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In the heat of a close game, one of the hardest things to do is to think rationally.When it's a tie game just within two minutes remaining, that may seem almost impo sible.The Chiefs were at the Eagles' 11 with 1:54 remaining in a 35-35 game in Super Bowl 57, and running back Jerick McKinnon had sprung free around the left corner. The Eagles tried to let Phoenix Suns Jeresy McKinnon score to get the ball back, but he made a heads-up play; he gave himself up by sliding down in bounds at the 2-yard line.That allowed the Chiefs to run the clock almost all the way down. Harrison Butker kicked a 27-yard field goal with eight Cameron Payne Jersey seconds left to give KC a 38-35 lead that stood as the final margin.MORE:Fox broadcaster Greg Olsen saw what was happening in real time and urgently said that McKinnon had to give himself up.McKinnon slides down at the 2-yard line.: on FOX: Stream on NFL+ NFL (@NFL) The quick thinking garnered McKinnon a lot of love on social media as people realized the type of awarene s he displayed.JERICK MCKINNON WITH THE HEADS UP SLIDE AT THE ONE!!!!!!! Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) McKinnon. Super Bowl winning slide. Teej. (@TJLang70) heads up play by mckinnon to slide charles (you look good - andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) wowThe Eagles were going to let him scoreMcKinnon did the slide insteadcheeky stuff here in Super Bowl 57 Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) McKinnon also got a lot of love from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes."Who knows? I mean, all year long he proved how smart he is on that football field, he's like another quarterback back there," Mahomes told reporters at Charles Barkley Jersey his postgame pre s conference. "He made it a little closer than I wanted him to. Devin Booker Jersey MORE:"We talked about it in the huddle before the play. But we needed it because I had to take losing so many yards when I was taking those knees (on the next two plays). So it was a smart decision on him, and in that big of a moment you want to run in and score the touchdown."KC offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy also praised McKinnon."I think our guys are probably the most prepared team when it comes to those type of situations," Bienemy said on the podium. "We told Jerick, 'Hey, if you break it, don't worry about it. They're probably going to try and let us score. But now we just want to take it down to the 2. Slide and declare yourself down, and we'll get the first down Jalen Lecque Jersey .And I thought it worked to perfection.MORE:"We just worked those situations just this past week. And I thought our guys did a great job of embodying that moment."It's not often that the best play a player can make is tonotscore, but McKinnon recognized the moment and made it. Bienemy and head coach Andy Reid had something to do with that coming out of the two-minute warning. |
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