Winning, and a Sense of the Inevitable

 

"Winning takes precedence over all.

There's no gray area. No almosts."

--Kobe Bryant

I'm experiencing a curious kind of mild euphoria tonight after watching the Chiefs dispatch the Bills and pave the way to a second straight Super Bowl.  Last year was different.  The record was 12-4, we had watched in terror as Patrick Mahomes lay on the field with his kneecap on the side of his leg, and the path to The Game was swathed in thrilling comebacks and last-minute heroics.  So, when the Chiefs got to this point, the feeling was...well...giddy.

This year, the record was 14-2, and the march through the season was infused with a sense of the inevitable.  The Chiefs were the favorites out the gate, and remained so for the entire season.  There was concern that the last few games were closer than many thought they should have been, but tonight sitting on the precipice of a second straight Super Bowl, the feeling is that we expected to be here.

That sounds arrogant on its surface.  But this is one of the most powerful teams in recent memory, one that seems about to become a dynasty.  Anything less than this moment would have been a failure.  And not securing the Lombardi Trophy in two weeks will still feel like that.  In the post-game interviews, the players attitudes reflected joy and achievement to be sure.  But beyond that was the look in their faces, the inflection in their voices which stated loudly, "We're not done yet."

Last year, just getting to the Super Bowl after 50 agonizing years was a huge treat.  Now, the Chiefs have repeated.  They expected to be in The Game, and they expect to win.  It's not arrogance so much as knowing how good they really are, and knowing that there's no situation they can't turn into a W.  Last year, down by 24 to the Texans and going on a 51-7 run.  Down to the Titans by 10 twice and 17 once and still winning.  Against the 49ers, the Chiefs were down 10 halfway through the fourth quarter...and still won.  This is a team that was built by overcoming that kind of adversity repeatedly.  They are apparently convinced that they cannot be beaten, unless they beat themselves.  This year, the big target was on their back and teams brought their absolute best against the Chiefs.  The result?  14-1 (the last game against the Chargers being a throwaway with most of the starters on the bench), and a very real sense of invincibility.  That was the Patriots for most of the last two decades, and we roundly hated them for that.  But now it's us, and what was irritating about New England now becomes just the way it is.

The next two weeks will pass with exquisite slowness, as we await the game in Tampa.  A lot will be made about this being a virtual home game for the Buccaneers.  But in the end, it won't matter.  The game will be won or lost based not on the location of the field, but what happens upon it.  The Chiefs are already three-point favorites, and the game will be a great one.  But there can only be one winner.

It would seem rash for me to predict a Chiefs win.  Certainly, there are a lot of things that can happen.  The offensive line, iffy for most of the year, now has suffered a crippling loss in Eric Fisher.  That's a big hole to plug for a group that had already lost three of their starters since the pre-season.  They are what makes the offense go.  They open the holes for the running backs, and protect Mahomes from the depredations of big, angry men.  But even with that small cloud, my own sense of confidence remains high.  I don't think the Buccaneers can win this game.  I don't think Tom Brady can win this game.  I do think that Mahomes and the Chiefs will win this game, even given the weakened front line.  

So, I am thrilled to find my team back in the Big Game.  But there doesn't seem to be the need to dance and launch fireworks.  

Because this was supposed to happen.