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Super Bowl: The Game

 


In case you are one of the few to whom the news has not yet come: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25 to 22.

And yes, Taylor Swift was there. She had taken her private jet to Las Vegas from a concert in Japan. A bit of conversation during a post-game hub was captured by a mike. Her love interest, Travis Kelce, also known as the tight end for the victorious Chiefs, whispered to Swift, "How are you not jet lagged?"  She responded, "Jet lag is a choice."

A lot might be said about that cheerful exchange, but I choose not to say it.

Instead, I will define Kelce's job title.  A tight end is an offensive player who lines up close to the tackle and is used alternatively for two purposes. Sometimes -- on running plays -- he is a blocker.  At other times he runs a pattern in anticipation of a pass. 

The name of the position suggests a distinction between the TE and the WR, or wide receiver, who is too far from the "action in the trenches" to be of any use as a blocker -- the WR exists only to run patterns and catch passes when the passer finds them out there. 

A wide receiver is typically fast and tall, two physical attributes that assist him in getting open, so that he can be ... found. 

A tight end, on the other hand, is usually shorter and beefier than his team's WR, as befits his hybrid status amongst the functions of the players on offense. 

In Super Bowl LVIII, Kelce started off unimpressively.  He only received one pass in the half, and that play only netted the Chiefs one yard.  In the second half, though, he was a stand-out, catching seven passes.  In overtime he caught another one, for an impressive game total of nine. Those nine plays produced 92 yards.

Anyway, congrats to the Chiefs. You are the new Patriots. (Yes, that's from a lifelong New Englander so you can take it as a compliment).  

 


  

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