Stephen A. Smith issues Andy Reid's verdict (and Eagles faithful will love it)

Remember that sinking feeling? Like when your favorite classic rock band flubs the guitar solo live. Or your '69 Mustang sputters at the green light. That was Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX. Something fundamental just... misfired. The machine everyone envied suddenly looked startlingly ordinary under the brightest lights. Especially the man calling the shots.

Andy Reid, the offensive mastermind, the steady hand guiding the Chiefs dynasty, seemed uncharacteristically lost. It was like watching a chess grandmaster suddenly forget how the pieces move. The Eagles defense feasted, barely breaking a sweat. Consequently, the questions started swirling before the confetti even settled. What happened to Big Red?

Stephen A. Smith Drops the Hammer on Reid

Smith didn't hold back from dissecting the wreckage. His verdict on First Take hit like a sledgehammer. "It might have been the worst game Andy Reid has ever coached." But this isn't the first time.

"Of course, for Andy Reid, it’s the worst game I’ve ever seen him coach. I’ve never seen Andy Reid appear so lost, so helpless. And that’s how he looked in that particular game… It was really, really, really bad," Smith had said right after the Super Bowl. Ouch! Smith hammered the lack of adjustments, particularly along the offensive line. Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times, pressured relentlessly, yet Reid's playbook seemed stuck in neutral.

This wasn't just a loss; Smith called it a "stomp," an "a-- kicking." He emphasized the psychological toll: "They were getting stomped so bad in the third quarter... This is bad... That's hard to sit back and stomach an entire off season." The dynasty suddenly looks suddenly vulnerable. Meanwhile, Travis Kelce is channeling that humiliation into fuel.

The Kelce Redemption Angle

Kelce admitted frustration, questioning his physical edge. However, retirement wasn't an option. "I can't go out like that!!!!" Kelce declared. He's dropped weight, hit the gym hard, and is obsessed with erasing the Super Bowl stench. Smith sees pure, burning motivation: "That loss is living rent-free in his head. He's not chasing fame or records-he's chasing redemption."

Reid, ever the pragmatist, acknowledges Father Time. "I know he's getting older. He doesn't know he's getting older, but I do," Reid had stated, vowing to manage Kelce's workload. Reid's challenge is clear: reignite the offense while protecting his aging star. Can he craft a scheme that leverages Kelce effectively without burning him out by December? The Chiefs' bounce-back hinges on it.