TMQ: Taylor Swift back in the Super Bowl!

Plus the Eagles win with traditionalist tactics

Going into the season the NFL’s grand strategic vision called for the Kansas City Chiefs to return to the Super Bowl seeking the first-ever threepeat – what a promotional opportunity that will be, brace for the State Farm ads! – and more important, return Taylor Swift to the Super Bowl.

Both dreams came true at Kansas City as Buffalo’s Dalton Kincaid dropped the last-minute fourth-down pass that would have positioned the Bills for the win.

It was yet another addition to the Hall of Horrors for longsuffering Bills faithful – missed field goal on the final play of the Super Bowl, kickoff return touchdown allowed on the final play of a postseason game at Tennessee, the 13-seconds fiasco in a prior postseason contest at Kansas City, the late missed field goal against Kansas City in last year’s playoffs, a last second dropped touchdown pass in the playoffs against the Browns during Jim Kelly days, to name a few.

In the last five seasons, teams that score four touchdowns and don’t commit a turnover are 21-2 in the NFL playoffs. The two losses? Both Buffalo at Kansas City.

The Bills Hall of Horrors needs to build a new wing.

The Chiefs won again because Patrick Mahomes rules contemporary football in the same way Michael Jordan once ruled basketball. Mahomes is simply the best: in his own performance and in improving the performance of others around him. Yes the Chiefs are favored by the officials (much more below) but they are also the best.

America’s Prom Date and America’s Boyfriend after the game. Photo courtesy USA Today.

While all Super Bowl eyes are on Swift (America’s Prom Date), Travis Kelce (America’s Boyfriend) and the brilliant Saquon Barkley (and his offensive line), let’s not overlook the two things that just happened that concern football history:

1. The Eagles won the NFC with a rushing-based offense.

2. The two top defenses made the Super Bowl. The top two offenses (Detroit and Buffalo) did not.

At Philadelphia, the Commanders turned back into a pumpkin.

Rookie Jayden Daniels had a marvelous season, beleaguered Washington fans finally have something to cheer for, the future is bright. But two playoffs games without a turnover were followed by four turnovers against the Nesharim.

For its part Philadelphia stated the case for the comeback of the running game in the NFL. The Eagles rushed for 229 yards against Washington, after gaining 285 yards rushing against the Rams and 169 yards rushing versus Green Bay.

A team that combines clock-control rushing with power defense is the essence of traditionalist football – and that’s what Philadelphia will take into the Super Bowl.

Despite the potency of the Eagles rush attack, Washington spent most of the game in a nickel. The Kansas City defense will not make that mistake.

Photo by Marius Ciocirlan on Unsplash

The Commanders turned back into a pumpkin.

In coaching carousel news, new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer signed a four-year contract. Four years is the same length of time Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are under contract to the ‘Boys.

So is the Dallas franchise entering a period of stability? Experience says one way or another the three will not be together long.

The Saints have the sole remaining head coach vacancy. Several candidates withdrew their names.

New Orleans has the worst salary cap situation of any NFL team, no clear path to a franchise quarterback. Salary cap problems forced the Saints to let go of linebacker Zack Baun, who had a fabulous season for Philadelphia, helping give the Eagles the number-one defense; forced the Saints to trade away Marshon Lattimore. The Saints may require a three-year teardown. What coach of stature wants to take that on?

They will hope, of course, to find the next Dan Campbell, who was widely viewed as crazy to take on the Lions’ bad situation – then able to turn things around in just two years, which is blazing speed for rebuilding a bad NFL team. Campbell’s first move was to make the Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford trade, which in retrospect was a masterstroke.

In zebra news, Philadelphia was at the Washington 1 yard line. For three straight plays the Commanders were flagged for encroachment. The penalty is nothing – ball moved a couple inches closer. Washington was hoping to get the Eagles to flinch and jump offside, which would push the ball back five yards.

The referee warned Washington that if the deliberate penalties continued, he would award Philadelphia a touchdown.

A little used rule says that in the case of a “palpably unfair act” the referee may award “any outcome.”

I’ve never seen a touchdown awarded in an NFL game. If you have, please let me know in the comments.