Participants,

Finally, the Super Bowl is upon us and everyone has been anxiously waiting for The Commish’s newsletter that will certainly “seal the deal’ for you in your quest for the HSBT.  It’s a nailbiter for the hallowed and esteemed trophy, with everyone still in the running.  Our leader, Comeback Kid, has immense pressure in that position and will need to be very thoughtful before making his game pick in what is shaping up to be the closest Super Bowl in several years.  The current spread is a skimpy 1.5 points, so let’s hope we have a great game!

GAME ANALYSIS
This marks the 11th time the BIG game will be played in South Florida, and for the 54th consecutive year it will not represent a home field advantage for either team.  The last time the game was in Miami (2010), the Saints clobbered the Colts, 31-17, on their way to their very first Lombardi Trophy in the Orange Bowl / Joe Robbie Stadium / Pro Player Stadium / Dolphin Stadium / Hard Rock Stadium (not that they change the name very often…).

The Kansas City Chiefs
For the 1st time in 50 years, they are appearing in the BIG game.  The Commish clearly remembers watching SB4 (it was actually the 4th and final time this game was called the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game”).  Interestingly, that 1969 Chiefs team closely resembled the current SF 49ers squad, featuring a great D line (Tackles Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp) and an offense that was run-heavy with an efficient QB (MVP Len Dawson).  Back to the today’s Chiefs, this offense could almost be the US Men’s 4×100 Track team at the next Olympics.  We saw some of that in their explosive wins in the playoffs, where they scored 86 points in 2 Comeback (Kid?) victories.  As good as the 49er defense might be, they have yet to encounter a QB and offense like this.  On defense, the Chiefs play well enough to let the offense outscore the other team.  Will it matter if they give up 35 points?  Likely not, as the KC offense may put up a SB record number of points later today (the record is 55, interestingly held by the 49ers).

The SF 49ers
Overwhelming D and an efficient offense have been the signatures of the 2019 team (unlike the 4-12 team from a year ago).  More women than ever will be watching this game, just to get a view of SF QB Jimmy Garoppolo with his helmet off…  Is this bringing back memories of SB3 (ahem, AFL-NFL World Championship Game), with Broadway Joe Namath at the helm for the underdog NY Jets?  The D surrendered only 15 points a game in the playoffs against 2 pretty good offenses.  Does Jimmy G have the weapons to Comeback (Kid?) if they fall behind by more than 10 points?  Having a healthy RB Tevin Coleman will be important and the impressive rookie WR Deebo Samuel (why does it seem he should be called Samuel Deebo?) continuing his big time play capability weighs huge in answering that question.

PREDICTION
It has taken longer than usual to digest all the information on this very close game, hence the lateness of this newsletter to everyone.  The Commish wants to be sure you have the most complete, accurate and unbiased information before submitting your game score (although a very confident Pete the Terp has already sent his in, and it should be a doozy from our current bottom feeder…  Can he eclipse the record of 684 SB points that trophy holder HenricoFiveOh set last year on his way to a record 7th HSBT win?).

Defenses win games and this SB should be no different (well, sorta…).  Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will be on the run for much of the day, as he scrambles out of the reach of the vaunted 49er D.  That’s good for SF, but Mahomes is super-efficient when on the move (both passing and running).  You can play a zone D or man-up, but how do you cover WR Tyreek Hill when he is the 2nd fastest guy in the league (2nd behind teammate and fellow WR Mecole Hardman)?  49ers Head Kyle Shanahan has the plan…

Offenses win games and this SB should be no different…  Really, if you score 63 points you win the vast majority of NFL games, right?  The 49ers can put up a lot of points, as evidenced a few times this year.  But they seem to lack the explosiveness needed to turn the momentum in their favor when needed.

Most pundits see this game as being very close (as do the bettors), but don’t be surprised if KC Head Coach Andy Reid is doused with the Gatorade cooler midway thru the 4th quarter.

Chiefs 38, 49ers 27

HSBT Update
Nerves are on end and fingernails don’t need to be clipped as the 7 participants are anxiously closing in on their game predictions, with the single goal of winning THE trophy.  Questions remain before the final picks are submitted:

• Comeback Kid – our current leader, and all the pressure is squarely on his shoulders.  Pick a close score and the trophy will be yours for the 1st time in 6 years.  Miss by a point or 2 and the Comeback will not be complete…
• Buffalo Bill – so very anxious to get out of his 17-year trophy slump and so close (a mere 42 points behind the leader).  The Super Bowl game has not been his friend, so he will need to break out of that slump if he wants the trophy to remain in the Richmond, VA area for another year.
• 2020 Winner – so aptly named and just a small variance away from capturing yet another HSBT Trophy.
• Greg the Great – looming large in the shadows and getting close-up advice and intelligence while in Florida at this time…
• HenricoFiveOh – clutching the trophy and not wanting to “Let it Go” (from the Disney movie, Frozen).  Can he repeat last year’s SB game with 684 points?  If yes, it will be his 2nd repeat win.
• JTB – had a taste of the trophy 2 years ago and is hungry to take it back.  Can he overcome a 244-point deficit?
• Pete the Terp – look out for this pick.  If he’s right (or close) the trophy will be his.

As a reminder, your picks are due no later than 6:30 pm EST today.  THE Commish will be hosting a Super Bowl party, so most likely will not be able to keep the LIVe scoring updated throughout the game.  I’m asking Greg the Great if he could do those honors.  If he is unable, then THE Commish will update the scoring at the end of each quarter.

Best of luck to everyone and it should be a dandy game.  Get all those little chores done so you can sit back with a few cold ones and a broad assortment of SB delicacies (wings, BBQ, sub sandwiches, an array of chips and dip, nachos, meatballs, cheese and crackers, etc.) to enjoy the game.

Until the 2020 Winner is announced, I remain

THE Commish