12 February 2024 , 03:44
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Isiah Pacheco apologised to his teammates after a crucial fumble saw a turnover in play in favour of the San Francisco 49ers - a slightly different approach to Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce.
After losing a fumble in the red zone early in the second quarter of Super Bowl LVIII, Pacheco apologised to every teammate he could find along the bench. This was just after star quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with wide receiver Mecole Hardman for a 52-yard gain, getting Kansas City within striking distance of a score.
However, as Pacheco was running with the ball, San Francisco 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir knocked the ball out of Pacheco's hands. His approach was very different to how Kelce reacted after the play.
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The 34-year-old tight end watched the giveaway from the sideline after being taken out by head coach Andy Reid. Instead of heading straight to the bench to catch his breath, the star was seen furiously running up to Reid.
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With his helmet off, Kelce shouted at Reid, furious bout the decision to take him out of the game at a crucial point. So angry was Kelce that he bumped into his coach, to the point that Reid was staggered and almost dropped his clipboard.
Kelce seemed a bit miffed as he was barely seen in the first half against the 49ers. Despite being Mahomes' go-to receiver, Kelce only managed one catch for 1 yard. The 49ers were leading 10-3 at halftime.
Travis Kelce raged at Andy Reid after the Chiefs lost a fumble in the redzone (CBS)Meanwhile, Pacheco proved to be the Chiefs' secret weapon against the 49ers' tough defence. In the first half, Pacheco ran for 27 yards on seven carries and had 21 yards on three catches.
Apart from Hardman's impressive 52-yard catch and Pacheco's decent performance, the rest of the Chiefs' offence struggled. Interestingly, Pacheco had only ever fumbled once before in the NFL.
The 49ers took an early lead after their kicker Jake Moody scored a field goal from 55 yards, setting a new Super Bowl record. They then extended their lead in the second quarter when wide receiver Jauan Jennings linked up with Christian McCaffrey to make it 10-0.
Kansas City responded with a field goal from Harrison Butker, reducing the deficit. However, the Chiefs seemed frustrated as they headed into halftime, with several players having heated exchanges with 49ers players on the pitch.