The Way I See It
In this The Way I See It, the Super Bowl match-up is set, Tom Brady retires, new beginnings for several franchises and coaches, and more.
Super Bowl Set
The teams for Super Bowl LVII have been set: the Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) will square off against the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3).
Path to the Super Bowl – NFC Championship Game
The Eagles posted a 31-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers to earn their trip to the Big Game. The interesting part of their victory was that their offense was anemic. QB Jalen Hurts passed for just 121 yards, though he ran for 39 yards and a TD. Was he not quite 100%, or was the 49ers’ defense that good? Probably a bit of both.
What’s more clear, however, is that the Niners’ offense was ineffective after QB Brock Purdy injured his throwing arm early in the first quarter. To make matters worse, the Eagles also knocked Josh Johnson out of the game, resulting in an injured Purdy returning to the contest. As a result, Purdy was physically unable to play effectively, and the Philly defense easily shut down the Niners’ offense.
Path to the Super Bowl – AFC Championship Game
Unlike its NFC counterpart, the AFC Championship game was an exciting, competitive game. Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow both turned in heroic performances. Mahomes was battling an ankle injury, as well as the loss of much of his receiver corps to injury. Meanwhile, Burrow faced his own challenges, notably a porous offensive line which Chiefs DL Chris Jones happily exploited.
Despite the back-and-forth contest that was ultimately decided by Harrison Butker’s 48-yard FG with 00:04 on the clock, we will remember the game for the horrific officiating. Although the final penalty called on Bengals’ LB Joseph Ossai was legitimate, the rest of the game featured missed calls, blown calls, and, uniquely, a do-over on a third-down play.
Book this, however: with Mahomes, Burrow, and perhaps Josh Allen, and the odds are good for exciting AFC Championship games.
SPORTS GRUMBLINGS SPOTLIGHT
Breaking News: Flavor Flav, Legendary Public Enemy Hypeman
In this clip, legendary Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav announces that it’s Black History Month. Flav doin’ what he does best!
New Beginnings
This time of year, some teams sitting at home are making major moves for the 2023 season. Here’s a take on the coaching hires so far.
- Sean Payton (Denver Broncos) – What would it cost to hire an offensive genius with a Super Bowl victory on his resume? For Denver, the price was a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick, and $20 million. Might seem steep, but it’s in line with similar trades for Super Bowl-winning coaches (Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick). The Broncos are a talented team that Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson let down. We’ll find out if Wilson has anything left in the tank with Hackett now gone.
- Demeco Ryans (Houston Texans) – This was a feel-good hire, with the Texans bringing in their former standout linebacker to lead the franchise. While I applaud the hiring of Ryans, Houston doesn’t seem to be a place where black head coaches are given too much of a chance to succeed. Hopefully, the Texans will give Ryans the opportunity— and players— to succeed.
- Frank Reich (Carolina Panthers) – This is less an indictment of Reich as it is a disappointment that they did not allow Steve Wilks to remain the head coach. Overall, I firmly believe that any business may hire or fire anyone for any reason. However, this seems a little forced by owner David Tepper. For this hire to make sense, the Panthers must secure their franchise QB via the Draft or free agency.
Tom Brady Retires
Tom Brady officially announced his retirement in a self-published video. It was a short video, less than a minute long.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Brady’s, and nothing made me happier than watching my Giants ruin his perfect season in 2007. However, even the most ardent of his haters cannot deny his accomplishments as a player. Brady has the stats, championships, durability, and intangibles that make him the greatest quarterback, if not player, in NFL history. Anything short of unanimous induction into the Hall of Fame in 2028 will be a travesty of epic proportions.
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