The AFC champion New England Patriots will tackle the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI Sunday in Houston.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, who grew up in the South Bay and attended Bonita Vista Middle School, did not make it to play in this year’s NFL championship game, though he did get his share of postseason face time on national television by playing in Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl game in Orlando, Fla.
Smith threw a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter as the AFC tipped the NFC 20-13.
The Pro Bowl appearance, the second in Smith’s career, helped ease the disappointment of an early exit in this year’s NFL playoffs.
Smith was back in town on New Year’s Day to help his team defeat the Chargers in what later proved to be the Bolts’ last game in San Diego before heading north as the newly rebranded Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs won the AFC West title thanks to their 37-27 win over the Chargers to post an impressive 12-4 regular season record.
Smith and his teammates had a lot of confidence heading into the Chiefs’ divisional playoff game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 15. The Chiefs held the home field advantage and a bye week to rest injured players.
But it was Pittsburgh’s defense this time (as opposed to the Steelers’ offense in the teams’ first meeting this season) that proved to be the difference.
Smith threw a five-yard touchdown pass to teammate Albert Wilson to give host Kansas City an early 7-3 lead; the game once again rested in Smith’s hands as time ticked down in the frigid contest with the Steelers leading 18-10.
Spencer Ware scored on a one-yard run with 2:43 to play to narrow the score to 18-16. Smith then completed what appeared to be a successful two-point conversion pass to tight end Demetrius Harris to tie the game. But a holding penalty was called on the Chiefs that resulted in a back up of 10 yards.
Smith went back in passing formation in an effort to complete a potential game-tying two-point play. But the pass was high and went through the end zone, leaving Kansas City fans — and the Chiefs players — highly dissatisfied with an 18-16 loss and early exit from Super Bowl contention.
Pittsburgh place-kicker Chris Boswell set an NFL record with six field goals in the game to account for all the Steelers’ scoring.
The Chiefs defense produced; the offense didn’t.
The next week, the Steelers were out-gunned by New England quarterback Tom Brady as the Patriots buried Pittsburgh by a score of 36-17.
New England (16-2) is making its record ninth trip to the Super Bowl. This will be Brady’s seventh Super Bowl appearance; he is hoping to add to four previous Super Bowl wins (and three Super Bowl MVP awards).
Smith, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005, finished his 12th pro season — fourth with the Chiefs — with 3,502 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He finished the 2016-17 season with a 91.2 quarterback rating.
This was Smith’s third trip to the playoffs in four seasons with Kansas City, proving he is a capable field general. But, at 1-3 in postseason play, he’s still searching for that breakthrough moment.
Smith did make it to the Super Bowl in 2013, but did not play in San Francisco’s 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was a sideline participant after then head coach Jim Harbaugh put the ball into the hands of reserve quarterback Colin Kaepernick midway through the season after Smith suffered a concussion.
Smith, who was later cleared to play, had a 104.1 quarterback rating at the time he was replaced by Kaepernick.
The perceived slight led to Smith leaving the 49ers and reviving his career in Kansas City.
With 27,846 passing yards and 157 touchdowns to his credit in his pro career, Smith will now reload for the 2017-18 season, hoping to lead his team to another charge toward the NFL playoffs … and the Super Bowl.
Hometown heroes
The same can be said for other Chula Vistans with NFL connections: Eastlake High alumnus Tony Jefferson (Arizona Cardinals), Mater Dei Catholic High graduate Jason Myers (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Castle Park High/Southwestern College alum John Fox (Chicago Bears).
Jefferson set personal single-season career records for tackles (96, including 13 for losses), sacks (two) and pass deflections (five) for the Cardinals (7-8-1). He was a notable Pro Bowl snub.
Myers made 27 of 34 field goal attempts (79.4 percent) this past season for the Jaguars (3-13), with a longest boot from 56 yards. He was successful on 29 of 32 extra-point attempts (90.6 percent) in his second year with the team.
Fox’s Bears suffered significant injuries this past season in his second year as head coach, finishing 3-13. He’ll likely be back to see what he can do next season with an upgraded roster.
With the Chargers gone, will a replacement team (Raiders, Jaguars?) play here in a new stadium? Well, that’s obviously a super-size question.
