Kansas City Chiefs fans are not happy with head coach Andy Reid for his rather questionable decision to call a timeout late in the first half of their Super Bowl LV showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Twitter users were quick to lambast the 62-year-old Chiefs tactician for two questionable timeouts. The second one came on defense with 44 seconds left before a 3rd-and-2 against a Tom Brady-led offense. At the time, the reigning Super Bowl champs were just trailing 14-6.
The Chiefs called timeout on defense with 44 seconds left before a 3rd and 2 against Tom Brady.
That happened.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) February 8, 2021
I understood the first timeout by the Chiefs but the one after the second down play was dumb.
— Dustin (@dustinjkent) February 8, 2021
Chiefs calling that timeout on 3rd & 2 was dangerous! Tampa was content with letting the clock run. Reid has been aggressive though 🤷🏾♂️. Once it was 3rd and 2 I was thinking let Bucs kill clock.
— Eric Crocker 🥷🏾 (@Crocky209) February 8, 2021
I feel like calling a timeout here by the Chiefs is playing with fire
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) February 8, 2021
Sure enough, Buccaneers superstar quarterback Tom Brady made sure to make Andy Reid and the Chiefs pay for those blunders. The lull in action allowed Tampa Bay to set up one final play before the half. Brady masterfully located his wide receiver Antonio Brown and set him up near the end zone with a one-yard touchdown pass.
Chiefs called timeout to give Brady just enough time to score on them 😭😭😭😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
— Erin K. McMillan, MSW (Go Stars 💪🏀💯) (@Ravens_Nation33) February 8, 2021
The Chiefs took a timeout like the GOAT wasn’t gonna punish them for that decision lol.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 8, 2021
Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu got flagged for pass interference prior to that Buccaneers' TD. Fans, however, couldn't help but put the blame on Andy Reid for inadvertently setting up the whole thing. That touchdown gave Tampa Bay a comfortable 21-6 cushion heading into the halftime break.
https://twitter.com/RPatrickAllen/status/1358584228770938881
It is worth noting that the first half was riddled with some questionable calls against the Chiefs. Twitter users have already expressed their dismay for some dubious flags called on Kansas City, which completely turned the tide for the Buccaneers.
Things also heat up big time between the two squads, with Mathieu and Brady getting caught exchanging some unpleasantries right before halftime.