- The Kansas City Chiefs took down the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in an impressive 31-20 come-from-behind victory to secure the franchise's first Super Bowl victory in 50 years.
- San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman noticeably struggled to cover Kansas City receivers throughout the game.
- The five-time Pro Bowler's rough showing came weeks after his public feud with former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.
- On Twitter, NFL fans — and Revis himself — mocked Sherman for his performance in the 49ers' losing effort.
- Read more of Business Insider's Super Bowl 2020 coverage.
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The San Francisco 49ers blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to lose Super Bowl 54 in heartbreaking fashion.
The five-time Pro Bowler Richard Sherman certainly did not help his team's effort.
The notorious smack-talker and esteemed cornerback blew coverage on key plays and struggled to contain Kansas City Chiefs receivers during Sunday night's contest.
Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill exposed Sherman early in the game. On first-and-10 with the ball on San Francisco's 36, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hit "Cheetah" with Sherman on his tail. But instead of getting wrapped up, Hill dropped Sherman on the fake and jolted forward for an extra few yards.
—The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) February 3, 2020
Then, with the 49ers trailing by four with 3:44 remaining, Kansas City wide receiver Sammy Watkins danced Sherman right out of his cleats and left him in the dust for a 38-yard catch. The reception put the Chiefs in the red zone and in prime position to put the game out of reach for San Francisco.
—The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) February 3, 2020
Three snaps later, they did just that. Mahomes, the eventual Super Bowl MVP, found running back Damien Williams for a 5-yard touchdown pass that stood after an extensive review.
And guess who was covering Williams.
The still of Sherman diving and missing Williams on the goal line is even more damning.
After the game, Sherman acknowledged his disappointing performance with a tweet and promised to "fix that" for the future.
—Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 3, 2020
Still, Sherman took some heat from San Francisco fans and doubters alike on social media, especially because the NFL veteran had exchanged some confrontational words with former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis after the 49ers' NFC championship victory in late January.
In a tweet on January 20 that has since been deleted, Revis accused Sherman of showing "fear of getting beat in man-to-man coverage."
"Every snap every play," he wrote. "The fact that he doesn't travel as a cornerback is lame. Except the challenge as the best and shut Adams down the entire game. Do it for the game of football. Stop hiding a cover 3 zone."
At the time, Sherman all but ended the discussion by saying he couldn't engage because he had "a Super Bowl to prepare for."
—Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 20, 2020
Revis responded by defending his objectively impressive ninth year in the NFL.
—Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) January 20, 2020
The two cornerbacks exchanged a few more Twitter blows before the conversation petered out. But Revis smelled blood in the water when Sherman struggled under the bright lights on Sunday.
In a since deleted tweet, Revis made a not-so-subtle dig at Sherman's performance: "Are y'all waiting for the flame?"
Then he retweeted other users' tweets making fun of Sherman.
—drew. (@NBAYoungDrew) February 3, 2020
- Read more:
- Here are the best photos from the Kansas City Chiefs' first Super Bowl victory in 50 years
- Andy Reid celebrated his first Super Bowl victory with 'the biggest cheeseburger you've ever seen' and night with his 'trophy wife'
- Chiefs Super Bowl hero Damien Williams paused his celebration to exchange jerseys with 49ers standout RB Raheem Mostert
- Andy Reid stays calm in chaos after the Chiefs' Super Bowl-clinching touchdown run to signal for the extra point