Today dawns Super Bowl LV (CBS, 3:30 PM EST). It's a COVID Super Bowl. Last year at this time the United States was a still a month away from lockdown frenzy.
Today's Super Bowl is an advertiser's dream. The sweet bird of youth phenom Patrick Mahomes against the 43-year-old GOAT Tom Brady. The dynasty-in-the-making Kansas City Chiefs versus the Jiffy Pop loaded with talent powerhouse Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Chiefs have injuries on the offensive line; that combined with Tampa's intimidating defensive line and linebackers, a front seven that dominated the game against Green Bay, give the Buccaneers a clearly lighted path to the Lombardi Trophy. Toss in a clock-chewing Tampa offense with Brady at the controls throwing short passes to Chris Godwin over the middle and Mike Evans outside the numbers, and then handing the ball off to Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones, and really, really, I don't see how the Buccaneers can lose.
Well, I guess, here's how. Kansas City's defense is better than people think. Led by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs will pressure Tom Brady with Chris Jones, Frank Clark and a combination of corner and slot blitzes. Brady will turn the ball over. Then it's Mahomes turn. Can the Chiefs move the ball against that frightening Tampa defense? I think they can. I think Andy Reid will attack those big fast linebackers -- Devin White, Shaq Barrett and Lavonte David -- and when Tampa's depleted secondary drops down to help, Mahomes will takes his shots down the field.
In the end, I'm going with Andy Reid over Bruce Arians; Steve Spagnuolo over Todd Bowles; Patrick Mahomes over Tom Brady. Take the Kansas City Chiefs.
