@orion said:

Many times, once you get into the playoffs, the D is the separator.  I feel THAT'S where the old saying comes from.  But without a good offense you're not going to be IN the playoffs.   (there are, of course, rare exceptions)

54 was the exception, not the norm. 

@mjp28 said:

Do defenses win Championships ?  Do the new rules favor the offensive style of play ? Well decide for yourself.......

For more stats and numbers.  https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/superbowl/history

Super Bowl Lines

The point-spread rarely comes into play with the Super Bowl, meaning you just have to pick the winner of the game. There have only been six instances where the favorite won the game straight up but failed to cover the number. Those outcomes occurred in 2009, 2005, 2004, 1996, 1989 and 1976.

In the 2014-15 Super Bowl between New England and Seattle, the closing consensus line was pick 'em, which was the first in the NFL finale. The Patriots rallied for a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks.

Oddsmakers were on the money with their numbers in two Super Bowls, which produced pushes or ties. Those matchups took place in 1997 and 2000.

Let's see, 2020, better D lost.

2019 - Better D won.

2018 - Push

2017 - D

2016 - D

2015 - D

2014 - D

2013 - D

2012 - D

2011 - O, but Pitt had key injuries on D, including Polamalu having bum knee. 

2010 - Push

2009 - D

2008 - D

2007 - O

2006 - D

@the-gipper said:

Rule changes favor the offense 

Yeah it's a different game from when we grew up.

SB 4-15 all of the o/u were in the 30s with 7 in a row going under.  It was a defensive game back then.

@mjp28 said:

A few hints in the old time Super Bowl era the over/unders were in the low 30s to 40s.  In the new era they are high 40s to high 50s.

A good defense is quite helpful to get you to the playoffs in any era -but- you must always be able to outscore the opponent sometimes with game winning 2 minute drives.

Rule changes favor the offense 

A good defense is quite helpful to get you to the playoffs in any era -but- you must always be able to outscore the opponent sometimes with game winning 2 minute drives.

For more stats and numbers.  https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/superbowl/history

Super Bowl Lines

The point-spread rarely comes into play with the Super Bowl, meaning you just have to pick the winner of the game. There have only been six instances where the favorite won the game straight up but failed to cover the number. Those outcomes occurred in 2009, 2005, 2004, 1996, 1989 and 1976.

In the 2014-15 Super Bowl between New England and Seattle, the closing consensus line was pick 'em, which was the first in the NFL finale. The Patriots rallied for a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks.

Oddsmakers were on the money with their numbers in two Super Bowls, which produced pushes or ties. Those matchups took place in 1997 and 2000.

@icecube said:

This doesn't change my mind: defense and rushing wins championships,

In THIS country, you are entitled to your wrong opinion. 

@nickers said:

I was thinking more the Four Tops!

Someone said it was actually a Backstreet boys a routine

@orion said:

San Fran.....old school......Run well (#2 in the league)......play good defense (#2 in the league)

Kansas City.....new era.....Pass well (#5 in the league).....#17 defense in the league.

The team with the better passing offense won.

The old school team had the lead much of the way....and played their old school style....but once they got behind and needed to come down the field and score in a short period of time, their passing attack was not good enough.  And it 'looked' like they didn't stand a chance....whereas throughout the game you always had the feeling the KC was not out of it.....because they can pass.

I want our team to be able to pass ourselves to victory.  Sure I love Chubb...and want to run the ball down somebody's throat....but more than that, I want to feel that we can pass ourselves back into a ball game when it's called for.

This doesn't change my mind: defense and rushing wins championships, as long as you have some decent passing.  9ers ran into a sick QB. Pat is special. Overcomes any deficit. 24 points behind? Whatever, he wins by 20. 

@erniecamacho84 said:

Kyle Shanahan is a piece of shit human being.

Why?

Why??

Kansas City.....new era.....Pass well (#5 in the league).....#17 defense in the league.

The team with the better passing offense won.

The old school team had the lead much of the way....and played their old school style....but once they got behind and needed to come down the field and score in a short period of time, their passing attack was not good enough.  And it 'looked' like they didn't stand a chance....whereas throughout the game you always had the feeling the KC was not out of it.....because they can pass.

I want our team to be able to pass ourselves to victory.  Sure I love Chubb...and want to run the ball down somebody's throat....but more than that, I want to feel that we can pass ourselves back into a ball game when it's called for.

@tiamat63 said:

... Nevermind that the Niners averaged almost the same YPC as they did YPP.

Without the added benefit of the QB being involved as a runner.

Well They got creative with Deebo and he picked up 53 of the 140 yards or so they had on the ground.  

bottomline the 9ers thrived all year with 2nd and manageable and then you saw play action or they just picked up a 2nd and 5 on the ground and chewed up clock.  That didn’t happen as often this game.  If it happened a few more times maybe that 9er vaunted D gets a breather maybe the 9ers aren’t forced to make Jimmy G a gunslinger.

@tour2ma said:

Best individual officials the NFL has... as based upon their accumulative 2020 grades... should collectively call a great game.

TD call was very, very close, but in the one freeze frame they showed that was frozen when his toe hit the sideline chalk the ball had just broken the plane of the goal line.

Agree the call was a good one, but I don't think it was necessary. Kittle had spec enough that with his size advantage he should have had no issue elevating to high point the ball... and he might not have even had to do that... the throw was that good.

I agree it was close.. I guess it would've been ok either way.. You could make a case for both sides....

Example A:  The Chiefs and their well below average running game.   Please observe depth and downhill aggressiveness of the backers and secondary.

                  PRE-SNAP

                      POST-SNAP 

      The Niners 2nd level never even so much as blinked when considering their run fits.    Not a single downstep sucking up the backers into the lanes and wash.     The ball was still completed, but a big part of that was KC going max pro.       Now for the KC defense on 1st and 10.

          PRE-SNAP

      POST - SNAP 

You'll see how hard the the backers downstep and look laterally while at the same time, you seen Sorenson at safety already 3 yards forward as well. Check the backside edge defender unblocked (#92) and where his eyes are.       Why were more deep shots not dialed up...? I couldn't tell you.    It's almost like after the Kittle OPI they went full turtle with the deep ball.

Look at how hard this action was sold and how cleanly this defense bit on it though.   Because when you're facing a GREAT rushing attack, that's what you HAVE to do.

Why San Fran got away from this formula for half their drives is beyond me.       Even worse, watching some of the potential throws to Kittle and the opportunities missed by both the Niners coaches and Jimmy Garropalo will haunt them for quite a while.     The Chiefs had no real answer to dealing with the inline TE's and backfield receivers from the Niners.    It just seems like young Shanny played into the hands of the KC defense half the time and the other half the light-bulb seemingly came on.   I just feel this could have, more than likely should have, been a 14 point Niner win had their coaches kept with the leading formula.

@d-bone said:

Really good game. The refs were fairly invisible, no glaring coaching mistakes and hard play by both teams. Probably my favorite SB in recent memory. 

@nickers said:

I was surprised how little impact the Refs had on the game...However.. that one touchdown where the players foot looked suspect should've not been called a TD

Best individual officials the NFL has... as based upon their accumulative 2020 grades... should collectively call a great game.

TD call was very, very close, but in the one freeze frame they showed that was frozen when his toe hit the sideline chalk the ball had just broken the plane of the goal line.

@d-bone said:

As an impartial viewer, it was a good call. Without the full arm extension, he doesn't get the final separation to make the catch.... You know, offensive PI.

Agree the call was a good one, but I don't think it was necessary. Kittle had spec enough that with his size advantage he should have had no issue elevating to high point the ball... and he might not have even had to do that... the throw was that good.

@calfoxwc said:

Nope - the Chief's oline was getting overrun

Yup... I would estimate the yards Mahomes gained in designed runs at zero. Kid was running for his life for most of the game. Late tho he was only having to slide/step up in the pocket to gain time. While SF was never "gassed", they did tire.

I will say that the kid takes a shot better than I'd have guessed. Ward and Tartt both smacked him good... still shaking my head, however, at Bosa laying off him that 2nd option-play KC ran. And IIRC that was the last option run Andy called... I think he was shaking his head as well.

@hoorta said:

Tour isn't going like me saying it, but Sashi totally blew it dealing with Schwartz.  

Au contraire, mon h...

The criticism of Sashi I endorse is the one about him having to win every deal. Pulling the offer to Mitch was one example. While I understood his reasoning, Mitch was the wrong talent with which to make the point.

@hoorta said:

Was it just me, but was the Chief's o-line getting destroyed?  Was rooting for the Chiefs, now our ex-Browns Reiter, Schwartz, and Erving! (you kidding me?) get rings. 

Tour isn't going like me saying it, but Sashi totally blew it dealing with Schwartz.  

  Nope - the Chief's oline was getting overrun - the niners outstanding defensive line kept controlling the los, ...

   until the Chiefs adapted in the second half, and started getting the ball out quicker - on shorter throws. I think the Chiefs had their wr's and Kelce to start winging it into open zone areas, and gave up running standard routes - the niners kept nailing them on those. Kelce/Watkins/Hill started spinning/reversing to get open. Just what I think.

@hoorta said:

I felt that was definitely OPI- extended arm to get separation. and I feel Shanny wasted around 90 seconds of the first half not using his time outs. Reid was being the aggressor going for it on 4th down. That was conservative coach think by Shanahan. 

Was it just me, but was the Chief's o-line getting destroyed?  Was rooting for the Chiefs, now our ex-Browns Reiter, Schwartz, and Erving! (you kidding me?) get rings. 

Tour isn't going like me saying it, but Sashi totally blew it dealing with Schwartz.  

That would be because the Chiefs Oline was getting handled when Mahomes had to straight drop and push the ball downfield.

@d-bone said:

Really good game. The refs were fairly invisible, no glaring coaching mistakes and hard play by both teams. Probably my favorite SB in recent memory. 

I felt that was definitely OPI- extended arm to get separation. and I feel Shanny wasted around 90 seconds of the first half not using his time outs. Reid was being the aggressor going for it on 4th down. That was conservative coach think by Shanahan. 

@tiamat63 said:

Choke. Job.

Also, Chiefs Oline had a pretty good amount of freedom last night with their hands. 

Was it just me, but was the Chief's o-line getting destroyed?  Was rooting for the Chiefs, now our ex-Browns Reiter, Schwartz, and Erving! (you kidding me?) get rings. 

Tour isn't going like me saying it, but Sashi totally blew it dealing with Schwartz.  

@atom said:

wtf was kyle thinking at the end of half call a damn time out man,but then again i am glad he didnt cause hell ya I bet the half would end in a tie Did I Say HELL YA

I was OK with it. He was obviously content with a tie game and being able to make his 1/2 time adjustments knowing he got the ball 1st to start the last 1/2 of a 0-0 game. That being said, calling a TO and being aggressive would've been fine with me too.

"If it works, you're a genius - If it doesn't, you're an idiot". 

@sdbacker80 said:

Refs- the PI on Kittle was garbage happens every play- I know OBJ got a few of those this season as well.   

As an impartial viewer, it was a good call. Without the full arm extension, he doesn't get the final separation to make the catch.... You know, offensive PI.