Dominate the Super Bowl

Autumn comes and goes, and spring arrives, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.

It's certain that the cycle of life and nature, as well as competitive sports and life itself, involves a continuous process of old and new replacing each other, felt year after year.

However, when the Pro Bowl list was announced, for the first time in a decade, Brady's name was absent. More importantly, it took a while before people even noticed this fact, as they were caught up debating whether Jackson or Mahomes should start, who could challenge Li Wei's position, and so on, until the media picked up on it and reported it, bringing the realization:

Brady has been forgotten so thoroughly.

Moreover, with the New England Patriots having qualified for the playoffs this season, everything happening now is even more impactful.

Has the tide of the Yangtze River finally pushed the predecessor waves to die on the beach?

The harsher reality is that once people realize this, their attention doesn't linger long on Brady; they quickly move on.

Compared to the rise and fall of Brady and the New England Patriots, there are other matters more deserving of concern at the moment.

After all, folks inside and outside of the league have been longing for the collapse of the New England Patriots dynasty for too long. Now that the Patriots are finally moving out of sight, there's truly no need to bring them up again, as the Patriots still made the playoffs this season and haven't completely fallen off the map. They might make a comeback next season, hence there's no need to mourn the Patriots; instead, embrace the current fleeting happiness.

Beyond the Pro Bowl, the All-America First Team/Second Team lists have sparked more controversy, with heated debates ceaselessly ongoing.

The All-America First Team/Second Team lists, voted on by professional journalists, overlap considerably with those of the Pro Bowl, but since only one player can be chosen per position and without division by the American League or National Conference, over half the players from the Pro Bowl list can't make it onto the All-America lists, reflecting fierce competition.

Controversy arises every year, and every year there's regret, yet this year's confusion reaches a whole new height.

The reason?

Mahomes.

Despite leading the Kansas City Chiefs to an unbeaten season, Mahomes' individual performance couldn't match last season's superhuman state; even disregarding the three games missed due to injury, Mahomes' statistics fell across the board, as if hitting a rookie wall.

Naturally, support and opposition voices have diverged.

Ultimately, Mahomes couldn't make the All-America First Team, nor could he secure a spot on the Second Team.

This outcome has stirred up a storm throughout the league.

People are lamenting, "If an undefeated season can't ensure an All-America Second Team spot, I truly don't know what more should be done."

All-America First Team quarterback, Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens.

All-America Second Team quarterback, Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks.

Looking at this roster, the discussions are incessant, everyone held their own opinions, and back-and-forth debates keep heating up.

Unlike the Pro Bowl slightly, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens together topped the All-America First Team/Second Team lists with seven players each, undoubtedly being the standout teams of the season with one having a perfect season, the other winning fourteen games and losing two, indeed leading the league.

However, on closer examination, experts slightly prefer the Baltimore Ravens, as they hold four spots on the All-America First Team compared to the Kansas City Chiefs' two.

The key lies in the offensive line.

Among the five offensive line positions, the Baltimore Ravens occupy three All-America First Team slots, along with the quarterback, constituting four positions.

In other words, in the eyes of professionals, the Baltimore Ravens boast the league's finest pocket protection and quarterback, showcasing the season's most delightful "pocket"; yet in terms of team balance and overall strength, the Kansas City Chiefs are the true kings.

In this list, Li Wei and Kelsey are the only two Kansas City Chiefs players on the All-America First Team.

Additonally, Wide Receiver Hill, Wide Receiver Hardman, Offensive Tackle Mitchell Schwartz, Defensive Tackle Chris Jones, and Safety Matty all make it to the All-America Second Team.

Among them, Schwartz and Matty didn't make the Pro Bowl, and in the eyes of fans, they seem inconspicuous without any striking moments; but in the eyes of professionals, their solid and stable performances are undoubtedly the cornerstones of the Kansas City Chiefs, and pivotal to the season's growth.

Experts noted that Cornerback Fowler and Lineman Regland were also very close to making the All-America Second Team, losing by just a few votes, these details highlighting the Kansas City Chiefs' comprehensive defensive improvements this season.

Thanks to the rise in defensive group strength, even as Mahomes' personal performance declined, the Kansas City Chiefs still managed to achieve an unbeaten season.

Looking around, it's all Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, along with one New Orleans Saints, from the Pro Bowl to the All-America First Team/Second Team, forming a triad; so, what of the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers—won't they be completely ignored?

The answer... is affirmative.

"Completely ignored" might be an exaggeration; but from fans to professionals, they see other reasons behind these teams' outstanding records.

In the Pro Bowl voting, the Green Bay Packers secured five spots, whereas the San Francisco 49ers managed only four.

And the All-America First Team/Second Team is even more ruthless, with Green Bay Packers having just one and San Francisco 49ers with two.

To this, the Green Bay Packers declined to comment.

San Francisco 49ers coach Shanahan appeared especially composed, "We are a team, a complete team, indispensable, working together."

"Perhaps, we don't have a player who shines unstoppably, but we have fifty-three players ready to step in and be part of the team, that's our greatest asset, and the reason we are on the Super Bowl stage."

"For the upcoming Super Bowl, we will continue to embody this spirit and strike for victory. I believe we're on the right track."

In some respect, Shanahan is correct, and this aligns with his approach to team building—

He, is the brains.

The San Francisco 49ers don't need stars; they don't wish to be like the Los Angeles Rams who sign a bunch of mercenaries for a short-term Super Bowl pursuit only to crumble like sand castles. They rely on a united group of diligent, down-to-earth blue-collar players executing Shanahan's systematic strategies, aiming for victory.

In this, Shanahan firmly believes.

As for whether Shanahan is correct, the answer awaits in two weeks at the Super Bowl, where victory will be decided.

From the Pro Bowl to the All-America First Team/Second Team lists, focal points continue one after another, but the cherry on the cake comes next, with the yearly awards from the regular season soon to be revealed.