The 2019 NFL season has officially concluded, and it was an amazing season that saw what seemed like a changing of the guard as players like Tom Brady and Drew Brees gave way to younger talent like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. To top it off was a Super Bowl for the ages as it was a battle of defense versus offense between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the outcome of the Super Bowl and other news from around the league as we prepare to get the offseason in full swing.
Chiefs Are Super Bowl LIV Champions
There was something about coming from behind that suited the Kansas City Chiefs well this postseason. In all of their games, they worked from a double-digit deficit only to be victorious, and the Super Bowl was no different.
After three quarters, the 49ers enjoyed what seemed like a comfortable 20-10 lead. With the Chiefs seeming out of sorts, many thought San Francisco would be able to finish it off. The problem, though, is that’s when Patrick Mahomes came alive. After scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were crowned Super Bowl LIV champions.
Jimmy Garoppolo went a respectable 20 for 31 for 219 yards with a touchdown for the 49ers, although he did have two interceptions. Raheem Mostert led the way on the ground with 12 rushes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
The San Francisco defense was solid for three quarters, only to be upset in the fourth. Still, head coach Kyle Shanahan will likely be most criticized for his odd clock management and lack of aggression going into the halftime. With a couple of minutes left on the clock, he seemed content to just run out the half and start the second half with the ball, a decision that may have ultimately hurt him.
Give credit where credit is due, though. When it came down to crunch time, the Chiefs showed up. In the game, Mahomes went 26 for 42 for 286 yards and two touchdowns, although he was intercepted twice and sacked four times.
His leading receiver was Tyreek Hill, who had nine catches for 105 yards. On the ground, Damien Williams led the way, going for 104 yards and a touchdown on 17 rushes. He also had four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.
In fact, many argue that Williams may have been robbed a bit as it was Mahomes, and not Williams, who was named the Super Bowl MVP. Still, for a franchise that has not won a Super Bowl in a long time (only other one was 50 years ago in Super Bowl IV) and a coach who had never won one in Andy Reid, it was a storybook ending to a great season for Kansas City Chiefs fans.
Panthers Release TE Olsen
The Carolina Panthers have decided to move on from long-time tight end Greg Olsen. While some have speculated that Olsen could end his career and transition into a broadcasting career, it seems that there is at least some interest by him to play another year. Since being cut, he has already had meetings with teams like the Seahawks, Redskins and Bills.
Injuries have plagued the near-35-year-old in recent years. This season with Carolina, he played in 14 games, hauling in 52 receptions for 597 yards and two touchdowns.
Still, he is a long way away from his most productive season in 2015, when he had 77 receptions for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. It is possible, though, that Olsen could try to latch on for one more year and hope to play for a contender and another chance for a Super Bowl ring.
Henry Set To Be Paid
Derrick Henry is arguably one of the best running backs in the league these days, and now he wants to be paid like it. On the Rich Eisen Show, Henry indicated that he looked at the six-year, $90 million deal signed by Ezekiel Elliott as the floor for contract negotiations. Needless to say, he wants to be paid.
Henry has shown a willingness to stay in Tennessee, but it also does not appear that he is going to give them a hometown discount. This season with the Titans, Henry rushed for 1,540 yards on 303 carries. He also had 16 touchdowns during the regular season.
He was equally dominant towards the end of the season and in the playoffs. In fact, prior to the Titans being ousted from the playoffs by the Chiefs, he had rushed for 180 or more yards in three straight games (211, 182, 195).
For the Titans, they have some decisions to make. It is certainly a possibility that they could use the franchise tag on Henry, but they also have some other impending free agents that it could be used on. If they were to franchise-tag him, the cost could be considerably lower, but it also may mean a disgruntled Henry.
Regardless, it will be an interesting scenario to keep an eye on moving forward.
Falcons, Beasley Part Ways
The Atlanta Falcons have decided not to try to re-up with defensive end Vic Beasley after he played the fifth and final year of his deal this season. On the season, Beasley played in 16 games, finishing with eight sacks, two forced fumbles and 42 tackles.
While those numbers are not awful, it is a far cry from the 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles that he had in 2016, his second year in the league. It certainly is not that Beasley is a bad player, but at this point, the Falcons have decided it is best to allocate their resources in a different direction moving forward.
Beasley now hits the free-agent market for the first time in his career.
