“It’s what quarterbacks do in the biggest moments that tell their story, and Purdy was huge in the second half of the title game.” – King on Purdy’s performance against the Lions
“Think playoff experience doesn’t matter? Kansas City had zero panic, zero moments in the game you thought, what are they doing? Baltimore will rue this first AFC title game in the city since 1971, for a long, long time.” – King on the Chiefs’ composure throughout the AFC Championship game
“The lukewarm interest in Bill Belichick and (Mike) Vrabel on the open market is part of the trend. It’s amazing one or both of those men won’t have a team to coach in 2024.” – King on coaching cycle
STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 29, 2024 – Peter King speaks with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy after the team’s 17-point comeback to win the NFC Championship Game and clinch a spot in Super Bowl LVIII in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also discusses the Chiefs’ return to the Super Bowl, the Ravens’ AFC Championship Game mistakes, and more.
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The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:
49ERS
49ers QB Brock Purdy on his role: “I know I have a really good team around me. I have great play-calling. Great coach. Great organization. If I can just do my job well, everything will fall into place how it needs to.”
Purdy on his team’s composure down 24-7 at halftime: “There’s so much experience and veteran leadership on this team where guys just know what their job is and what we have to do. There’s not a lot of ‘rah-rah’ or anything.”
King on Purdy’s resurgence in the second half against the Lions: “It’s what quarterbacks do in the biggest moments that tell their story, and (Brock) Purdy was huge in the second half of the title game.”
King on Purdy’s fit as QB for the 49ers: “What’s Purdy? Other than an incredible story, I mean? He’s a player who isn’t the best at anything - other than taking what his coach asks and being superb at carrying it out. And that’s what great players do.”
CHIEFS
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on their mentality throughout the season: “We always had everything we wanted in front of us. Coach (Andy) Reid preaches that every single day we come into the building. And now we’re going to the Super Bowl.”
King on the Chiefs’ composure throughout the AFC Championship Game: “Think playoff experience doesn’t matter? Kansas City had zero panic, zero moments in the game you thought, what are they doing? Baltimore will rue this first AFC title game in the city since 1971, for a long, long time.”
Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed on his critical forced-fumble at the Chiefs’ one-yard line: “All that was in my mind was, catch up and make the tackle. And that’s what I did. And when I saw him stretch the ball out, I just punched at the ball, and it came out.”
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ravens WR Zay Flowers on falling short in the AFC Championship Game: “I’m angry about, you know, losing. We were a game away from the Super Bowl. We’ve been waiting all this time, all these moments, for an opportunity like this, and fell short. We scored once. That’s not like us.”
King on the Ravens’ careless and costly mistakes: “So many Baltimore errors, many of them so, so careless - and many by veterans. Kyle Van Noy, trusted 10-year vet, head-butting Travis Kelce for a penalty. Lamar Jackson, throwing a fourth-quarter pick into triple-coverage.”
King on Detroit’s offensive line being a difference-maker in the game: “The athleticism and raw power of the Lions’ offensive line overwhelmed the Niners’ front seven in the first half, and then life changed, drastically, in the second half.”
COACHING CYCLE
King on the non-hirings of Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel: “The lukewarm interest in Bill Belichick and (Mike) Vrabel on the open market is part of the trend. It’s amazing one or both of those men won’t have a team to coach in 2024.”
King on a possible reason for Belichick not being hired: “Belichick’s been lukewarm, at best, to analytics. So, an owner who hires Belichick might have to fire a part of the building in which they believe strongly.”
King on what Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni must address this offseason: “The most important task for Sirianni and (offensive coordinator Kellen) Moore will be getting (Jalen) Hurts back to all-in. His laconic play, his aloof attitude and his tepid support of Sirianni in his post-playoff-loss press conference must be addressed by the coach…It’s all concerning, particularly after the Eagles trusted him enough to make him the highest-paid player, by a lot, in franchise history.
King on the Commanders’ plans: “The coaching/coaching-agent industry is sold that Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will get the Commanders’ job. Along with drafting a quarterback at No. 2 overall (or somewhere, if new GM Adam Peters trades out of two), Washington owner Josh Harris seems likely to bury the Dan Snyder Era once and for all.”
King on the Seahawks head coaching position: “I don’t think, by the way, because (Dan) Quinn has the Seattle connection that he’s the favorite for the job.”
KING’S CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
Offensive Players of the Week: Brock Purdy, San Francisco, & Travis Kelce, Kansas City
King on Kelce: “What a game. What a player. Eleven catches, 116 yards, making himself the most productive pass-catcher in NFL history. Kelce has caught more playoff passes in 21 games than Jerry Rice caught in 29 in his prime.”
Defensive Players of the Week: L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City, & Fred Warner, San Francisco
King on Sneed: “This very good corner, who went almost all season without allowing a touchdown in man coverage, made the play of his career at the start of the fourth quarter.”
King on Warner: “(49ers head coach) Kyle Shanahan couldn’t say enough about Warner afterward, as a player and leader who spoke up at halftime and said, basically, We’re not going down like this.”
Coach of the Week: Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator, Kansas City
King on Spagnuolo: “KC’s offense didn’t score in the second half but Spagnuolo’s D – with three turnovers in the game – made sure it didn’t matter.”
Goat of the Week: Zay Flowers, Baltimore
King on Flowers: “Tough to call a receiver the goat when he has a 115-yard day with his team’s only touchdown. But Flowers made a big error, followed by a gigantic one midway through the second half that cost Baltimore dearly.”
Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.
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A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.
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