(Cutline: Jalen Hurts talks to the media. The Philadelphia Eagles QB was named the MVP of the game, setting a record for a QB rushing for 72 yards, and he ran for a touchdown. Passing, he was 17-for-22 for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Madisyn Herman photo.
A column by CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
We waited five months for that?
There was nothing “super” about Super Bowl LIX.
How would you like to have paid over $5,000 for a ticket — the going price last month — to watch a February version of a Browns-Giants preseason game?
Kansas City, bidding for a record third consecutive NFL Championship, got its posterior handed to it Sunday night at the New Orleans’ Caesar’s Superdome by the Eagles, 40-22.
The score makes it sound like a game … it wasn’t.
The Chiefs trailed 34-0 in the final minute of the third period when quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw the first of his three touchdown passes. His other two came in a span of 66 seconds with 2 1/2 minutes to play.
Mahomes, a three-time former Super Bowl MVP, played like the second coming of Ryan Leaf, although his offensive line served as an obvious 5-man accomplice.
He compiled some galling statistics being intercepted twice, handing Philadelphia two touchdowns, Mahomes was sacked a career-high six times and he took 11 other hits while being pressured on over half of his attempts. and losing a fumble that gave the Eagles one of their four field goals.
In was so bad even referee Ron Torbert’s officiating crew couldn’t save Kansas City (7 penalties for 75 yards).
Fox rookie analyst, Tom Brady, he of the seven Super Bowl titles who once dug the Patriots out of a 28-3 second-half hole against Atlanta en route to a 34-28 overtime win, warned us it wasn’t over at halftime. But the Chiefs didn’t have Brady at quarterback and they were clearly toast … there would be no “threepeat.”
Kansas City, favored by 1 1/2 points, assured its bettors that it wouldn’t cover by intermission.
Some other thoughts on the worst Super Bowl since LV when Tampa Bay handled the Chiefs, 31-9.
— Happily, Fox, which televised the game, won’t carry another Super Bowl until 2029 as part of the rotation with ABC, CBS and NBC.
That gives the network four years to do a better job next time.
Play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt was solid and Brady, finishing his rookie season as an analyst, has some good technical insights, and will figure out where he needs work by watching tape.
Erin Andrews is a pro and ranks as the best sideline reporter covering NFL games. But so much of a Fox telecast is just plain sloppy, especially when compared to its competing networks.
— Fox’s main problem is its pregame show when host Curt Menefee is charged with controlling Michael Strahan, Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw, Jay Glazer and Jimmy Johnson’s buffoonery. They talk over each other, run their ridiculous plays on a faux field acting like middle-aged has-beens who still “have it,” and make statements that prove they haven’t done their homework” It’s embarrassing and does nothing to enlighten the audience. Only Johnson and Long make an effort to retain the show’s credibility. At least when Rob Gronkowski comes on the set we already know he’s an overgrown fraternity wannabe who has a sense of humor.
— My favorite part of the pregame was an interview with a visiting Philadelphia fan who ended the piece by starting an Eagles chant, spelling the team “Eagels.”
— Because Fox is his favored network, President Donald Trump agreed to a 1-and-1 interview with anchor man Bret Baier before the game. He threw the president more softballs than a rookie youth league pitcher in her first start.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
Read more from Chuck:
• Pollock prediction on the Super Bowl and his annual quiz
• Part 2: What does Brandon Beane have to do to make the Buffalo Bills better?
• Part 1: Buffalo Bills’ GM Brandon Beane discusses 2024 season
Don Scholla, the passing of an Icon
• A huge win over Dayton for the Bonnies
• The Chiefs still have the Bills’ number
• Pollock Prediction: Chiefs 28, Bills 25 (actual score 32-29)
• Allen and the Bills heading to the AFC Championship game
• Josh Allen wants to hear Mr. Brightside against the Ravens
• Win over Richmond gets St. Bonaventure Bonnies ready for A-10 matchup with Duquesne
• Offensive line of the Buffalo Bills knocked out the Broncos
• Pollock Prediction: Broncos loom as a threat but the Bills will win
• McDermott knew the Bills would host the Broncos
• The Bills are waiting to see who they play
• Where the St. Bonaventure victory over VCU ranks in program history
• Josh Allen showed why he should be the NFL MVP
• Pollock Prediction: Bills will beat Jets in a must-win game for playoff seeding
• What happened during those six lost days
• Bills didn’t play with a sense of urgency against the Patriots
• Bills passed a big test against the Lions
• The media missed the point with questions of McDermott
• We did not expect the Rams-Bills results as Josh Allen sets major records
• Will the Bills be motivated against the Rams?
• Schmidt doesn’t want the Bonnies to get caught up in 12-1 talk
• A look at the rise under Sean McDermott
• The snow and the Buffalo Bills were too much for the 49ers
• St. Bonaventure Bonnies put unbeaten hoops record on the line in ESPN Tournament
• Pollock Prediction on San Fran at Buffalo Sunday night game
• A look at Terry Pegula’s beginnings in Olean and his competitive drive to win
• A look at McDermott’s smart play-calling and why aren’t we talking more about James Cook?
• Can the Bills do this to the Chiefs in the playoffs? Josh Allen touchdown run seals victory
• Pollock predicts a one-point Kansas City victory
• What happened to this being a rebuilding season for the Buffalo Bills?
• A dominating performance by the Bills
• Pollock predicts a Bills victory over the Colts on the road
• Thoughts on the 61-yard Bass field goal and where the Bills sit
• Solid win to open the season for the Bonnies
• Bass vindicated by 61-yard field goal to beat the Dolphins
• Bills don’t own the Dolphins but have an option to buy; prediction 27-20 (final was 30-27)
• The season is here for St. Bonaventure basketball
• St. Bonaventure speaks out, “We got Woj”
• Mark Schmidt on the NIL deals and the Bona NIT mess
• Pollock on the passing of St. Bonaventure legend Paul Hoffman
• Pollock on listening to the radio and the days of Willie Mays
• Houghton’s Phil Stockin gets Cazzie Russell to the Castle in Olean and then a title for the Knicks?
• The right hire for St. Bonaventure to lead the athletic department
• The inside story on why WPIG left the Bonnies after 74 years and a Gary Nease update
• Bill Walton was must-see basketball when he played in Buffalo for the Braves
