KC Chiefs: The miscues that defined Super Bowl LV

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs prior to Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2. Hardman’s offsides leads to Tampa TD

(6:15 – 2nd) 4th & 5 at KC 22

(Video is of ensuing touchdown)

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1358578311824363531?s=20

Following the short punt by Townsend, the Chiefs defense stepped up and were poised to force a field goal until another mistake cost them.

As the Bucs lined up for a field goal Mecole Hardman (though it was called on Hamilton) was caught offsides, costing the Chiefs five yards. Since the Bucs were sitting at 4th-and-5 before the penalty, the offsides actually gifted them a new set of downs as well. This one was absolutely crushing. There’s just no way around it. Chiefs fans have good reason to despise anything to do with “offsides” and this gaffe just added fuel to that historical torment. Brady tossed a TD to Gronkowksi on the next play putting the Bucs up 14-3.

Obviously, the four-point swing was big, but this was soul-crushing for the team’s morale. After all, had the Bucs been at 4th-and-8, the penalty probably wouldn’t have been such a killer. There’s not much more to write here, other than to acknowledge that this was devastating and a harbinger of the mistakes that haunted the Chiefs.

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