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Well, everyone, we have made it! It’s time for the last football game of the 2020 NFL season! It’s crazy to think that even with all the COVID-19 outbreaks over the course of the season that we could make it here. The Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens had big outbreaks, while the New England Patriots, had a small outbreak. But health experts said 2021 wouldn’t start out normal, but we do see a sense of normality, in the Super Bowl. Tom Brady is back in the big game for the 10th time in his career, and Patrick Mahomes is back for the second year in a row. The Buccaneers are the first team in Super Bowl history to play the big game in their home stadium, so expect a lot of Buccaneer red in the stands.
PHOTO CREDIT: Yahoo
The Buccaneers are a wonderful team, as Ronald Jones carried the running back room in the regular season, and then Lenord Fournette took over in the playoffs. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are both capable number one receivers, and Scotty Miller is a verified deep threat. Gronk is an amazing blocker and Cameron Brate can catch passes. Don’t forget about Antonio Brown, who hasn’t done much in Tampa, but don’t underestimate him. Oh, and their QB is someone named Tom Brady! The Kansas City defense isn’t flashy, but they make plays when it counts the most, with star defensive tackle Chris Jones, safeties Juan Thornhill, and Tyrann Mathieu. Also, L’Jarius Sneed has performed well at corner as a rookie. TB12 has not played like a Super Bowl MVP the past couple of games, but with this team, he doesn’t have to.
The Tampa Bay defense is very good. With young stars in the secondary, Antoine Winfield Jr, Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Carlton Davis. They have the best linebacking core in the whole league with veteran Lavonte David, and budding superstar Devin White.
PHOTO CREDIT: Tyler Kaufman / Associated Press
The KC o-line will have their hands full, with Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, Vita Vea, and Ndamukong Suh. The Chiefs line are also missing FOUR of their week one starters, including right tackle star Mitchell Schwartz. But the last time these two teams met, in week 12, KC was down three offensive line starters, as Eric Fisher tore his achilles in the AFC Championship Game. The good thing about Patrick Mahomes is that he can extend plays, and find Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, who both tore up the Bucs defense in their last meeting.
PHOTO CREDIT: USA TODAY / Chiefs Wire
You can’t play man-to-man vs. Kansas City, and zone defense can be carved up, as well. The Bucs do have the best-run defense, so they can definitely stop Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the rest of the Chiefs ground game.
If the Bucs can create turnovers, then that could be what decides the game. Tampa has done well during the playoffs, with bending but not breaking. That will have to happen if they want to give their home fans a Super Bowl win. I think this game will come down to turnovers and touchdowns scored. I think KC has the firepower, but you usually don’t beat Brady twice in a year, and you definitely don’t bet against him in the Super Bowl. Brady wins his 7th ring, and makes his record vs. Mahomes 3-2, while Mahomes, can't win back to back, as he falls to 2-3 vs. the G.O.A.T.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers, 34 - Chiefs, 31
Super Bowl MVP: Devin White (I think he’ll have 13 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 2 sacks).