Why treating Chiefs like villains at Super Bowl Opening Night might be to their benefit

Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

LAS VEGAS — It was abundantly clear where the majority of fans stood during the joint-team celebration of Super Bowl Opening Night. 

When the Chiefs were mentioned — with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Isiah Pacheco and coach Andy Reid answering questions — the boos hit a crescendo at Allegiant Stadium. They grew deafening for Mahomes and Kelce, in particular. 

The 49ers’ stars, on the other hand, were beloved. They were showered with cheers. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan got some of the loudest. Running back Christian McCaffrey received “C-M-C!” chants. 

It’s worth mentioning that schedule logistics might have played a role for a crowd that sounded like it was dominated by the 49ers faithful, which surely still feels the sting of the Super Bowl LIV loss to the Chiefs. During the joint period, the Chiefs had already done their media rounds for opening night. The Niners were next up. Many Kansas City fans could have already headed toward the exits. 

But the crowd’s energy spoke to a larger theme of how the Chiefs are now increasingly viewed: They’re the villains. 

“We expect that,” Jones said of the booing.

It doesn’t matter how the Chiefs got here. Or how this year has looked uglier than other teams of the Reid-Mahomes era. The sticking point is that this is their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, and second in a row. Their dynasty is taking root in real time. So, for those not affiliated with the Chiefs, for those who are not fans of the team, they have every reason to be sick. To be sick of all their winning. It’s not much different from how the New England Patriots were hated for much of this century.

On Monday, Kansas City’s mindset was best encapsulated by Kelce, who was answering a question from NFL Network’s Michael Robinson before stopping because of the rising boos. He looked to the crowd, pausing for several moments.  

“Y’all are firing me up,”…

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Publish date : 2024-02-06 07:53:22

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