Tuesday Evening Kicker: 2021 Super Bowl Recap January 4, 2022 The unthinkable happened as the Crabs knocked off the Grainers for the second time in three seasons to win the Super Bowl, capping off an amazing rebuild in short order. In the third-place game, the Scorpions outlasted the Blitz to secure the consolation prize. QB Justin Herbert was the catalyst that helped engineer a Super Bowl run for the Crabs. Do you believe in miracles? Yes! Christmas Island Crabs 155.2, Ukraine Grainers 125.78 — Hollywood couldn’t have written a script better than this. The writing was on the wall. The Crabs dismantled down to four players. During the auction, they walked away with a few high-priced players but mostly veteran afterthoughts and minimum-waged rejects (that’s a good team name for future use, by the way). Everything the team was doing was geared toward 2022 and beyond. Six of the first eight games saw the Crabs score either the 11th- or 12th-most points in the league. And then something strange happened. Like the flip of a switch, everything began to click. In two separate trade deadline deals, the Crabs acquired Justin Herbert, Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman. George Kittle returned from a midseason injury and began lighting up the scoreboard. Mark Andrews shook off a moderate first month of the season and likewise blew up the scoreboard. After the trade deadline, the Crabs lost just two games the rest of the way. They went on a streak, winning 7 of their final 9 games, and didn’t finish lower than 5th in scoring in each of their final 6 games — all victories. They were the highest-scoring team in three straight weeks, from Weeks 13-15. In fact, this Super Bowl matchup was their lowest point total since mid-November. When it was all said and done, the Crabs did the unthinkable and managed a successful rebuild in less than one season. In this matchup, D’Onta Foreman (24.4), the New Orleans Saints (24.25), and Justin Herbert (22.4) led the way in scoring. Mark Andrews added 17.9 and Daniel Carlson tacked on 14.4. For the Grainers, Deebo Samuel scored 21.1 points and Joe Mixon tallied 18 in the loss. Jalen Hurts finished with 17.18, and Chase Edmonds finished with 16.8. It was a wild ride, too, for the Grainers, who put all their eggs in the basket this year hoping for one last chance at glory. But in the end, the Crabs earned their second trophy in three years and capped off one of the best storybook seasons one could imagine. WR DK Metcalf blew up for 35.85 points in San Juan’s third-place victory. Scorpions cruise to third-place victory over Bangkok San Juan Scorpions 191.95, Bangkok Blitz 162.43 — In what arguably could have and should have been the Super Bowl — certainly between the league’s two most explosive teams throughout the regular season — the Scorpions outlasted the Blitz to take home the third-place prize. San Juan, who lost just two games all year, was led by 35.85 points from D.K. Metcalf. Darrel Williams tallied 28.5, Josh Allen added 25.85, and Alvin Kamara finished with 23.6. For Bangkok, Najee Harris racked up 35.2 points to lead the team in the loss. Dak Prescott finished with 27.53 points, Austin Ekeler notched 23.6, and Jonathan Taylor added 22.4. Either one of these teams would have won the Super Bowl had luck been on their side in Week 16. But, alas, that’s the nature of the business.