Special Teams Dominate Super Bowl, Just Like Everyone Hoped

I know everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about when I saw this. You're at your Super Bowl party, beer in hand, and a quiet excitement starts to build. Then, someone finally says what everyone else is thinking. "Man, I hope this Super Bowl is decided by the special teams." 

OK, that never happened. Ever. At any party. 

But, that's mostly what we got in Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. A game dominated by the plays made by special teamers. 

(Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

It started early with A LOT of punts. That included a 63-yard bomb by Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend. 

Later, the much-maligned Jake Moody – who missed field goals in each of the 49ers' first two playoff games – connected on the longest field goal in Super Bowl history. 

The two teams combined for 13 total points in the first half – kickers accounted for more than half of them. 

Moody had a chance to really enjoy his record … for about two hours. 

Because Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker broke his record in the third quarter. Yes, there had never been a 55+ yard field goal made in the Super Bowl. In this one, there were two in three quarters. 

And, you know there's not much else to promote when the NFL starts pumping out punter highlights on social media… 

It's not just the great players, either. Some poor special teams plays also had a massive impact on the final result. The Chiefs struggled all game to break through and score a touchdown. 

They sent their punter out for the fifth time and caught a very lucky break. 

That led to Kansas City's only touchdown of the game. 

But, San Francisco responded with a touchdown of their own – their second. They just needed to convert the extra point to push the lead to four points. 

But…the Chiefs blocked a poor attempt by Moody and that kept the game at a three-point spread. 

Which, of course, meant Kansas City could tie the game with a field goal. And, because this Super Bowl will eventually go down in history as the "Game of the Kickers," Harrison Butker proceeded to tie the game.

And … that could only mean one thing. Jake Moody, the rookie kicker, sent out to kick a 52-yard go-ahead field goal in the Super Bowl. 

Did you think the game was going to end like that? NO CHANCE! We needed a game-tying field goal! 

Overtime in the Super Bowl!? You know what that means! More important kicks! 

49ers kicker Jake Moody connected again in OT to give San Francisco the lead. 

Unfortunately, the Chiefs ultimately won the game on an anti-climatic Patrick Mahomes touchdown pass with three seconds left in the first overtime period. 

Lame. 

WE WANT KICKS!