The Super Bowl last Sunday was really well-played. There were two superb quarterbacks, two good offenses, two fine defenses, and receivers that were unfairly discounted before they showed up to the game with a lot of talent.
The Super Bowl was really well-played, to say again. For the whole game except for the last 1:20 or 1:30. Then it lost its way. This being a Super Bowl, it super lost its way, big time.
With about 1:30 left to play, a Kansas City ball carrier was on his way to the end zone on First Down. He most likely would have scored and put K.C. ahead. At about the 3 yard line he fell to the ground and slid like a baseball player. The play stopped of course where he hit he ground.
On Second Down and again on Third Down, the Chiefs all took a knee. That kept the clock running down.
With about 8 seconds left on the clock, Kansas City kicked a field goal. This 3-pointer would turn out to be the winning margin and winning was clearly the whole point. It would not be enough to score a touchdown, not with something like a Minute and A Half left to go, during which time Philadelphia would get the ball back. They might (horrors!) have scored in that amount of time, this being football and the NFL, which means they might have gone ahead. It was not certain that the Eagles would score once they got the ball back. The Chiefs were frightened of the risk only.
And that fear of the risk was enough for the Kansas City ball carrier to hit the ground and slide like a baseball player instead of finishing the run in the end zone with a score.
So now football games are won by not scoring a touchdown.
Wow. Super Bowl 57 was incomparable, in its own way. Many people, me included, will remember it only for the final Minute and A Half and the way that it was won.
By not scoring a touchdown.
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