a few random thoughts from the latest heartbreak:
-arrowhead was a ton of fun. you knew it was going to be a special atmosphere 2 hours before kickoff, with people lined up at every gate well before get-in time, and it didn't disappoint. the colts game, fans were filled with dread and angst. this game was optimistic enthusiasm. it was a free roll and felt like it at all times, even when things were going poorly.
-i was sooo happy butker made the field goal to force OT. he would have gotten unjustifiably run out of town had he missed the kick. all NFL kickers are amazing at their craft, but only about a quarter of them are rock solid between the ears. butker had already positioned himself to have a very good career before yesterday, but i think that kick under those circumstances is gonna be a major boost for him personally.
-the late 4th quarter sequence was a near exact replica of the chiefs-rams game from a few months ago. in the rams game, chiefs trailing by 3, they completed it to the 20 yard line - before the rams were whistled for a personal foul that moved the chiefs to 1st-and-goal. that personal foul arguably cost the chiefs the game, because without it, they could have chewed up clock and punched in a late TD to get a walk off win. instead, they scored on the very next play and the rams had plenty of time for rebuttal. this time, watkins' catch and run - awesome as it was - proved to be too good. had he went down at, say, the 15 yard line instead of the 2, the chiefs could have guaranteed themselves OT at worst or perhaps a late TD that didn't leave Brady with 2-plus minutes. it's a bit unconventional, but in today's NFL with offenses as good as they are, scoring late half and at end of games can't just be about if, but also when.
-i have not watched the broadcast and have not read much analysis, so it's possible i'm missing something here. But in real time (and especially afterward) i hated andy's timeout on 3rd-and-4 late in the 2nd quarter. the pats seemed content to go into half up 7-0 and the chiefs should have been thrilled with that. the worst-case scenario without a timeout seemed to be a pats field goal and a 10-pt deficit. the upside, let's be honest, was super limited. if the chiefs force a punt, maybe they respond with a field goal and cut it to 4. if the pats get a first down - more likely than unlikely - then they're barreling down the field for the net plus 3 with a FG. tragically, they got a touchdown (and nearly got the ball again after mahomes fumbed moments later). so to recap, the pats were likely going to half up 7-0 or, at worst, 10-0; and instead they went in up 14-0 and were a bounce away from 17-0. just a disastrous and costly sequence there.
-the edelman overturn was ridiculous. maybe the ball hit him, maybe it didn't. to my eyes, it did. but how can you conclusively say it didn't and overturn the call? the ensuing INT was a huge bailout for the NFL there imo.
-bob sutton must go. i was fine with him coming back this year. andy gave him an overly fair shake. but in the end, his unit didn't deliver, and what evidence do we have that suggests it ever will? andy/mahomes will outclass every coordinator they go up against, including belichick. but brady/mcdaniels vs sutton is just a monster mismatch. if not for an endzone INT and a couple of 4th down stops, the Pats would have scored 45 pts in regulation and possessed the ball for 40+ mins.
-criticism of the first-half offense is dumb. you knew belichick would give mahomes some tough looks early, and there would need to be adjustments made. the offense got its first crack with 7 mins left in the 1st quarter and didn't touch the ball again until early in the 2nd quarter. the Pats ran 26 plays before the chiefs offense took the field for a 2nd time. the chiefs had just three chances in total in the 1st half. sutton's defense is decent at keeping points down at times, especially at home. but going forward, the chiefs need more of a boom-or-bust defense. whatever happens, get it over with quickly. it's absurd to have this record-setting offense standing around for prolonged stretches.
-i feel horrible for andy. as great as mahomes is, and as much potential as the chiefs have in the near future, they won't have many opportunities better than this going forward. the guy is a top-5 all time regular season coach, just like marty was, but can't catch a postseason break. some of it is self inflicted, but some of it is just bad luck.
-overall, good game, fun game, would do it again. can't win em all, right?