JUSTIN REID'S Kansas City Chiefs are in position to make history as the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Reid, the Chiefs’ starting strong safety, has been a fixture in the team’s championship run, which continues with Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9.
Reid is among three Stanford alums on Super Bowl rosters, along with Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee and defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV.
Justin Reid played a key role on the crucial play in Kansas City’s 32-29 victory over visiting Buffalo on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. The Bills were seeking to tie or go ahead in the waning minutes while facing a fourth-and-5 on their own 47 when quarterback Josh Allen went back to pass and faced a heavy rush from a blitzing Reid and others. Allen’s rushed deep throw went through the arms of a diving Dalton Kincaid, turning the ball over with 1:54 left and the Chiefs ran out the clock.
The Chiefs make the stop on fourth down!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
📺: #BUFvsKC on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/s4rXNURB3z
Reid had five tackles, including four solo, and a tackle for loss in the game. Reid dropped receiver Khalil Shakir for a three-yard loss in the second quarter after a short pass from Allen. Reid was in on 72 of Kansas City’s 73 defensive snaps, and four on special teams.
Reid is among 25 players on the roster who have been part of the Chiefs' past two Super Bowl victories.
In the NFC Championship Game, Washington starting tight end Zach Ertz had a game-high 11 receptions on 16 targets for a game-high 104 yards in the Commanders’ 55-23 loss at Philadelphia.
It was the most yards for Ertz since gaining 110 for the Eagles in a 32-30 victory over Houston on Dec. 23, 2018. Also, it was the most catches for Ertz since grabbing 11 in a 2022 game for Arizona against the Raiders and the most targets since he had 16 in a 2019 contest for Philadelphia against Atlanta.
Daniels to Ertz on 4th down to keep the opening drive alive
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uIRNyVAgOP
Ertz, a 12-year veteran, was quarterback Jayden Daniels’ go-to player in vital situations, as he has been in recent weeks. Ertz was targeted five times on third or fourth down and converted four of them into first downs. Of Washington’s 22 first downs, Ertz gained nine of them.
Ertz had gains of 21, 16, 13, and 11 yards. In all, Ertz played 63 (80 percent) of Washington’s offensive snaps.
Philadelphia defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV was in on four defensive plays and five on special teams.
Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee was inactive.
Buffalo defensive end Casey Toohill and Washington receiver Brycen Tremayne were on practice squads.
The Eagles have two coaches with Stanford ties. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was Stanford's defensive coordinator in 2010 when the Cardinal went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. Wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead was an offensive assistant to the wide receivers coach at Stanford from 2010-12, helping the Cardinal to an Orange Bowl and two Rose Bowls.