The team: The surprise of the Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs won one of the best Super Bowls in history on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles (38-35), another great team of the season. It’s the third time they’ve lifted the super final, after the 1970 and 2020 titles. Kansas City was a regular season leader before beating Jacksonville and Cincinnati in the playoffs. For five years, the Chiefs have each time reached at least the conference final. Unquestionably the dynasty of the moment.
Player: Mahomes leader
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the star of the season: NFL MVP, Super Bowl winner and Finals MVP. Only six players before him have scored such a hat-trick in a single championship. Although he struggled early in the game against the Eagles, including an injured ankle, Mahomes then guided Kansas City to victory. Great player, holder at the Chiefs since 2018, the NFL superstar, it’s him.
The event: Bye-bye Brady
Tom Brady has ended his fabulous career. Like last year… Except that he then changed his mind. Brady walks away as the greatest quarterback of all time, including seven Super Bowl wins (six with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), three MVP titles and first place overall. statistical rankings. The Hall of Fame now awaits him.
The Surprise: The Jaguars Attack
Only one victory in 2020, three in 2021. The Jacksonville Jaguars were the worst team in the NFL, at the start of the season. But, led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and coach Doug Pederson, they created the surprise of qualifying for the play-offs. There, they did not make up the numbers. Led 0-27 in the first period by the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville finally won (31-30). Then Kansas City was too strong (27-20). A beautiful season that only asks to be confirmed.
Bye bye Tom Brady! (A. Gebert/Reuters)
The disappointment: The less brilliant Los Angeles Rams
Defending champions, the Los Angeles Rams have not shone this season. They only won five games and, for the first time in seven years, the Super Bowl winner did not qualify for the play-offs. The Rams lost Odell Beckham and Von Miller in the offseason. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, the 2022 Super Bowl MVP, and Aaron Donald, one of the NFL’s best defenders, were injured. A year to quickly forget.
The game: Minnesota Vikings comeback
On December 17, the Indianapolis Colts taught the Minnesota Vikings a lesson, yet one of the best teams in the regular season: 33-0 at the break. But the Minneapolis team suddenly woke up, scored five touchdowns and thus managed to equalize, while the Colts had become speechless. Minnesota then won in overtime (39-36). It’s the biggest NFL comeback ever.
The action: Hamlin suffers a cardiac arrest
A terrible action, which scared the fans and shook the world of US football. On January 2, the Buffalo Bills traveled to the Cincinnati Bengals. Damar Hamlin, the Bills safety, collapsed after a tackle and did not get up. He had just suffered a cardiac arrest. The meeting was postponed (then cancelled). Hamlin has since regained his health, but of course hasn’t played again. Will we see him again on a pitch?
The crush: The lesson of courage of the San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have been heroic, with 12 straight wins, a conference final…and four quarterbacks. Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were out on serious injuries. Brock Purdy, who was new to the NFL, did his job very well, but suffered an arm injury in the conference final against Philadelphia. Josh Johnson, his replacement, suffered a concussion. Forced to play again, Purdy could no longer throw and the Eagles easily won (31-7). Nice lesson in courage from the 49ers, however.
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