The 2020 NFL season ended on an anti-climactic note for the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs. The defending champions suffered a 9-31 defeat at the hands of Tom Brady and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last month. They were thoroughly outplayed, despite starting the game as firm favorites to lift back-to-back Super Bowl trophies.
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USA Today via Reuters
Feb 7, 2021; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Ndamukong Suh (93) reacts after a play against Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the third quarter in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It was the Buccaneers defense who deserves all the credit for the win. But a poor display from the Chiefs’ offense was also to be blamed.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes recorded a sub-par outing in Super Bowl LV throwing for 249 yards with 2 interceptions and no passing touchdowns. He was not given enough protection by his aging offensive line and was consequently sacked thrice.
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Chiefs GM Brett Veach has taken a step in moving things around by letting two of his most experienced offensive linemen go.
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"They didn't want to release two of the greatest players in the team's history. Trust me. But they had to do something. It's a brutal business & in this case, instead of kicking the can down the road and hoping, GM Brett Veach ripped the Band-Aid off."-@PSchrags | @ArrowheadPride pic.twitter.com/iElWKqLSMf
— GMFB (@gmfb) March 12, 2021
On today’s segment of the NFL Network show Good Morning Football, analyst Peter Schrager gave his take on the Chiefs’ situation involving the departing offensive tackles, Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher.
He said, “They’re saying, ‘All right, we drafted a guy, Lucas Niang, he’s gonna have to play Laurent Duvernay-Tardif comes back, we’re gonna have to make it work.’ But every team is going to be losing pieces….
“He’s(Veach) saying, ‘Let’s just rip the band-aid off. Yeah, let’s get rid of it. And let’s start anew.’ I trust that they can find the talent on the offensive line to make this work. It was a necessary evil. A lot of teams are restructuring right now.
“It’s basically kicking the can down the road….we love Fisher, we love Shwartz, but Chiefs are saying let’s turn the page. If you want to have Mahomes, Kelce, and Hill.
“We got to do some things and it’s gonna have to come at the expense of some veteran offensive lineman,” Schrager said on the show.
Coach Andy Reid can turn to the likes of Martinas Rankin, Lucas Niang, Yasir Durant, and Prince Tega Wanogho to step in and challenge for a spot in the offensive line. They need their youngsters to up the ante as they aim to make another run at the Super Bowl.
But only time will tell if the Chiefs can succeed in their mission of forming an NFL dynasty. Until then, it’s hoping for the best and be prepared for the worst for the Chiefs.
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