A “Day After” that will lead to months of questions…
by John Kincade
It’s going to be a long time before you feel OK about how things turned out on Sunday in SB57. It’s the seasons where you actually accomplish something that hurt and matter the most when they don’t end in a championship. The 2022 season will go down as one of “what might have been” instead of a championship. The mistakes made and the decisions that caused some head scratching moments will forever become part of the collective scar of the fan base. A chance to elevate league wide status with another Lombardi trophy didn’t materialize. They have nobody to blame but themselves.
If you believe that the questionable call that extended the Chiefs final scoring drive was the reason the Eagles lost the game, I’m going to have to vehemently disagree. Was it a contributing factor? Sure. Does blaming that completely ignore everything that happened in that disastrous second half? Yep.
The Eagles did uncharacteristic things in the Super Bowl that they hadn’t done all season. They had unforced errors, including a terrible turnover that led to a Chiefs touchdown from Jalen Hurts. My lasting memory of the game though will be that Jalen Hurts answered every possible question about whether he was ready for the big stage. He was absolutely the best quarterback on the field. He threw for 300 yards and rushed for another 70. He showed poise and confidence. It was eye popping. Sign the man and know that you have an answer at quarterback for a generation of fans to enjoy in the future.
The field conditions were atrocious. Before people start using that as an excuse remember that both teams played on it. The turf was more like a skating rink and was instrumental in many critical plays. That can’t happen for a multi-billion industry. The NFL should be pissed that it’s biggest showcase was affected by something so avoidable.
Jonathan Gannon had a poor second half. There is no debating it. The adjustments made by the Chiefs after halftime were never answered. Coaches weren’t the reason you lost that game. Whether it was a fumble that led to a gift TD or numerous clock violations, the team looked shaky. The overwhelming factor was your best weapon on defense, your pass rush, was completely invisible. They never got Patrick Mahomes down on the ground, let alone pressure him hardly at all. They couldn’t collapse the pocket and when they did they gave him running lanes that led to big conversions.
I know you won’t want to hear this today and I get it. Remember, the 1980 and 2004 Eagles teams are considered historic and are celebrated in this city decades later. After the losses in Super Bowls 15 and 39 there was a lot of complaining and anger. It’s expected and I would dare to say cathartic. It takes time for the temperature to die down and for reflection to begin. Nobody wants to reflect on the accomplishments today, but we will and we will find reasons to be proud.
Silver linings will come, but not today.
Super Bowl LVII Field Level Photos
