Renck: The Kansas City Refs became the Kansas City Chiefs. After the first possession, the favorable calls stopped, the pressure on Patrick Mahomes accelerated, and the Eagles turned a three-peat coronation into a helplessness foil. It placed one debate on pause. Mahomes is not the GOAT, a title left clearly in Tom Brady’s clutches. Mahomes boasts three Super Bowls. Brady has seven, and he never got blown out twice in the big game like the Chiefs quarterback has. A more pertinent question in these parts: Did the Eagles write the book on the Chiefs? Did they create a blueprint for the Broncos — or any of the top AFC teams — to finally put an end to the Chiefs’ historic run?
Keeler: They didn’t write it, but they followed the script to perfection. There are at least three phases to a Mahomes dropback. The first is a quick throw. The second is to scan the rest of the field. The third is to take off. The Eagles took away the first and third parts, then harassed the snot out of him during the second phase. I recall on one of those six Philly sacks seeing Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter backpedal and jump quickly during his rush for a second when he saw Mahomes looking to throw over his shoulder. It was a subtle thing, but it forced Captain State Farm to hold the ball, reload and look the other way. He wound up getting smushed. The book? You’ve gotta rush four — with hands high — and jam all the “hot” reads (tight end, backs, etc).
Renck: The Chiefs are the worst great team I have ever seen. They remind me of the San Francisco Giants, who won the World Series in 2010, ’12 and ’14. Those teams lived on the edge, always winning in the clutch and with superb pitching. The Chiefs’ mind-bending mocking of probability finally ended on Sunday. They did not dominate on third and fourth down and had no suspect calls to extend drives. But what the Eagles did is hard to replicate. You must pressure Mahomes with four. It has been proven if you force him to hold onto the ball, he becomes mortal.
Keeler: Hunter Pence would like a word, my friend! (But you’re right about the Bochy Dynasty.) Think I saw a stat via the New York Times last week that Mahomes coming into the Super Bowl was 71-7 when his average time to throw in the pocket was 3.0 seconds or fewer, but just 2-8 when that time was 3.31 seconds or more. That’s a mind-bending number to wrap your head around, yet it also underscores the whole “keep him in the second phase” thing I mentioned earlier.
Renck: What the Broncos cannot do is assume vulnerability. The Chiefs will react with urgency and find a left tackle. They will add a top receiving weapon. And might draft a tight end if Travis Kelce retires. The gap closed on Sunday night. The Chiefs have lost their psychological edge. But the only way the Broncos can capitalize is through physicality. They must win on the ground with a lead back and rattle Mahomes without relying on the blitz. It sounds easy. We all know it won’t be, but an avenue to success exists.
Keeler: I’ll give the Chiefs credit for this much: They feel shame. And they won’t stand pat with Mahomes turning 30 in September. The dynasty window in BBQ Country is still open, but with two Super Bowl beatdowns in five years, it’s starting to creep a little closer to the sill. The Broncos have the right idea. Mobile quarterback. Good offensive line. Killer pass rush. They just have to land the “bridge” pieces, the “finishing” pieces. Tailback would be nice. But a tight end and maybe one more Pro-Bowl level piece to stick in the secondary would be even better.
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