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Super Bowl week officially kicked off last night in Las Vegas. With the Monday before the big game, players and coaches from each team were in attendance for a Super Bowl media session. Overall, there were many highlights and quotes that stood out.
Which moments and responses stood out the most from the Kansas City Chiefs? We will look back on some of the top results from Monday’s Super Bowl Opening Night. Let’s kick it off.
Embracing The Villain Role
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The Kansas City Chiefs have taken on a villain role throughout this current playoff run, so to speak. Kansas City earned this in part, because of their first two road playoff games with this core group. Going into hostile environments and looking to leave a building speechless was newfound territory. And of course, the continuous winning, especially in the playoffs, has led to people getting fatigued with the Chiefs being in the headlines.
On Monday night, Chris Jones made a new observation about Kansas City being in the villain role at Super Bowl Opening Night. “For some reason, everybody used to love us,” Jones said. “We used to be one of the most favorite teams. Now, everybody is like, ‘We’re ready for the Chiefs to lose.’ I don’t know why, what changed, or what dramatic incident happened to where everybody felt like we should lose now. But, it’s okay. They can continue hating.”
Jones also touched on the road to becoming the villain during this playoff run. He mentioned the offensive playmakers that they had slowed down, to boot. When Kansas City was able to slow down MVP candidates and top weapons, as he mentioned, the disdain from some fans grew further. Others on the team, like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have hinted at how much they are embracing this new villain role as well.
Standing On Business
There was a great deal of fun and joking around from most Chiefs players during Super Bowl Opening Night. However, running back Isiah Pacheco appeared to be as intense and as locked in answering questions, as he is on the football field. A couple of key topics that Pacheco touched on, were the offensive turnaround and getting that belief back. He also talked about his unique running style, on top of that.
“It feels great knowing that it takes all of us. And not only that- whatever opponent we’re going against, focusing on them in practice, knowing the scheme, understanding the glimpse of the ins and outs of the defense,” Pacheco said of creating that winning mindset. “The shortness, the weaknesses, the strength, understanding that will allow you to get the best of them.”
As for his running style, Pacheco hinted that this is a bit of an homage to a former top running back. He looks to words from Marshawn Lynch to guide him during his runs, to an extent.
“That running style is just being determined. Having the mindset of getting the job done- no man can take me down,” Pacheco said. “Like Marshawn Lynch said, ‘Stand on business, 10 for 10.'”
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“First, just start with the 5 P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. When you got those set and done, you understand what you have in front of you. It’s coming here with one goal, one mindset and just understanding that it’s a big game,” Pacheco stated.
Remembering The Journey
On the defensive side of the ball, safety Justin Reid has been a key leader for the Steve Spagnuolo defense. Kansas City has made the Super Bowl in both of his first two years with the Chiefs. After joining this team in free agency a couple of offseasons ago, Reid discussed the change from playing in Houston to playing in Kansas City.
“The opportunity that I have here, to be in Kansas City, just very blessed. Very humbled. Thankful that you get a chance to play in two Super Bowls my first two years here,” Reid mentioned. “You’re in a winning atmosphere and a winning culture. You’re able to play around superstars who are just as humble as the man next to you. So, it’s been a really fun journey and it’s honestly in a lot of ways turned my career around for the better.”
Reid mentioned how the hard work and the winning culture of this team has made the journey even more special. While the lights continue to get brighter around this team, the Chiefs have continued to find ways to get more physical and more gritty. Throughout his journey with Kansas City so far, Reid has been a major part of instilling that mindset.
Relishing In The Moment
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The aforementioned duo of Mahomes and Kelce have done a great job of rising up to the occasion many times in their respective careers. But at the same time, part of what makes these two great, is realizing how special each moment is. At Super Bowl Opening Night, Mahomes and Kelce discussed the moment of Super Bowl week, as they continue to find themselves in the thick of it.
“What a time to be alive, baby. I’m living the dream,” Kelce stated when first stepping up to the podium on Monday night.
Kelce also described what it would mean to go and win back-to-back Super Bowls. How did his lone Super Bowl loss affect him, even during this season?
“There’s a certain tier of teams in the NFL that have gone back-to-back. You know, I’ve been on a mission ever since I won my first Super Bowl. We made it back to the Super Bowl the year after 2019. Obviously, we lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s motivated me to get back to this point right here. You’ll hear me say this a lot. But, I want this more than I’ve ever wanted a Super Bowl in my life and it’s because of the type of team we have. The people that we have in this thing. But, also because that tier of teams that have done it twice (in a row) have gone down in history as some of the greats.”
Despite this being his fourth Super Bowl appearance, Mahomes talked about embracing everything that comes with Super Bowl week.
“I think every experience that you get, you can learn from, and you can gain more from. You’re always going to have nerves going into the Super Bowl. It’s about embracing those nerves, understanding that they’re going to be there and then going out there and being who you are.”
Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.