Kansas City Chiefs 16-2 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14-5
Sunday, February 7th 2021 - 5:30 P.M. CT on CBS
The biggest game in sports goes down this weekend, and it may very well be the most excited I’ve been for a Super Bowl. Not because I’m a fan of either team, but the football fan in me is excited to see the “G.O.A.T”, Tom Brady vs the “Baby G.O.A.T”, Patrick Mahomes.
These are two quarterbacks you cannot bet against, and they both raise their game when the stakes are at their highest, but this game is more than just those two superstars. The Bucs have to find a way to stop the Chiefs insane duo of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Back in week 12 these two teams also played in Tampa, and Tyreek Hill had seven catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns, in the first quarter! The Chiefs won that week 12 matchup 27-24, but the Bucs must feel better going into this matchup. Although the Chiefs were able to get up 27-10, the Bucs made adjustments and were able to cut it close, just didn’t have enough time.
My biggest concern for Kansas City is the injuries suffered to their offensive line. They will be without both of their starting tackles and against the Bucs fierce pass rush, led by Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barret, this should put fear into Chiefs fans hearts. However, if anyone knows how to “game plan” to mask deficiencies, it would be Andy Reid, who is well aware of this mismatch and will find a way to protect Mahomes. Mahomes ability to escape the pocket will be huge, the Bucs will have to contain him from escaping the pocket, and making the crazy plays he seems to make weekly. Tom Brady and the Bucs offense were on fire in the first half of the NFC Championship game, but in the second half when Green Bay sent more blitzes, it slowed down their effectiveness. The Chiefs will send blitzes as well, and Chris Jones and Frank Clark will try to wreak havoc. Antonio Brown will be back giving Brady his full arsenal of weapons. The Bucs offense will have success, but at times they get stagnant and that’s the last thing you need vs Kansas City, who can explode for 28 points in the blink of an eye.
This game has all the makings of an all-time classic. The Bucs d-line can win this game for them, if they can pressure Mahomes and force him into some turnovers, but if they let him escape and make plays, that will put pressure on Brady and the offense to go score for score.
In the end, I feel this could go either way, and if the Bucs win, I could see a defensive player winning Super Bowl MVP. Against this Tampa defense, I think Mahomes will have to play one of his best, if not his best game of his career, to win this game, and I’m confident he will. I feel giving Andy Reid an extra week to prepare a game plan for the offense to succeed, will give the Chiefs the victory and they will repeat as champs.
Chiefs 35 Bucs 31
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes…Yes, I know it’s not a bold choice.
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