USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs came close to becoming the first team since the 2004 Patriots to win consecutive Super Bowls, but ended up falling short of their goal of “getting it back”.
During an interview on Tuesday at Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City, Chiefs’ defensive striker Chris Jones said the experience of abandoning the big game is not something he is looking forward to repeating. And it took a while to process the loss.
“I thought about it after the game. I had a long flight home, ”said Jones. “I had a moment to enjoy the season, especially with all the adversities we faced along the way. Especially with COVID and the pandemic, I had to acknowledge that we could still have a season. But it motivated me even more.
“I keep telling myself that I’m not going to lose at the Super Bowl again, but I’m just [working] and I will put myself in a position to give this team the best of me. That’s all you can do. You really can’t take a loss, because we have to focus this season. This happens, unfortunately. So, unfortunately, there is a winner and there is a loser and we are always playing to win, but sometimes things don’t go according to plan. But we still have another opportunity to return, especially with this team that we have. So we are going to focus this year on improving, getting the best we can be as a person and bringing it through OTAs and the training ground ”.
Given that the Chiefs have a closed core – including quarterback Patrick Mahomes – they have as good a chance as any of them to reach the Super Bowl again. But Kansas City is currently projected to exceed the 2021 salary cap, so some tough escalation decisions may be on the way.