(02-02-2020, 11:06 PM)OutsiderFan Wrote: The most important play of Super Bowl LIV was Chiefs 3rd and 15 with 7 mins left. At the snap, Nick Bosa and DeForrest Buckner executed a twist that had Bosa work inside in front of Buckner, who ran around to the vacated spot Bosa left.
Rather than passing Bosa off to a Guard, LT Fisher went with Bosa inside and the Guard futilely followed Buckner to no avail, who had a clean line to Mahomes. As Bosa went inside of where Buckner vacated, Fisher’s right hand grabbed Bosa’s jersey neck on Bosa’s right shoulder and pulled him downward by his shoulder pad, preventing Bosa from cleanly getting passed Fisher and vertical to Mahomes. As Bosa went up field toward Mahomes, he used a swim move to get off the hold, but as he did, Fisher reached around Bosa’s back with his left arm, further impeding Bosa to get vertical, but also pushing Bosa further to Bosa’s left than he wanted to be. This “double hold” prevented Bosa, who had otherwise badly beaten Fisher, from getting to the face of Mahomes as quickly as he would have if not held.
As Buckner neared Mahomes, with Bosa having been held and pushed, Mahomes was able to step forward into his throw that was like a punt for WR Hill. If Bosa had not been held up by the double hold, he would have been right in front of Mahomes and not given him anywhere to step up. Mahomes either would have thrown a less accurate pass, or been hit by both Buckner and Bosa for a sack. As it was, Buckner was just half a second from hitting Mahomes before he threw the ball Hill caught for the biggest first down of the game.
I didn’t notice this live, but when I went back to see the play, I was amazed how flagrant the hold on Bosa was, and it was actually a separate hold with each arm. This hold was far more flagrant than the OPI called on Kittle before halftime. And I do believe the OPI was legit.
The Niners didn’t lose because of the officials, but there is no doubt Bosa was flagrantly held on the most important play of the game, one that turned the game’s momentum. Had he not been held, Mahomes would have been sacked or thrown a ball while being hit that likely would have been incomplete. Had the penalty been called, it would have been 3rd and 25. Instead, it was the longest pass play of the game and catalyzed a comeback.
I saw that. It happened regularly. The Chiefs, with the more experienced coach, understood that the rules in the Super Bowl tend to go out the window a little bit. The holding on the Chiefs' side was particularly impressive. I can live with that, but the offensive PI call on George Kittle fell into the same category. Two sets of rules, IMHO.
(02-03-2020, 05:13 AM)baymeadows3408 Wrote: Bottom line: The Chiefs are a talented team and they made the big plays and they also beat the 49ers at their own game by scoring touchdowns using long drives. Maybe Shanahan should have kept running the ball on second and five on the 49ers' drive following the Chiefs' first touchdown in the fourth quarter, but had run plays been stuffed on second and third down then we would be accusing Shanahan of turtling. I find some solace in the fact that the 49ers have a lot of young talent, but the NFC West is shaping up to be a war. Lynch and Shanahan have some work to do.
Have to agree. The Niners could stand to replace a few of the defensive backs. And Garoppolo needs to improve in a few categories (looking off receivers, focusing so much on going over the middle, inability to scramble, inability to throw the ball away).
Audaces fortuna iuvat