behind only the Falcons in SB LI (Shanahan was the Falcon OC).
Teams leading by 10+ in Q4 of the Super Bowl? Now 29-3 and Shanahan "owns" two of the losses. Groundhog Day for Mr. Shanahan indeed.
Coming full circle... normally not offensive pass interference, normally defensive offside's, normally unsportsmanlike conduct, normally offensive holding, normally roughing the quarterback, all normally but this is the NFL, and as Hannibal Lecter said...
Stats courtesy of NFL Penalty Tracker. FYI - For more interesting playoff factoids see our posts... 2019 Wild Card Ruminations?, 2019 Divisional Divisiveness?, 2019 NFL Super Bowl LIV Spectacular?, Super Bowl LIV - Cover 3 Frontline? and Super Bowl LIV - 21 Jumpstreet Runtime?
However in the NFL these days, normal is relative. We've seen this movie too as the 49ers (or Mahomes and KC depending on how you look at it) might have had a little Zebra assist, you be the judge...
The above play which decided this years Vikings-Saints playoff game in OT, was NOT called offensive pass interference, you be the judge and now this...What about here?? pic.twitter.com/3bgYzVu7Tl— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) February 3, 2020
Above, Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen clearly initiates contact. No interference on Viking TE Rudolph, yet interference on 49er TE Kittle? Which is it? Here are both plays in the same clip, again you be the judge...The receiver extends his arm and creates separation while the ball is in the air, therefore it is offensive pass interference. – AL#SBLIV pic.twitter.com/hxAvggDqhS— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) February 3, 2020
— Jrue BrÄ“Ä“z 💠(@SeaOfCowards) February 3, 2020Said penalty cost the 49ers a minimum of three points just prior to the end of the half. Later in the game, the Chiefs would have been ahead 24-23, not 24-20, which would have made a difference in the SF 4th quarter play calling. But it never should have got to that stage, you be the judge...
Leading 20-10 with 9 minutes left in the game, 3rd and 14 from their own 34 yard, the KC defensive offside's should have given the 49ers another chance at converting on 3rd and 9. It is possible that the SF right guard moved? Even so, the down should have been played over.Huge stop for K.C., which also gets two breaks because a late hit isn’t called (and an offsides isn’t called either).— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 3, 2020
Chiefs get the ball down 10 at their own 17, with 8:53 left in the game. pic.twitter.com/slexrAvJP1
Better yet, since the down was played with no offsides call, how about the late out of bounds hit on the QB for 15 yds and an automatic 1st down? In all cases, no call, and the 49ers punted for the 1st time in the game, leading to the Chiefs 1st 4th quarter TD. The stench of Zebra taint gets stronger, you be the judge...
The 49ers DL was held all game long including on the biggest play of the game. Blatant hold on Bosa to allow Hill to break free. Super Bowl robbery. https://t.co/p1ZCVRfvDU— Sarkis Garabedian (@Sarky_G) February 3, 2020
Above, with 7:13 remaining KC converted a 3rd and 15 for the biggest play of the game, a 44 yd completion to Tyreek Hill. On said play, KC offensive left tackle Fisher can be seen literally tackling SF DE Bosa which materially affected the outcome. This is normally holding and the Chiefs face 3rd and 25 and probably punt on 4th. As the impartial Sportscenter analysis by Hasselbeck notes, the Chief O-line was seen holding most of the game, yet none were called all day. More no holds barred, you be the judge...
Clear helmet to head contact on the QB by KC LB Niemann, called automatically all year and for far less, yet in this case no blood, no foul. Still ahead 20-17, after that 3rd down with 5:18 remaining, rather than 15 yds and an automatic 1st down, SF punted for the 2nd time in the game, and KC would make their go ahead TD drive.Garoppolo should be in concussion protocol. pic.twitter.com/9yQ7aOQIfn— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) February 3, 2020
Half a dozen things that make you go Hmm... during the regular and post season...
1. No team in the NFL was called for more penalties on pass plays than the Kansas City Chiefs, none called on Sunday.
2. The KC defense topped the league with 22 defensive holding infractions, and were #7 in pass interference infractions with 11, none called on Sunday.
3. The SF offense was called for offensive pass interference twice in the prior eighteen games, now three total for the year.
4. The KC defense at #7 benefited from offensive pass interference three times during the regular season, now four total for the year.
5. The KC O-Line tied for #9 in offensive holding calls 23 for 224 yds with 9 being declined for a total of 32 infractions, none called on Sunday.
6. The SF defensive pressure was #7 in drawing offensive holding calls, 28 for 271 yds with 5 being declined for a total of 33 infractions forced, none called on Sunday.
There's alot of no calls above, and that sounds vaguely familiar? Sundays referee in charge? The same referee in charge of the 2018 NFC Championship Game between the Saints and the Rams, at fault for the infamous defensive pass interference no call, Bill Vinovich. Coincidence?
Were those non calls made, perhaps no KC 1st TD and 2nd TD of the 4th quarter, no KC rally, no fairy tale ending for KC and Reid? In the 4th quarter, the Chiefs ultimately had to execute, while the 49er's failed?
How likely is it that all the above gently nudged the Chiefs in position, and influenced the games outcome? Trailing by 10+ pts with less than 7 minutes to play, what were the Chiefs odds of winning?
This season in 165 games such teams were 1-164 for a six tenths of one percent chance of winning or 99.4% chance of losing, now 2-165. No nudges, no chance, there are no coincidences.
FYI - Up 20-10 with 6:30 to play, this was the 2nd biggest Q4 blown lead in SB history, behind only the Falcons in SB LI (Shanahan was the Falcon OC).
Teams leading by 10+ in Q4 of the Super Bowl? Now 29-3 and Shanahan "owns" two of the losses. Groundhog Day for Mr. Shanahan indeed.
Coming full circle... normally not offensive pass interference, normally defensive offside's, normally unsportsmanlike conduct, normally offensive holding, normally roughing the quarterback, all normally but this is the NFL, and as Hannibal Lecter said...
Stats courtesy of NFL Penalty Tracker. FYI - For more interesting playoff factoids see our posts... 2019 Wild Card Ruminations?, 2019 Divisional Divisiveness?, 2019 NFL Super Bowl LIV Spectacular?, Super Bowl LIV - Cover 3 Frontline? and Super Bowl LIV - 21 Jumpstreet Runtime?
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