By Sam Kombrink
It feels like just yesterday when we were packed in front of Union Station celebrating the team’s success. Now the Chiefs are right back where they said they would be, playing in the Super Bowl.
This time around, we face an old foe, quarterback Tom Brady. Regarded as the best to ever play the position, he has won a record of six Super Bowls, the most by one player in NFL history. There is no doubt that Brady knows how to play in these games and the Chiefs will need to play smart. Back in September, my Super Bowl prediction was Chiefs 42, Tampa Bay 35. I had a feeling that despite leaving head coach Bill Belichick and New England, Tom Brady would still have success with the talent in Tampa Bay.
Both of these teams met in Week 12, and the Chiefs won by a score of 27-24. The Chiefs started the game off by going up 17-0, the way you want to play when you play Brady, score early and fast. Despite Brady keeping the game close by scoring twice in the fourth quarter, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was able to find success in the passing game with wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Hill ended up with 13 receptions, 269 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns. Both teams are playing much different football. Tampa Bay has not lost a game since they played the Chiefs. They believe they still have yet to play their best game.
The Chiefs will be missing both of their starting tackles on the offensive line: left tackle Eric Fisher (#72) and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz (#71). Fisher is out with an achilles injury and Schwartz has had an injured back since week six against Buffalo. Taking the places of Fisher and Schwartz are Mike Remmers (#75) at left tackle and Andrew Wylie (#77) at right tackle. The Chiefs will also be missing rookie linebacker Willie Gay (#50), who injured his knee in the AFC Championship. Also missing is wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (#11) and offensive lineman Daniel Kilgore (#67) due to COVID-19.
About the Buccaneers:
- First team to play in a Super Bowl that they are hosting.
- Defense has had 7 takeaways this postseason.
- Defense is led by one of the best linebacking tandems, (#54 Lavonte David & #45 Devin White)
- Has had the top ranked defense in the playoffs and has been ranked 1st against the run all season.
Keys to a Chiefs victory:
- Both offensive and defensive lines have to be more physical than Tampa Bay on the line of scrimmage.
- Putting the pressure on Brady (threw 3 interceptions vs Green Bay in NFC Championship).
- Limiting Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette (#27) as a receiver (14 receptions the last 3 games).
- Taking care of the football! The chiefs will need to be balanced on offense and hold onto the ball in rainy conditions. So far in the playoffs the Chiefs have only had 2 turnovers on offense.
- As for Tampa Bay they have had 6 turnovers.
This Super Bowl will not be as high scoring as I had predicted at the beginning of the season. It will be close. There is also a good chance of rain during the game, so expect it to start out slow with both defenses playing well. Chiefs fans should expect the defensive line, led by defensive lineman Chris Jones (#95) to have success putting pressure on Brady throughout the game. As for Mahomes, he will need to make sure to get the ball out of his hands quicker. Expect to see him scramble outside the pocket to make a big play. The bottom line is that the Chiefs will be ready to play, because they knew they would be back in this game. I have the Kansas City Chiefs repeating as Super Bowl Champions! My score prediction is Chiefs 27 Tampa Bay 20 in Overtime.
Only 7 teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls: New England Patriots (2003-04); Denver Broncos (1997-98); Dallas Cowboys (1992-93); San Francisco 49ers (1988-89); Pittsburgh Steelers (1978-79); Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-75); Miami Dolphins (1972-73), and Green Bay Packers (1966-67).
At the beginning of the season, the Chiefs were the favorites to win the Super Bowl at (6-1) odds, and Tampa Bay at (14-1). The Chiefs are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl with a spread of -3.5.