Thoughts for the Day: February 13, 2023: A super Super Bowl

National Anthem:  Chris Stapleton nailed it.  I have always loved his voice.  He kept it simple, clean, and concise.

Half-time show:  Rihanna is not afraid of heights.  It was scary seeing the platform she was standing on at the end of her performance vibrating so much.  It was a great production, but I am not a fan of electronically enhanced singing.  

The best commercial:  The Jeep commercial with the different animals. A close second, the Bud Light commercial which featured Coors Light and Miller Light. 

Favorite play:  The fourth quarter punt return by Kadarius Toney.  After Toney reversed his direction and I could see the blocking wall forming in front of him, I was screaming at the TV about the beauty of the wall.  See my Video of the Day.

Quarterback sneak:  Philadelphia and QB Jalen Hurts have turned a benign play into a major offensive weapon. It was fun to watch them run it to perfection.  The Eagles scored as many touchdowns on it as my sixth and seventh grade football teams did on the play that we called 14 on hike.

Smartest play: Chief running back Jerick McKinnon dropping to a knee on the one-yard line to keep the clock going on the final drive, rather than scoring a touchdown and leaving the Eagles time to march down the field to tie the score. Good coaching by the Chiefs’ staff for having the players prepared.

The holding call on Eagles’ safety James Bradberry: You cannot grab a jersey in the open field and expect to get away with it.  It was holding.  See my Quote of the Day.

The turf: The grass field was the worst part of the game.  That should be the last big game played on that field unless changes are made to make the turf more stable and suitable for football.  See my Onion of the Day

Quarterbacks who also played baseball:  These guys bring a whole new method of throwing passes.  They can throw off either foot, throw on the run, throw shovel pass, throw side-arm under the arms of defensive linemen, zip it or feather it when needed, throw across the body, while doing it all with accuracy.  Mahomes had it all on display in spite of a high-ankle sprain. 

Best post game moment: Brothers Jason Kelce (Eagles’ center) and Travis Kelce (Chiefs all-pro tight end) hugging after the game.

Best outfit: Donna Kelce, mother of Jason and Travis wearing a jacket that was half Eagles jacket and half Chiefs jacket.

The second half:  The Chiefs’ performance in the second half was a close to perfection as you will ever see in a Super Bowl.  Hats off to Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid and his staff for the adjustments they made after being down 10 at half-time

Jalen Hurts: An unbelievable game on his part.  At least three Super Bowl records.  Unfortunately, his one mistake was the difference in the game. He is the only player to be the starting QB on two different teams in the College Football Playoffs (Alabama and Oklahoma)

Patrick Mahomes:  A warrior with incredible talent and leadership skills.  I am not sure Jake from State Farm is going to be able to afford him anymore.

The Game:  I do not recall a better played Super Bowl than this one.  The two QBs, who were one and two in the MVP voting for the year, put on a show for the ages. The opening drives for each team were a sign of things to come as each team marched down the field to score a TD. The unbelievable catches, the punt return, the hard hits, the fumble return, Jalen Hurts all around skills, the two-point conversion, and Patrick Mahomes’ toughness and talent, it was all there on full display. It was only fitting that the game was decided in the closing seconds.  

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Quote of the Day:  “It was a holding.  I tugged his jersey. I was hoping they,” the game officials, “would let it slide.” Eagles safety James Bradberry in a post-game interview responding to questions about the holding penalty called against him on the Chief’s last drive, which put the Chief’s in position for the game winning field goal.

Orchid of the Day: Patrick Mahomes, enough said.

Onion of the Day: The turf at State Farm Stadium

Question of the Day: Has there ever been a better played Super Bowl than yesterday’s game?

Video of the Day: The punt return. Watch how the wall forms. The video is restricted by the NFL from playing on my website so click below on Watch on You Tube.