NFL 2024 Season Super Bowl Picks
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Chiefs 22 @ Eagles 40
Jon
Before I make my pick, I want to share a few thoughts. There's been a lot of talk of "Chiefs fatigue" and some disappointment in the two teams in the Super Bowl. I have a lot of thoughts, but first let me say this: it's an excellent matchup. I mean, I have no idea who I'm going to pick, even as I type this. I could see it going so many ways, but I'll get to that in a little bit. My point for now is that even if you dislike the teams, you have to admit it has the makings of a good and interesting game. (Though, ultimately, you never know, despite what the talking heads and general public like to say, but I digress.)As for "Chiefs fatigue" or, in many cases, Chiefs antipathy, I understand it to a point, but really don't feel any of it, personally. I'm not immune to disliking or tiring of a team that wins a lot, especially if they get in the way of one of my own teams winning. So for Bills fans, and the like, I get it. But for the rest of us, why exactly do we need to dislike the Chiefs? Like I said, I'm not immune to this phenomenon, but I like to think we should try to push back on it. Basically, apart from their winning, I see almost nothing villainous about the Chiefs. Let's compare them to a couple other recent dynasties we've loved to hate.
The Patriots were legitimate darlings of the sports world when they beat the Rams (who had somehow become too much to like after only 3 seasons) at the end of the 2001 season. But no matter what, we were going to turn on them after so much winning, especially a near-perfect season. But there was also a cheating scandal, a cantankerous coach who remained cantankerous despite all that winning, and another cheating scandal that understandably turned fans off.
In the NBA, the Warriors winning was super annoying (and I admit I'm biased because I'm a LeBron fan), but it wasn't just the winning that was bothersome. They had, and still have, one of the league's top antagonizers on their roster. They complained, and still complain, about every foul call against them (which is practically the norm for players these days, but even their coach gets into the act), and they've been super cocky from the start.
The Chiefs, like these other teams have done a lot of winning. They've gotten a lot of media coverage for it, and there's even some celebrity romance in the equation. But do I see them as villains? I don't. Let's look at the main characters. Patrick Mahomes. Does he take advantage of the rules to get some calls? Yes, and it's annoying. But that's about the worst anyone has on him at this point, right? I mean, otherwise isn't he relatively likable and highly skilled at what he does? Should I be mad that a guy like that is having success? How about Andy Reid. Well, all he's done is win a lot of games almost every year he's coached and shown an ability to get his QBs to play really well. Oh, and he likes cheeseburgers and wearing Hawaiian shirts and doing funny commercials. I mean, Belichick was openly rude to everyone for two decades, and now we have Andy Reid asking for a few nuggies on tv and somehow I'm supposed to be upset that he's in another Super Bowl? And finally, Travis Kelce. Look, to be honest, I found his behavior a bit annoying before we knew anything about his love life. And he's maybe not the type of guy I'd enjoy hanging out with (or maybe he is, I'm often surprised by my lack of judgement in this area). But that's not moving the needle much on the villain-o-meter. Now, if people want to hold it against him that he's dating someone famous, and that other people care about that more than they do, that's their choice, I guess. I don't personally feel like it's done me one bit of harm. And I struggle to see how it's done much harm to anyone in the general public.
So that's it. That's the Chiefs. A relatively non-villainous dynasty, if you ask me.
The other arguments against them are related more to how they are treated, namely by the refs, and the media. These are arguments almost any dynasty faces, first of all, but I'll speak to the Chiefs' situation in particular. First, the refs. I already mentioned the Mahomes thing. It's annoying and somewhat cheap. The refs should try to do better within the rules they have to enforce, if that's possible. Aside from that, do I think they're somehow getting beneficial treatment? No. I'm not so naive to think that it can't happen, but I think most refs are doing their best and are fairly good at what they are asked to do and are trying to call a fair game. Short of some compelling evidence to the contrary, I'm not chasing anyone down a rabbit hole of theories about how every team that wins or that you don't like is somehow getting help from the refs.
As for media coverage, I'm not going to say it isn't annoying when any one thing gets a lot of coverage. Especially if you can't avoid it. But that's becoming a fairly big "if" these days. Are you aware of how much media coverage you can avoid? If you're seeing a lot of coverage of any particular person, place, or thing, it may be your own choices that are at the root. If you watch ESPN all day, and are subscribed to the NFL feeds on your apps and follow NFL reporters on social media and belong to NFL subreddits and facebook groups, you know what you're going to get a lot of coverage about? And don't forget who is responsible for clicking those links. For better or worse, you're directly and indirectly responsible for most of your media consumption. Occasionally a story will happen that is inescapable, but if you're complaining long-term about too much coverage of any team or athlete (or thing in general), you might just have to admit you're seeking it out and/or allowing it to be delivered to you. I'm not holding it against the Chiefs that the media is paying attention to a winning team, with a multiple time MVP, future HOF QB, with a HOF coach, and HOF tight end who is dating the most popular musician on the planet. I'm just not.
Now, for the game. As I said, I have no idea. I am now 1-3 picking Chiefs Super Bowls after last year's win (which I forgot I picked correctly until checking today). I don't understand this team, I am pretty sure Mahomes is good/great, though I'm not confident I could tell you why. This year's team has racked up win after win without ever seeming to dominate, but there's really nothing wrong with that. It's arguably right where you want to be, but also maybe not. I don't know. These are both good teams. But if I have to pick one, it might as well be Kansas City.
P.S. The Eagles are playing in this game.