1 of 3 | The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense intercepted Aaron Rodgers to help secure a victory over the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 24 in the NFC Championship game. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI |
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MIAMI, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers must do something almost no team has ever done if they hope to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV: contain quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his All-Pro weapons.
Mahomes, arguably the best quarterback in the game today, matches up with Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback in history, Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
Mahomes will attempt to lead the Chiefs to a second-consecutive Super Bowl title, while Brady vies for ring No. 7.
The blockbuster matchup caps off a unique NFL season, which began on time in September, but featured many player opt-outs before the season, weeks of uncertainty about player availability and several rescheduled games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sunday's game is scheduled to start t 6:30 p.m. EST at Raymond James Stadium. It will air on CBS.
"To have the opportunity to play in this game means a lot to me," Brady told reporters Monday in a video news conference. "It's a lot of commitment and sacrifice by a lot of guys. Obviously, we are one game away from the ultimate goal in this sport.
"Hopefully, we can finish this season strong and win a Super Bowl. That's why we're here, that's why we're playing. It would make for a really magical season for us."
Brady's Buccaneers had the league's No. 7 offense and No. 6 defense. Mahomes' Chiefs had the NFL's top offense and No. 16 defense. The Chiefs edged the Buccaneers 27-24 in their game Nov. 29 in Tampa.
Offenses
Mahomes completed 66.3% of his throws for 4,740 yards, 38 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games this season.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was Mahomes' top target. The All-Pro had 105 catches for 1,416 yards and 11 scores in 2020. The Chiefs also have speed and talent at the wide receiver position and steady runners in the backfield.
Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, one of the NFL's fastest players, had 87 catches for 1,276 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns in 2020. His 14 yards per touch led the NFL.
"The biggest thing will be me getting the ball out of my hands and getting it to the playmakers I have around me," Mahomes said. "They have a really good defense. ... I will just try to make positive plays and not negative ones and rely on the guys around me."
The Chiefs scored at least 21 points in 17 of 18 games this season. They scored at least 30 points in 10 games. The Buccaneers also boasted a high-scoring offense in 2020.
Tampa Bay scored at least 30 points in 11 games this season. They scored at least 21 points in 17 games through the regular season and postseason.
Brady completed 65.7% of his throws this season for 4,633 yards, 40 scores and 12 interceptions in 16 starts. The Buccaneers' offense also features several lethal playmakers in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski.
Evans was Brady's top target in 2020. He had 70 catches for 1,006 yards and 13 scores this season.
Godwin and Gronkowski each caught seven touchdown passes in 2020. Brown, a former All-Pro, joined the Buccaneers in Week 9 after he served an eight-game suspension. Brown had 483 yards and four scores in eight games.
The Chiefs were more balanced on offense than the Buccaneers in 2020. Kansas City -- led in the backfield by rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and veteran Le'Veon Bell -- ranked No. 16 in rushing yards. The Buccaneers -- led by Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones -- ranked No. 28 in rushing yards.
Defenses
Mahomes and Brady could pile up the pass attempts in Super Bowl LV, based on the strengths and weaknesses of each team. The Chiefs had the NFL's best passing offense, while the Buccaneers ranked No. 2 in passing yards.
The Buccaneers also had the NFL's top rushing defense, as they allowed the fewest attempts, yards and touchdowns on the ground. They ranked No. 21 in passing yards allowed.
The Chiefs took advantage of the Buccaneers' subpar pass defense in Week 12, when Mahomes had 462 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Hill also obliterated the Buccaneers secondary, with 269 yards and three scores on 13 catches in that matchup.
The Buccaneers could opt to try to control Mahomes' by keeping him on the sideline. One way to do that is with a successful running game, which chews up the clock and limits possessions for the opposing offense. The Chiefs ranked No. 21 in rushing yards allowed.
Las Vegas Raiders running backs had 182 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in their Week 5 win over the Chiefs. That was the Chiefs' only regular-season loss, outside of their Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes, Kelce, Hill and other Chiefs stars did not play in the regular-season finale against Los Angeles.
One of the biggest factors in Super Bowl LV will likely be the turnover battle. The Buccaneers forced the fifth-most turnovers in the NFL this season. The Chiefs forced the 10th-most turnovers. Kansas City's offense had the fourth-fewest turnovers, while Tampa Bay had the seventh-fewest turnovers.
Buccaneers have slight momentum
Tampa Bay lost three out of four games, including the Week 12 loss to Kansas City, before a Week 13 bye. The Buccaneers haven't lost since.
Tampa Bay enters Super Bowl LV on a seven-game winning streak. The Buccaneers have outscored opponents by an average of 34.2 to 20.5 during that span.
Brady also has thrown at least two touchdown passes in 10 consecutive games and has just four interceptions since the loss to the Chiefs.
"They're playing organized football all the way around in all three phases [offense, defense and special teams," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "They're not making many mistakes, they're creating turnovers on the defensive side, they're keeping the turnover level down on the offensive side.
"Their running back situation I think is even stronger with Fournette being able to work in there and feel comfortable. They've got the good wide receivers that we've faced before, but I think they're probably more on the same page with Brady than they were back when we played them.
"They're healthier, and they're playing at a higher level."
The Chiefs were on a 10-game winning streak from Week 6 through Week 16 before they lost their regular-season finale. They then beat the Browns by five points in the second-round of the playoffs, after a first-round bye. Kansas City then edged the Buffalo Bills 38-24 in the AFC Championship game.
The Chiefs are 6-1 and have outscored opponents by an average of 26.4-23.5 since their Week 12 win over the Buccaneers. Mahomes was held to one touchdown pass in the win over the Browns. He also has four interceptions since the Tampa Bay game.
Kansas City is a 3.5-point favorite to beat Tampa Bay.
How to watch
What: Super Bowl LV
Who: Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
When: 6:30 p.m. EST Sunday
TV: CBS
With trophy in hand, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians speaks during the NFC Championship celebration at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday. The Bucs defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-26 to win the NFC Championship. Photo by Mark Black/UPI |
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