KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Mitchell Schwartz doesn't hold a grudge now or when the play that haunts Chiefs fans occurred a year ago, a moment that will be a pregame story as the Chiefs prepare to meet the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54 on Feb. 2 in Miami.
Niners defensive end Dee Ford lined up offside in last year's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. The play cost the Chiefs an interception by Charvarius Ward that might have clinched the game and sent Kansas City to the Super Bowl.
Asked Wednesday if the Chiefs blamed Ford for the loss, Schwartz, the Pro Bowl tackle, threw a block.
"I don't blame him at all," Schwartz said. "We scored zero points in the first half. Offensively, the view we had was we didn't score enough points to win the game."
After the season, Ford was traded to the 49ers for a 2020 second-round draft pick. He signed an $88 million contract with San Francisco and collected 6 { sacks and two forced fumbles this season.
Against the Patriots last year, the Chiefs were ahead 28-24 with 1:01 remaining when the play happened. With a reprieve, the Patriots punched in a touchdown. The Chiefs sent it to overtime with a field goal before New England prevailed in overtime.
Schwartz wondered if Patriots quarterback Tom Brady noticed the flag and altered his play, although the third-and-10 pass attempt to an open Rob Gronkowski near the line of scrimmage was overthrown and even if completed not likely to have resulted in a first down.
But mostly to Schwartz it came down to the offense needing to have a better day. The Chiefs trailed 14-0 at halftime and were outgained in the game
"I think there were plenty of opportunities for us early in the game for us to have done better and not be in that spot," Schwartz said. "Football is never about the one specific play. I never put that on him."
After the 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, Ford told USA Today that he liked the idea of playing against the organization where he spent his first five seasons.
"To be able to play my old team, it's a blessing,' Ford said. "I've got so much love for the people in that building, and likewise they've got love for me."
About the penalty, Ford said: "It was a sloppy play on my end. I don't have a lot of encroachment penalties. Never have. It was just sloppy, but not a recurring thing."
