Fikkle Fame’s Prediction for Super Bowl LV

After a season unlike any other, the NFL successfully played through the 2020-21 schedule, with no preseason games to warm up with and few, or no fans in the stands for the games due to Covid-19. We’ve reached the Super Bowl, number LV for those keeping track, which will be played in front of 25,000 live fans and 30,000 cutouts, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Super Bowl LV February 7th, 2021

Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-5). Chiefs favored by 3. O/U: 57. Kansas City beat the Buccaneers 27-24 in Tampa on November 29th. The Buccaneers haven’t lost since. This is the first Super Bowl where the host field is also the home field of one of the teams in the game. This is the second Super Bowl for the Buccaneers, who beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003. Kansas City is making its fourth appearance in the Big Game; they are the defending champions. The Chiefs lost to the Green Bay Packers 35-10 in Super Bowl I (at that time the AFL-NFL World Championship Game) January 15th, 1967. Kansas City beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV on January 11th, 1970, and last year the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 on February 2nd, 2020.

The Buccaneers have several things going for them. Besides having home field advantage, they also have quarterback Tom Brady, making his 10th appearance in a Super Bowl. But the Buccaneers’ offense is more than just the quarterback. Brady has some excellent receivers to throw to, led by Mike Evans (1006 yards in 14 games, 7 touchdowns). Though they are not a big rushing team, it’s good enough to keep teams from waiting for the pass. Ronald Jones II rushed for 978 yards and 7 touchdowns in 14 games, while Leonard Fournette has rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns in three playoff games. The defense has been solid all season, and should not be overlooked.

The Chiefs have a lot on their side as well. Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes has been in a Super Bowl, too; he was the MVP of last year’s game. The Chiefs led the NFL in passing yards, with TE Travis Kelce (1416 yards, 11 touchdowns) and WR Tyreek Hill (1276 yards, 15 touchdowns) as the top pass catchers. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the top rusher with 803 yards. The Chiefs do not get panicky if they fall behind. In the AFC Championship, Kansas City trailed Buffalo 9-0 after the first quarter, but scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and led 21-12 at halftime on the way to a 38-24 win over the Bills. And of course in that playoff game last season against Houston, the Chiefs trailed 24-0 in the second quarter but ended up as 51-31 winners. In other words, no lead is safe against the Chiefs. Kansas City’s defense allowed 20.5 points per game, which is actually better than Tampa Bay’s (23 ppg).

In the NFC Championship game at Green Bay, Tom Brady completed 20 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, including one at the end of the first half that had to be demoralizing for the Packers, as it gave Tampa Bay a 21-10 lead at the half. He threw his third TD pass early in the third quarter, but after that, he looked mortal, being pressured by Green Bay’s defense and throwing three interceptions. But the Tampa Bay defense came through (aided by questionable coaching decisions by Green Bay) and Tampa Bay held on to win 31-26.

Kansas City coach Andy Reid won’t make those types of coaching mistakes. The Chiefs have the personnel to repeat as champions, and they will. Kansas City 31 Tampa Bay 28.