Head coach Andy Reid says he can perceive the Kansas City Chiefs being seen as the underdog for this weekend’s Super Bowl however pressured he by no means approaches a recreation feeling like one.
Sunday’s NFL championship match in Las Vegas sees defending champions the Chiefs tackle the San Francisco 49ers.
Reid’s aspect – who he has guided to a few of the final 4 Super Bowls, triumphing towards the 49ers in 2020 and the Philadelphia Eagles final 12 months – suffered 4 defeats in six in the direction of the finish of the common season earlier than discovering type in the play-offs.
And the 65-year-old instructed a press convention: “I understand why we’re the underdog, I get that – we had some ups and downs during the season.
“I never feel like an underdog going into a game. I understand why it’s been situated that way. It is what it is.”
Reid, whose skilled stars embrace quarter again Patrick Mahomes and tight finish Travis Kelce, mentioned his message to gamers tasting the showpiece for the first time to assist calm nerves they could have was: “When you get through all of this, this stuff here, it’s a game.”
He added: “It’s faster than most games. It’s crazy how in the play-offs every game is a little faster the higher you go up. So it’s fast. But it’s still a game. You’re professionals, so you go play and do your job.”
Reid was requested about the probability of him contemplating retirement if the Chiefs full back-to-back successes this weekend.
And he mentioned: “I haven’t gone there, I don’t think about that. I’m tied up in the game and trying to take care of that. I’m sure somewhere I’ll know when that time is. It’s not today or Sunday.”
Kelce described Super Bowl week as having been “chaos and a lot of fun” with “a lot of energy at practices”.
He mentioned: “I’m not even going to lie, things got a little chippy – I’m not going to say between who, but the offensive and defensive lines are trying to get their work in, trying to make sure everybody’s ready for the game.
“It just got me fired up yesterday, seeing everybody locked in and wanting to get their work in, making sure that everybody’s ready for the task in hand on Sunday. I just love the focus and the energy of the team right now.”
There has been appreciable consideration in the build-up to the contest on the truth Kelce is in a relationship with pop star Taylor Swift.
Asked if the buzz over his private life was a distraction for him, Kelce mentioned: “I love this game and I love coming into work.
“I think everybody has things in their lives that can take away from their focus in their work life, and you’ve just got to be able to compartmentalise that.
“It might be on a national media scale so it seems like it’s a lot harder, but in the reality of things, when I step on that field I’m focused on championship football and being a Kansas City Chief.”
Kelce was additionally requested why he thought there was such fascination with him and Swift, and mentioned: “I think the values we stand for, and just who we are as people.
“We love to shine light on others, shine light around the people who help and support us, and on top of that I feel like we both have just a love for life.”
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