Except for successful the ultimate Tremendous Bowl earlier than the merger in 1970, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ greatest declare to fame for over half a century was crew founder Lamar Hunt coining the phrase Tremendous Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes modified all of {that a} yr in the past when he led a livid fourth-quarter rally that despatched the Chiefs to a 31-20 win over San Francisco in Tremendous Bowl 54.
Now, there are
The Chiefs (14-2) are once more a prime seed they usually’re one win away from turning into the primary crew ever to host three consecutive AFC championships. The one NFC crew to do this was the Philadelphia Eagles from 2002-04 when Andy Reid was their coach.
Even after an excruciatingly lengthy wait, a franchise’s fortunes can change rapidly.
Three long-downtrodden groups — the Browns, Payments and Buccaneers — have made it to the divisional spherical this weekend and are sure they’ve pretty much as good an opportunity because the Chiefs, Packers, Saints, Ravens or Rams of successful Tremendous Bowl 55.
BRASH BROWNS
In Cleveland, an odd season has turned surreal.
The Browns are enjoying soccer in January — not trying to find a coach or normal supervisor or attempting to determine what to do with one in every of their excessive draft picks.
After an almost two-decade crawl, the Browns (12-5) are among the many NFL’s elite, one in every of eight groups remaining with a shot at successful all of it. That’s heady stuff for a franchise that has by no means made it to the Tremendous Bowl.
But, below first-year coach Kevin Stefanki’s regular hand, the Browns have steered round one impediment after the following and have taken off on a run few imagined.
They gained 11 video games to make the playoffs for the primary time because the 2002 season. Then, with Stefanski unable to make the journey after he examined constructive for COVID-19 and lacking two different key gamers and 4 assistant coaches, the Browns gained their first playoff recreation in 26 years final Sunday by
They did it with Stefanski in his basement again dwelling, they usually completed off their first playoff highway win since 1969 with a left guard who launched himself to quarterback Baker Mayfield within the locker room earlier than kickoff.
Stefanski took half within the postgame celebration on FaceTime in a scene that appears oddly excellent in a pandemic season of Zoom calls, protocols and social distancing.
The Browns’ success has offered a wanted carry for a football-crazed area that’s recognized largely dropping throughout an enlargement period with few highlights.
Stefanski can sense Cleveland’s ardour.
“I’ve carried out plenty of driving round city the previous couple of days simply because I’ve to get out of right here,” he mentioned, talking on a convention name from his basement. “Simply to see all the Browns flags and seeing all people sporting the Browns hats, I positively really feel it. I believe our gamers perceive how massive it’s for this neighborhood, and we’ve to maintain it going.”
BULLISH BILLS
Behind Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, the Payments (15-3) erased loads of franchise data established by Jim Kelly & Co. again when the Payments gained a document 4 consecutive AFC titles within the Nineteen Nineties.
“There was a lot stuff that we’ve mentioned as former gamers, ’These guys received a rattling good soccer crew,” Corridor of Fame working again Thurman Thomas mentioned. “Their protection in all probability gained’t maintain you to three factors or no matter, however their offense? Their offense is an issue.”
The Payments led the AFC with a 30.3-point scoring common through the season, they usually haven’t misplaced since Nov. 15, when DeAndre Hopkins hauled in Kyle Murray’s 42-yard Hail Mary as time expired, giving Arizona a 32-30 win.
Allen’s 69.2 completion proportion represents an NFL-record bounce of 16.4% since his rookie season in 2018.
“However you give him Stefon Diggs and also you see what he’s manufactured from and the way he’s gone about his enterprise,” Thomas mentioned. “And he has been large. I believe Payments followers, together with myself, didn’t assume he was going to be this good this good this early. And he has proved lots of people incorrect.”
No, there’s no evaluating this Payments crew to these of his enjoying days, Thomas mentioned.
Not but anyway, Thomas mentioned, however these comparisons are undoubtedly coming.
“Particularly in the event that they go on to win the Tremendous Bowl this yr, I imply, you’re going to have to speak about it,” Thomas mentioned. “I actually assume it’s going to return right down to the Payments and Kansas Metropolis. … These guys imagine they will win anyplace. They don’t care the place they’re enjoying.”
BOLD BUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers ended the NFC’s longest playoff drought with their first playoff berth since 2007 due to the arrival of six-time champion Tom Brady within the offseason.
The Buccaneers instantly went from a franchise that spent greater than a decade attempting to rework themselves into playoff contenders to a membership with expectations of turning into the primary crew to look in a Tremendous Bowl of their dwelling stadium.
Brady was drawn to a roster that includes a slew of offensive playmakers, together with receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller, working again Ronald Jones and tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate.
The Bucs then lured Rob Gronkowski out of retirement, upgraded the offensive line by drafting deal with Tristan Wirfs, and signed veterans LeSean McCoy, Leonard Fournette and Antonio Brown to bolster the depth round their 43-year-old quarterback.
Coach Bruce Arians acknowledged earlier than the beginning of the playoffs that the Bucs gained’t think about it a profitable season except they win all of it.
“Actually, it’s not going to be if we don’t put rings on our fingers as a result of when you’re within the event, that’s what you’re enjoying for,” Arians mentioned. “We did sufficient to get right here and it’ll not be satisfying except we end it.”
How rapidly expectations change.
And perhaps fortunes, too.
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With contributions from AP Sports activities Writers Fred Goodall, Tom Withers and John Wawrow.
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