A sober reality has set in. And some sober analysis is merited.

When it comes to Chiefs Kingdom, there is an understanding. There is an expectation.

And while it wasn’t met on the field – the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 handling of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX has many still in shock – it is being met in the self-analysis led by coach Andy Reid.

And that’s what makes the screaming rip job from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith so inappropriate.

A “three-peat” would have been a remarkable accomplishment. The fact that Reid’s team came one win away from that unprecedented benchmark truly validates what Kansas City has accomplished over the last few reasons.

But in the game itself? The better team won in New Orleans. And once we get beyond The aura and mystique and misery of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and the entire Chiefs fan base, we have Reid.

“Compliment to our fans and all the support they’ve given us,” Reid said. “A rough day … didn’t really play well in any of the phases, didn’t coach good enough. They did a nice job.”

“I’m proud of our guys though, the battle and the fight they put in throughout the year, all the games that they played here over the last few years,” he added. “My hat goes off to the guys for that.”

Mahomes knows he played poorly and has called the loss “my fault.”

Kelce has done the same.

And here is Reid ready to shoulder the criticism for that loss – and certainly some of it trails back to him as the play-caller and head coach. His offense had their worst showing of the season and could not generate anything until the Eagles took the foot off the gas in the second half.

All of that is why we find the piling on from ESPN’s Smith so nauseatingly unnecessary.

The “analysis” from Stephen A., who in truth, for all of his clever color barely knows if a football is blown up or stuffed?

“There is no excuse for a man known for being a damn good playcaller,” Smith said, blasting Reid. “This is all-time (bad). … There were contributions, from someone else on Kansas City, to contribute to that performance. And it’s Andy Reid.”

Smith starts with redundancy and pours on the hyperbole and in his usual fashion, adds nothing to the conversation.

The Chiefs lost. In every category possible. But as we try to diagnose why, and we get to choose between Reid as our guide or Smith as our guide?

Thanks, ESPN. But we’re good.