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(CBS Detroit) — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, behind Patrick Mahomes, are in search of their second Tremendous Bowl title in as a few years. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ final and solely title occurred 18 years in the past. However Tom Brady has six Tremendous Bowl wins in his 9 appearances, with most up-to-date coming simply two years in the past. Mahomes might be the perfect quarterback of his era. Brady is fairly clearly the best of all time. They’ll match up in Tremendous Bowl LV, the place historical past is assured to be made.
“That is the kind of matchup that you just don’t get every single day within the final sport,” says NFL On CBS analyst Charles Davis. “You’ll get two of the perfect, on the high of their video games. One among them could also be 43, however has he performed extraordinarily properly for the final six weeks? The reply is sure. The opposite one’s the child, who could also be one of the crucial precocious gamers we’ve ever seen within the NFL. He fears nothing. And by the best way, signed for almost $500 million final yr, with zero drop off in play.”
The Chiefs and Buccaneers are evenly matched, with a three-point unfold simply days earlier than the sport. A convincing case might be made for both group profitable. Kansas Metropolis rolls in with a 14-2 regular-season file and strong wins over the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Payments within the playoffs. Mahomes has piled up receptions and yards throwing to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill in a passing sport that seemingly can’t be stopped. Tampa Bay will probably be taking part in at house behind the quarterback with probably the most Tremendous Bowl titles in NFL historical past. Brady has the League’s finest broad receiver trio to throw to in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown and one in every of its finest defenses to place the ball again in his arms.
The Chiefs held on to beat the Bucs again in late November. Mahomes put up an absurd stat line, finishing 37-49 passes for 462 yards and three touchdowns. Hill was the largest beneficiary, with 12 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns on his personal. A lot of that got here within the first quarter. However the Chiefs protection virtually let it slip away. Brady’s third landing move, his second of the sport to Mike Evans, pulled the Bucs inside a subject objective with simply over 4 minutes left. Nonetheless, the Chiefs have been capable of run out the clock.
Brady went a good 27-41 towards Kansas Metropolis, with 345 yards and three touchdowns. He was picked off twice in what was the group’s third consecutive house loss. The Bucs have since received seven straight video games, and an offense that then appeared slightly out of step has discovered its groove. They’ve averaged over 34 factors per sport over that span, and Brady has averaged over 313 yards passing per sport. He’s additionally had 19 landing passes.
The Bucs boast one of many NFL’s most explosive passing video games. Evans, Godwin and Brown are all reputable downfield threats. Tight finish Rob Gronkowski’s finest days are behind him, however he stays productive, even on this stacked offense. Ronald Jones, the group’s main rusher this season, suffered a quad damage within the warmups earlier than their Wild Card matchup. Leonard Fournette put up 93 yards on 19 carries in aid. Whereas the 2 cut up carries within the final two video games, Fournette has been extra productive.
The Chiefs protection is healthier towards the move than the run, however not particularly spectacular towards both. They held Josh Allen to 293 yards on 28-48 by means of the air within the Championship, although he picked up one other 88 yards on the bottom. The Kansas Metropolis protection had higher success towards the Browns, although Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt every averaged over 5 yards per carry. Finally, they’re not anticipated to win video games, a lot as not lose them. And that’s what they’ve executed for a lot of the season, with eight wins by lower than a landing.
The Chiefs protection tends to point out up when the stakes are increased. “They performed their finest protection when it mattered most,” says NFL On CBS play-by-play man Ian Eagle. “And I believe there’s one thing to that, with what they’ve been capable of do defensively. Final yr’s postseason, thus far this yr’s postseason. I labored the Kansas Metropolis-Buffalo AFC Championship sport on the radio. What Steve Spagnuolo has executed, how he gave Josh Allen and that offense suits. What they did to take Stefon Diggs out of that sport. That’s not by happenstance. That’s a coordinator who actually believes in his items and believes in his system.”
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Unsurprisingly, the important thing to Chiefs offense is Mahomes. The group suffered a little bit of a scare throughout their first playoff sport, when their $500 million man got here up woozy after what seemed to be a typical sort out. He left the sector and entered concussion protocol. A Mahomes-less offense might have spelled catastrophe for a Chiefs Tremendous Bowl repeat. However the quarterback sailed by means of protocol and seemed to be full power within the Payments sport.
The Kansas Metropolis offense led the NFL in passing through the common season, with Mahomes placing up 4,740 yards, about 100 greater than Brady. His two favourite targets have been — and are — the speedy Hill and the dependable Kelce. Hill completed the season with 87 catches for 1,276 yards and 15 TDs; Kelce had 105 catches for 1,416 yards and 11 TDs. The pair has continued their dominance into the playoffs, with 4 100-yard video games amongst them. Kelce additionally has three touchdowns within the postseason.
The Chiefs offensive line will probably be with out beginning left sort out, Eric Fisher, who tore his Achilles within the AFC Championship. Beginning proper sort out, Mitchell Schwartz, has been out with a again damage since Week 6. And the checklist doesn’t finish there. Beginning proper guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opted out of the season because of COVID considerations, and beginning left guard Kelechi Osemele has been sidelined with a knee damage. However this unit has discovered success in a number of configurations for a lot of the season. They’ll want one other sturdy exhibiting towards the Bucs fearsome entrance 4.
Tampa Bay likes to blitz. Their move rush logged 48 sacks within the common season, and 5 extra towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the Championship. Additionally they picked off opposing quarterbacks 15 occasions. Each totals put them close to the highest of the league. However the Bucs additionally gave up substantial yardage and loads of TDs by means of the air. Mahomes is adept at dealing with the blitz, which suggests he might have a subject day if he can keep upright.
“Defensively the Buccaneers have taken an enormous step ahead,” says Eagle. “And the belief that Bruce Arians has in Todd Bowles, not simply right here however again within the Arizona days as properly. He understands that Todd Bowles is the top coach of that protection. The emergence of Devin White in his second yr. This man is a bigtime participant. So sure, we’re going to get caught up within the Brady-Mahomes narrative. The defenses might find yourself taking part in a a lot larger function in figuring out the result of this sport.”
Neither protection will doubtless shut down the offense on the opposite aspect of the ball. However, in accordance with Davis, “it doesn’t essentially must be one protection shutting down one other offense. I believe what we’re speaking about is one in every of these defenses making a vital play when it’s vital and wanted, as a result of each of those offenses will probably be arduous to close down. So are you able to get a key cease on a 3rd down? Can you’re taking the ball away and take a possession away from a type of high-powered offenses and switch it into factors?”
Tremendous Bowl LV is about for Sunday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. EST on CBS. Viewers can livestream the game through CBSSports.com as properly.
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