Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida may end up representing a passing of the torch between the unquestioned best player in NFL history in Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes, who may have the inside track on being named the best ever in a few years.
This game will hinge upon how Tampa’s defense plays on such a big stage. Tampa needs their ferocious pass rush to make life miserable for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense all game long. The Chiefs have the far inferior offensive line and will be missing many key players in Super Bowl LV. The Bucs must take advantage of the massive advantage their defensive line has.
The major losses for Kansas City will be offensive linemen Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher. The Chiefs center has also been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 leaving his status for the Super Bowl up in the air. It is imperative for Bucs defensive linemen like Ndamokung Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Vita Vea to get pressure on Mahomes without having to blitz. This would allow Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles to have seven defenders to stop the high-flying Chiefs’ offense.
If Tampa does not make life tough for Mahomes on Sunday, they have no chance of winning.
Brady also needs to play a clean game in the Super Bowl in order for him to raise his seventh Lombardi Trophy late Sunday night. If Brady throws three interceptions, as he did against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, Tampa will be run off the field. Tampa cannot give Mahomes any extra opportunities if they want to be the victor.
The Bucs also need to run the ball and be proficient in the short passing game in order to keep Mahomes and the Chiefs off the field. Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones need to run the ball effectively in order to keep drives going.
The Chiefs came down to Tampa Bay in week 12 of the regular season and defeated the Bucs 27-24, but the score was misleading. The Chiefs jumped out to a 17-point lead and the game was never in doubt. Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill finished the game with 269 yards and three touchdowns. Preventing the big play is paramount for Tampa on Super Bowl Sunday. Tampa needs to force the Chiefs into short passes and long drives. The rationale is that even though the Chiefs are a tremendous offense, it is really difficult to consistently score on long drives.
Prediction:
It is going to be an uphill climb for the Bucs, but they will end up being Super Bowl LV champions at their home stadium. Brady has always been a slow starter in his nine previous Super Bowls, and the Chiefs always find themselves having to come from behind in the playoffs. This means the first quarter may be more low-scoring than anticipated.
Tampa will win because they have the better team and their defensive line will harass Mahomes all game. The Bucs are clicking at the right time, their defense is red hot, and Tom Brady has a plethora of weapons at his disposal. Mahomes will still play well in the Super Bowl, but the Tampa defense will make a few big plays to put Tampa Bay over the top.
Score: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 31 Kansas City Chiefs: 27
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