Super Bowl LV Preview: Brady’s Dominance Stands in the Way of a KC Repeat, Fun Facts, and Prediction

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (Left), looks to become the first QB in history to win seven Super Bowls, while Patrick Mahomes (right), looks to lead the Chiefs to back-to-back championships. Kickoff for the game is at 6:30 PM EDT on CBS, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes

And then, there were two.

For a variety of reasons, there’s a little different feeling in the air today as we get set for what promises to be one of the best Super Bowls in a long time. First, obviously, it’s going to be played during the pandemic, so there won’t be anywhere near as many fans as usual. Second, reports came out yesterday that Britt Reid, Chiefs linebackers coach and son of head coach Andy Reid, was involved in a multi-car accident where a five-year-old child remains in critical condition. Reid is under investigation under suspicion of a DUI. Also, even though that doesn’t appear to be the case at this time, last week there were two members of the Chiefs who tested positive for Covid-19, so there’s that too.

The one constant? Tom Brady. Duh. Alright, I guess you can argue Gronk, too. Even though he was on a new team in a new conference, Tom Brady still did Tom Brady things this season, propelling the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl berth since Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003. Maybe it was the uniforms? I mean after all, they did switch back to the uniforms they wore in — Super Bowl XXXVII. Nah, it was definitely Brady giving them the shot in the arm they were so desperately looking for.

The hardest thing to do in any sport is repeat as champions. This feat in the Super Bowl has been accomplished only seven times, and none since 2004, when Brady was with the Patriots. Kansas City, behind a fully-cleared-from-concussion-protocol Patrick Mahomes, will look to join this elite company. For general knowledge, or if the answer ever comes up on “Jeopardy!” the teams that won the Super Bowl as repeat champions are Green Bay (1966–1967), Miami (1972–1973), Pittsburgh, who, by the way, was the only team to accomplish this feat twice and the only team to win four Super Bowls in six consecutive seasons(1974–1975, and 1978–1979), San Francisco (1988–1989), Dallas (1992–1993), Denver (1997–1998), and the aforementioned New England (2003–2004). Of those, only Dallas (1992–1993 and 1995) and New England (2001, 2003–2004) are the only teams to win three out of four consecutive Super Bowls. Betcha didn’t know that, huh? Okay, maybe some of you did, but one of these days that’s going to come up in trivia, and then who’s the one who’s prepared?

It’s not a well-kept secret that in addition to Brady being Brady, Tampa Bay’s rise to power in the NFC South can be largely attributed to defensive coordinator Todd Bowles — yes, THAT Todd Bowles, who we all remember as the head coach of the Jets who, well, let’s just say didn’t do so well. It’s also not a very well-kept secret that a lot of what Kansas City does offensively can be attributed to offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy as well, but the argument of whether it is Bienemy or Reid who are flipping the switches and pulling the levers on offense can be had another day.

Some fun facts before I give my prediction: as we know, this is the first time in 55 seasons that a team that is playing in the Super Bowl will be hosting it in their home stadium. It’s worth noting that the NFL has declared Raymond James Stadium a neutral site, and therefore will not allow the Bucs to do their traditional firing of the cannons after every touchdown. I’m sure, however, there will be plenty of cannons among the fireworks should the Buccaneers win today. The last time the Bucs were in the Super Bowl, they won. The last time the Chiefs were in the Super Bowl, they won. This is also the largest age gap between quarterbacks in the Super Bowl. Brady is 43, Mahomes is 25. Wow.

My prediction: I’ve never really been good at these things, so I’m just going to say that the Chiefs win this one in a close one. I just think that Kansas City has too much firepower on offense, and Brady’s not-so-Brady-like performance in the second half of the NFC championship against Green Bay could come back to haunt him should he melt down again in this one. If I have to give a score, I’ll say the Chiefs edge the Buccaneers, 24–21. It will certainly be entertaining, and I’m looking forward to seeing if Brady will put the Brady-vs.-Belichick argument to bed once and for all, or if Kansas City will repeat as champions.

A reminder that kickoff is at 6:30 PM EDT on CBS, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes.

Enjoy the game everyone, and please, stay safe out there!