SUPER BOWL LV Preview

 

Super Bowl LV kicks off late Sunday afternoon in Tampa, Florida and the Kansas City Chiefs will defend their title against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and some guy named Tom Brady playing quarterback. Perhaps you have heard of him. 

 After all, the guy many consider the GOAT of NFL quarterbacks will be seeking his seventh Super Bowl title (along with three setbacks also among the other nine he has played in) at his home field called Raymond James Stadium. It marks the first time a team will be competing in the Super Bowl on their home field.  But the Chiefs are favored in this one and with good reason. 

 

The Kansas City offense was tops in the league in yardage per game (425.3) and has averaged 303.4 yards passing per game while also averaging 29.6 points per game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to be his brilliant self as he has overcome foot injuries as well as the league concussion protocol in recent weeks. The Chiefs are stacked with three good runners (Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams and Le'Veon Bell) and also the best tight end in the NFL with Travis Kelce. Throw in  wide receiver Tyreek Hill and also Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson and there you have it. Watkins has had a calf injury and could be a game time decision while Robinson is going through procedures for COVID-19 along with offensive lineman Daniel Kilgore after they came into contact with a person who tested positive for the virus earlier this week.

 

On the Buccaneers side of things, Brady needs no further introduction and he has thrown for over 40

Mahomes and Brady meet again.

touchdowns this regular and post-season while the team has averaged 30.7 PPG in the process. Brady has multiple weapons on offense as well with running backs Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette and also wideouts Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and Scott Miller, although Brown has been sidelined in recent weeks with a knee injury. Tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate are also in the mix. The Bucs average 401.7 yards per game, including 276.3 passing yards per game.

 

The Tampa Bay defense rates a slight edge as they have been getting after it in the playoffs, including forcing turnovers and sacking opposing quarterbacks. Linebacker Shaq Barrett had three sacks against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game two weeks ago. The Chiefs also have some play makers on defense, especially the "Honey Badger" also known as Tyrann Mathieu, an All-Pro defensive back. Who knows? A turnover, especially late in the game could be the difference in the final score in this one. 

A big factor will be whether or not the Buccaneers start slowly in the game, because if they fall behind by double digits to the Chiefs, it could be a long evening for them. Kansas City has shown great ability to come from behind and with Mahomes in control of things, that is definitely not a tall order for the Chiefs. 

Anything is possible and these two teams went at it back in Week Twelve with the Chiefs jumping out to a double digit lead and eventually winning, 27-24 in Tampa Bay. Tyreek Hill had a huge game, so the Bucs defense will surely be looking to stop him this time around. Brady and company have been on a roll since that loss and will look to take advantage of any mistakes the Chiefs might make. 

Look for a pretty close game with the Chiefs pulling away and holding off the Brady led comeback effort in the final quarter of Super Bowl LV this Sunday evening. 

           PREDICTION  -  Kansas City Chiefs 35, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27