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Let the Super Bowl 55 hype proceed to construct till the Chiefs and Buccaneers take the sphere and play the newest, most anticipated championship sport in NFL historical past on Sunday Feb. 7 (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS). Two weeks is a very long time to attend for Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady in the greatest QB matchup the Tremendous Bowl has ever seen. The storylines and narratives main as much as the sport might sound limitless, as a result of till kickoff, they’re.
Ought to Mahomes lead the Chiefs to a different ring, it is true he can be the primary QB to repeat since Brady. Additionally it is true that Brady, if he can get a seventh ring in 10 Tremendous Bowls, would create a wanted additional cushion within the GOAT dialog, with Mahomes trying like he has no less than a number of extra Tremendous Bowls in his future.
However watch out when listening to the noise about all the things else involving the headliner quarterbacks and their respective groups. To assist flip that into radio and tv silence, right here is your myth-busting information to Tremendous Bowl 55:
SUPER BOWL 55 PICKS: Against the spread | Straight up
Fable 1: “Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady is a fair quarterback matchup”
Mahomes already has a league MVP and a Tremendous Bowl MVP underneath his belt. He could not win the previous once more, however there is a good probability he nails down one other one of many latter again to again. Brady, 43, is a three-time MVP and six-time champion, so Mahomes is solely making an attempt to get a 3rd of the best way there together with his profession.
Brady had one in every of his finest common seasons together with his first-year Buccaneers numbers: 4,633 yards passing, 40 TDs, 12 INTs, 7.6 yards per try, 102.2 passer ranking.
Mahomes, nonetheless, posted these higher all-around stats in solely 15 video games: 4,740 yards passing, 38 TDs, six INTs, 8.1 yards per try, 108.2 passer ranking.
By way of the AFC championship sport, these are Mahomes’ totals in his seven playoff video games (6-1): 2,054 yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs, 8.1 yards per try, 109.8 passer ranking. He additionally has 4 dashing TDs.
That is what Brady has performed in his previous seven playoff video games (6-1): 2,022 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs, 7.5 yards per try, 84.2 passer ranking.
Mahomes and Brady have met 4 instances, with their groups every profitable two, however the “tie” has actually been damaged earlier than Tremendous Bowl 55. There is no query Mahomes (348.8 yards per sport, 11 TDs, 3 INTs) additionally has been extra prolific and environment friendly face to face vs. Brady (300.5 yards per sport, 6 TDs, 5 INTs).
Brady has the legendary previous and robust current, however the actuality of the second is that Mahomes will once more be the significantly better QB on the sphere in Tampa.
Fable 2: “It is Chiefs’ youth towards Buccaneers’ veterans”
Mahomes is 25. Brady is 43. The contrasting age memes already are in full drive, led by Yoda and Grogu. By now, everybody is aware of Brady is manner older and Mahomes was in kindergarten when Brady gained his first of six Tremendous Bowls with the Patriots. Mahomes’ coach, Andy Reid, is previous at 62, however he is nonetheless youthful than Brady’s 68-year-old coach, Bruce Arians.
As Mahomes’ State Farm good friend would possibly say, here is the deal: There’s not numerous age for everybody on the Bucs. Brady, tight finish Rob Gronkowski, operating again LeSean McCoy, defensive sort out Ndamukong Suh and out of doors linebackers Shaquill Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul are the one ones with Tremendous Bowl expertise. All got here with different groups, with everybody besides Suh profitable.
The Chiefs are chock stuffed with champions from final yr’s staff, with few exceptions exterior of rookies. They’ve loads of veterans with big-time seasoning serving to Mahomes. Age is only a quantity and it is irrelevant right here. Reid additionally has coached in a ton of larger video games with longer sustained success than Arians. Do not confuse Mahomes’ precociousness with Brady having some grand benefit when he is the one coping with making an attempt to elevate a youthful staff that wants all of it.
MORE: Tom Brady taking Bucs to Super Bowl 55 is better than all of his Patriots playoff runs
Fable 3: “If solely Patrick Mahomes had as many offensive weapons as Tom Brady … “
For these trying on the Chiefs from the skin, they may suppose it is solely the Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce present. In the meantime, the Buccaneers can trot out Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Cameron Brate, Scotty Miller and even Tyler Johnson to make performs for Brady. Leonard Fournette additionally provides the backfield some big-name castoff punch.
There is no doubt Brady is loaded with the amount, however Hill and Kelce have been ridiculous of their degree of unstoppable high quality this season. Plus, the Chiefs have loads of different playmakers; they simply do it by committee with much less gloss. Mahomes picks the appropriate spots to get the ball to ancillary wideouts and operating backs. He additionally has the advantage of utilizing his legs to make performs in key conditions, which Brady doesn’t.
Given how a lot vitality and preparation it takes to cease both Hill or Kelce, bit gamers similar to Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson are harmful in several conditions. There’s additionally an opportunity Sammy Watkins comes again so as to add to the quiver. So do not feel dangerous for Mahomes. He makes everybody and all the things a weapon, whereas Brady generally has hassle firing to his.
Fable 4: “Who wants a operating sport?”
The Bucs have a nasty run protection, No. 1 within the NFL. The Chiefs have a weak run protection, No. 19 within the NFL, however the Bucs have solely the No. 28 dashing offense. Each groups can rev up the go rush — the Bucs with Barrett and Pierre-Paul, and the Chiefs led by Chris Jones and Frank Clark. Each groups even have aggressive playmakers within the secondary.
Though pounding away on the bottom will not be the direct path to profitable the sport for both staff, it is an necessary ingredient to maintain two swarming go defenses at bay for Mahomes and Brady and placing them into extra snug third-down conditions. By way of some key short-yardage and purple zone moments, some capability to run nicely shall be crucial.
There should not be a pressured stability or compulsory operating on both first down or second down and lengthy. However the Bucs selecting best spots for Fournette or Ronald Jones and the Chiefs handing off to Edwards-Helaire or Darrell Williams when merited can work the clock, end drives and restrict a few of the time that both Mahomes or Brady is on the sphere.
Fable 5: “Protection would not win championships when it is Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady”
As soon as once more in State Farm Man voice: Here is the deal. Defenses did win AFC and NFC championships for the Chiefs and Buccaneers. Kansas Metropolis is right here as a result of it held down Cleveland and Buffalo. Tampa Bay is right here as a result of it stymied New Orleans and Inexperienced Bay. Take that, “quarterback wins are a stat” crowd.
Barrett and Pierre-Paul, who took over towards the Packers, can disrupt one other sport towards a Chiefs offensive line hurting at each tackles. Jones and Clark are hundreds up entrance and wreaked havoc on the Payments. The Chiefs and Buccaneers bought some huge interceptions within the divisional playoff and convention championship rounds, too. The Chiefs overachieved towards the run whereas the Buccaneers lived as much as their status.
Mahomes vs. Brady would possibly make Chiefs vs. Buccaneers seem like the undercard in Tremendous Bowl 55. However these groups would not be right here until they have been full. Mahomes and Brady do lots to elevate the offenses, however as elite as they’re, they’ve zero impact on how the opposite one performs within the sport.
The Chiefs made key defensive stops to spark their comeback-heavy run by Tremendous Bowl 54. The Bucs have been saved twice by protection within the second half to advance to Tremendous Bowl 55. Mahomes and Brady are nonetheless taking part in a staff sport, and some defensive-forced errors will make the distinction, like they all the time do in Tremendous Bowls, regardless of how a lot every staff scores.
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