Yahoo Finance Bruce Arians goes for it on fourth-and-goal, and the Chiefs get a huge stop
With so much going the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ way early in Super Bowl LV, it was hard to blame Bruce Arians letting it ride on fourth-and-goal at the Kansas City Chiefs’ 1-yard line.
It could have given the Bucs a two-score lead, but it turned into a massive swing for the Chiefs instead.
The Buccaneers had three shots at the end zone for a short touchdown after a Ronald Jones run to the Chiefs’ 2-yard line on first-and-goal. They got creative on second down, scheming offensive tackle Joe Haeg into an eligible receiver and sneaking him into the end zone.
Haeg had both hands on a good ball from Tom Brady, but then Chiefs linebacker Anthony Hitchens made a touchdown-saving play:
DENIED by Hitchens! #RunItBack
📺: #SBLV on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/HJtQf5igun pic.twitter.com/ZsRt8tzFmP— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2021
Disaster nearly hit for the Buccaneers the next play when Jones appeared to fumble the ball, but it merely turned into a one-yard gain that set up a difficult decision for Arians.
With the Bucs offense rolling for the last two drives, Arians called for a run at the goal line. It didn’t work out:
The @Chiefs make a GOAL LINE STAND. #RunItBack
📺: #SBLV on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/HJtQf5igun pic.twitter.com/IogwjPfj0S— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2021
Fortunately for Arians, the Chiefs didn’t make the Buccaneers pay for the turnover on downs. The Chiefs offense got as far as their own 17-yard line before sputtering out again, and the Buccaneers soon had the ball again in Kansas City territory after a bad punt from the Chiefs’ Tommy Townsend.
More from Yahoo Sports:
