Super Bowl 55: Keys to the Win

Last year, I said the NFL season was a unique one…then 2020 happened. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the NFL faced an uncertain future as far playing out the season. Some thought it would not have been played to its fullest or have a Super Bowl and some thought there was not even going to be a 2020 season. But at last, we made it through and we have the Super Bowl up ahead in a few hours. We will be seeing the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl last year, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There will be several factors that will go into who wins the Lombardi Trophy this Sunday. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Kansas City Chiefs

Lock Down Brady’s Weapons

• Let’s face it, it has been a long time since Tom Brady had this talented of an offense around him. He’s got Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate, Scotty Miller, and Antonio Brown. In addition, the offense started clicking near the end of the season. Not only does this receiving corps talented, but they’re all on the same page too. That’s a scary sight. The defensive backs are going to have their hands full in this game, but that is priority number one; lock down the receiving corps.

Be Ready for the Run Game

• Bruce Arians’ offense focuses primarily on the passing game and throwing the ball deep. That changed when Tom Brady took the field for the Bucs. At this point of his career, Brady depends on a strong run game. Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones are a great duo for running the ball. This opens up the passing game. You stop the run game, you force the Bucs to scramble for a new plan of attack on offense.

Attack the Defense in the Middle of the Field

• The Buccaneers’ defense has been outstanding this year, in exceptions to a few games. Todd Bowles was brought in almost two years ago to be Tampa Bay’s Defensive Coordinator and he’s done a great job. However, there is a way to attack his defense; take advantage of blitzes. Todd Bowles is known for sending at least 5 defenders on blitzes to get pressure on the Quarterback. Take advantage of the speed of receivers like Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman to get rid of the ball fast before the pressure gets to Mahomes.

X-Factor: Patrick Mahomes

• Is this a surprise? The man is getting paid over 500 million dollars to lead that Chiefs offense. He is one of the faces of the NFL and the Chiefs are going to rely on Mahomes to deliver accurate passes and create plays.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lock Down Mahomes’ Weapons

• Like the mission that the Chiefs’ defense has against the Bucs, Tampa Bay also has the same one against Kansas City. The Chiefs have Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and DeMarcus Robinson. With Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy as the masterminds of the offense, this is a nightmare of an offense for the Buccaneers. The defensive backs have to stay light on their feet and keep everything in front of them and always expect a big play coming. These players can beat you deep on the field or burn you while running after the catch.

Keep on the lookout for Le’Veon Bell and Clyde Edwards-Helaire

• While the run game is not as vital to the Buccaneers’ run game, these guys can run the ball for big gains on the ground. They also can catch the ball out of the backfield so that doesn’t make things any easier for the defense. The linebackers are going to have to stay on alert for these guys both in the run game and in the passing game.

Leave the game to Tom Brady

• While the Bucs offense under Brady has been on fire lately, if you look at Bruce Arians’ offense with these players, it was nowhere near this efficient with another quarterback as it is right now with Brady. I think it is more than fair to say Tom Brady is a different type of breed. The guy is considered to be one of the greatest Quarterbacks of all time. This will be his 10th Super Bowl he plays in, having won 6 of them. Leave it to him to win this game for the Buccaneers.

X-Factor: Offensive Line

• This is an unlikely one, but this will be the deciding factor for the success of the Bucs. If the offensive line can hold up against the Chiefs’ defensive line, Brady will have the time he needs to go through his reads and deliver the ball to his playmakers. It will also be vital to the run game with Fournette and Jones out of the backfield. If the offensive line can’t hold up, everything for the Buccaneers’ offense will go up in smoke.

Prediction

I expect this game to turn into a shootout with the deciding factor being a big play from the defense, whether it be an interception or a fumble. Pretty much how the Patriots and Eagles game went down a few years ago. I believe in the statement “experience matters” especially in the playoffs. While Tom Brady has been in these high pressure situations in the playoffs countless of times, most of the Buccaneers roster has had little experience in the playoffs. However, they seem to rally behind Brady and Arians as they came into the playoffs as a Wild Card team and have had to play on the road throughout the entirety of it. This game will be in their home field. However, we are also talking about the Chiefs who are the defending champions and their roster is pretty much the same one minus a few new faces on the team and I would never bet against Mahomes and that offense on their best day. They also did beat the Buccaneers earlier this season 27-24.

That being said, I predict the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 33-30. While I just stated most of the Bucs roster is inexperienced in the playoffs, I am more compelled to say they are more loaded on defense than the Chiefs and will find a way to get to Mahomes, disrupt that offense just long enough for the Buccaneers to score enough points to beat them, and end the game on a turnover.

Editor’s Note: The photographs above are under use by license CC BY 2.0.