We come to the final part of my series on the Super Bowls involving either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs. Today we look at Super Bowl 55.
The Kansas City Chiefs started the season as the defending champions, having defeated the San Francisco 49ers the previous year. And the regular season went pretty well. Losing only to the Raiders in Week 5 and the meaningless game against the Chargers in Week 17. In week 12 you also won at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The result of 27 to 24 sounds close, but actually Kansas City was clearly better over three quarters. Only a miserable fourth quarter almost brought the whole thing down. Patrick Mahomes was outstanding in this game, having 462 yards and three touchdowns. In the playoffs, being number one in the AFC got a vacancy in the wildcard round. Cleveland was then defeated 22 to 17 in the divisional round. The AFC Championship Game was clearly won against Buffalo by a score of 38 to 24.
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, everything has been outshone by one name this season. Tom Brady had left New England for Florida. But initially there was sand in the gears. The first game against the New Orleans Saints is lost. It follows an embarrassing defeat against the Chicago Bears in Week 4 and a debacle in Week 9 at home against the New Orleans Saints, where it sits a nasty 38-3. After two defeats before the bye week, even the playoff participation is in danger. But you catch yourself and win the last four games. So you are number 2 in the NFC South and number 5 in the NFC. In the wildcard round, the Washington Redskins don’t pose much of a problem. But now you have to go to the New Orleans Saints, against whom you had lost twice clearly. But this time, Tom Brady prevails. It’s 30/20 and you send Drew Brees into retirement. The Green Bay Packers won the NFC Championship Game 31-26 despite Tom Brady throwing three interceptions.
Super Bowl:
The Super Bowl will be played on February 7, 2021 and it has a special feature. Tampa Bay is the first time a team has been allowed to play the Super Bowl at home. It is the duel of the greatest of all time against the crown prince. Kansas City is favorite.
1st quarter: after a couple of unsuccessful attempts on both sides, KC manages a FG to take the lead. Tampa Bay responds with an 8-yard pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski – touchdown! It’s Brady’s 13th touchdown on Gronk in the playoffs. New NFL record! 7-3 Tampa.
2nd Quarter: In the first play of the second quarter, Tampa Bay comes up to the Chiefs’ six. But even though you play all four tries, you only make it to the one. Turnover on downs. And now begins the problem that will accompany Kansas City throughout the game. After an unsuccessful drive, there is actually a very good punt, which is taken back because of a penalty. The second punt is an absolute disaster and Tampa Bay takes over on the 29. Tom Brady throws a 17-yard touchdown pass to Gronk. 14 to 3. The annoying thing from the Chiefs’ point of view: the drive had actually been stopped twice, including once with an interception. Stupidly, both times they received unnecessary penalties and kept the Buccaneers’ drive alive. In the next try, Kansas City manages a field goal .14-6. With just over a minute left on the clock, Tom Brady gets the ball again. And Antonio Brown can actually make it 21:6 with a touchdown. Again, the Chiefs help with penalties. They get eight penalties for 95 yards in the first half. That’s Super Bowl record.
halftime.
The third quarter starts with a field goal by the favorite. Only 21-9 left. But Tampa Bay always has an answer. In the next drive, Lenoard Fournette manages to mark a touchdown to make it 28 to 9. Now Patrick Mahomes also fits. Abandoned by a not-so-good O-line for the day, he threw an interception to Antonie Winfield. Tampa Bay makes a field goal out of it. 31-9.
4th quarter: the last quarter is uninteresting. Tampa Bay understandably takes no chances and Kansas City throws another interception.
The Chiefs failed in this game mainly because of themselves. Eleven penalties in a Super Bowl is just way too many. Six times the opponent was given a first down by a penalty. Bitter from Kansas City’s point of view is that just in this game for the first time with Patrick Mahomes as quarterback without a touchdown. All the things that had worked all season went wrong in that one game.
It’s bitter for Patrick Mahomes personally, as he faces Tom Brady in Playoffs 0 and 2. With the seven-time retired, Patrick Mahomes may just be perceived as the post-Tom Brady guy and not the Tom Brady guy when the new No. 1 follows.