A Concept to Challenge Your Status Quo
The final, 13 play, drive of Super Bowl LVIII by the Kansas City Chiefs covered 75 yards. They moved down the field with purpose, fueled by enthusiasm and creativity. Patrick Mahomes led this game-winning, drive in overtime, culminating in a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman, securing a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Before the drive began the 49ers braced themselves for the impending drive. Their strategy was rooted in anticipation and caution, constantly reacting to the offense's moves. However, as the drive progressed, the defensive players found themselves increasingly weary, their energy drained by the constant state of alertness and inability to recover.
Patrick Mahomes orchestrated a methodical drive, embracing a strategy of intentionality and creativity of execution. The plays included Mahomes converting a critical fourth-and-one with an eight-yard run and a 19-yard scramble that brought the Chiefs to the 49ers' 13-yard line.
The 13 play drive took a toll on both, the offense and defense. However, the defensive players tired more quickly than offensive players, likely, because their roles required more constant and intense physical exertion. In addition, the defense had to react to the offense's actions, often needing to sprint to the ball carrier on every play, while the offensive players were able to conserve energy by knowing when they needed to exert full effort and find pockets of space to recover. This constant need to be reactive and the higher exertion levels, certainly, contributed to the defensive players tiring faster than their offensive counterparts.
This growing advantage of energy manifested in the final play of Super Bowl LVIII, as Mecole Hardman found himself wide open in the end zone. Without any defenders nearby Mahomes was able to hit Hardman for the game winning touchdown!
In the end, the Super Bowl was not just a game but a lesson in the power of energy dynamics of defensive versus offensive postures.
Where are you holding a defensive posture causing you to over exert and tire more quickly? How could you adopt an offensive posture exert your full reservoir of energy and resources when necessary while making space to fully recharge in between efforts?
