Super Bowl LV, GoingFor2 Style
It’s come down to one game. We didn’t know if we’d make it this far, and yet here we are, Super Bowl LV week. It has been a crazy season to say the least — maybe the craziest NFL season ever. But through all the Covid stuff, the civl unrest, the tragic deaths, and the election drama, the NFL managed to pull it off a full season, and now we get the game of games.
I asked a few of my writers some pressing questions about the big game, the following are their answers. Enjoy…
Q: Who is the biggest X-Factor for the Bucs?
A: We all know that the key to Buccaneers winning a Super Bowl will be slowing down Patrick Mahomes. My X factor for the Buccaneers will be the outside linebackers Shaquille Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. In the Super Bowl, the Chiefs will only be starting one offensive lineman that started last year’s Super Bowl. With Mahomes movement still partially limited due to injury, the Buccaneers will be looking to pressure Mahomes.
For the Buccaneers to win they will need to pressure and keep Mahomes as uncomfortable as they can. If Barrett and Piere-Paul can win against the offensive tackles, it could force the Chiefs to change their game plan. The Chiefs are going to score and we all know that. But the only way the Buccaneers win is if they make key strips cat key times in the game. and they will only do that if those two guys can live up to the hype. Mike Hicks @chieffan1002
Q: Who will be the non-QB MVP if the Bucs win?
A: Tom Brady spreads the pill about fairly evenly so to single one guy out seems relatively crazy because they all play their roles perfectly. So on that side of the ball why not old faithful Rob Gronkowski? His big-play ability is always there whenever old ‘Tommy Boy’ needs it (isn’t that right, L.A. Rams) and the big stage calls for the stars to step up and suspend belief and that’s something ‘Gronk’ has done his entire career. But seeing as that is highly unlikely – I’m pushing my chips in on the 2019 sack leader Shaq Barrett – who is put bluntly a freaking monster.
The loss of Left Tackle Eric Fisher to a torn Achilles is huge and means that Mike Remmers will likely swing from the right to the left and if that’s the case, Barrett (and Jason Pierre-Paul as well), could legitimately have a field day. Long story short, Shaq Barrett wins the Superbowl MVP if Tom Brady doesn’t, with Rob Gronkowski as a sentimental outsider. Dan Rosier @TheBLeagueSays PICK: Bucs 38-33
A: Shaquil Barrett. Barrett had seven pressures and three sacks in the NFC championship game. Barrett is one of five players on the Buccaneers front seven who have been all-pro or are currently playing at an all-pro level Suh, Pierre-Paul, White, and David are the other four. The linebackers White and David are likely to make several big plays with their speed and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an interception from one or the other. The speed and coverage ability of the Tampa Bay linebackers should force Mahomes to hold the ball longer and allow the defensive linemen an opportunity to get sacks on Mahomes. Luke Markworth @socratictheory PICK: Buccaneers 31 Chiefs 30
Q: What “on the field” matchup are you most looking forward to?
A: A tale as old as time. Coming from a guy who believes that cheeseburgers should be the official sandwich of America it’d be reckless to not highlight the big guys in the trenches. I mean…that’s where games are won and lost. If Tampa Bay can get consistent pressure with their front four as they did against Green Bay then they have a real shot at winning this. The problem? Tampa Bay ranks 19th in opponent third-down conversion rate. An above-average pass rush can cover a lot of holes and that’s going to be the key for the Buccaneers. Tom Brady has the horses to keep up on the scoreboard; he just needs the defense to give him a shot. Matthew Garrett @madads14
Q: We will hear a lot about the “first team with home-field advantage” narrative. Will it really matter?
A: Not really. Other than the Tampa Bay players and coaches getting to sleep in their own beds leading up to the game. As far as the fans in the stands, the stadium capacity is capped at 22,000 due to Covid-19. This includes 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers and 14,500 ticket-buying fans. Raymond James Stadium can hold 65,000 – 75,000 during a normal game. Since the 14,500 will not be all Buccaneers fans, crowd noise shouldn’t be an issue like a normal home game. Gary Zamarripa @garyzam01
Q: For the Bucs to win this game they must ____________?
A: Pressure Mahomes. Since the Week 13 bye, the Bucs defense has excelled and shaken things up. In the NFC Championship Game, they pressured Rodgers 22 times and added five sacks. If they can continuously pressure Mahomes, leaving him scrambling, then turnovers will ensue. Turnovers (7 of them) have produced 41 points in these playoffs thus far, and I expect more for a Bucs victory.
Another important fact is that the Chiefs offensive line will be without LT Eric Fischer and possibly RT Mitchell Schwartz leaving Mahomes even more vulnerable in the pocket. All in all, if the Bucs defense can disrupt routes in the secondary, pressure Mahomes at the line, force turnovers, and keep the time of possession in the Bucs favor, they will be victorious. A tall order but if any defense can do, it’s the hot-handed Bucs! Courtney Burrows @luvtractor3 PICK: Chiefs 32 Bucs 28
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Q: The Bucs just lost the Super Bowl, does Tom Brady retire?
A: Brady has recently hinted at wanting to play the game till he is 45, which comes as a surprise to me but for as long as he stays on his game he will have a job. Goats can play as long as they want. – Jared Good @TheYetiExpress PICK: Chiefs 33- Bucs 23
Q: Does winning or losing this game affect the free agent decision of Chris Godwin to come back next season or not?
A: I do think the results of the Superbowl will have an impact on Chris Godwin’s decision in free agency. If the Buccaneers can win, I can see a scenario where Tom Brady decides to go for ring number eight and looks to keep the same core together to attempt to go back-to-back. Godwin signs a short deal with the Bucs to run it back one last time. It’s also rumored that Tampa Bay will potentially franchise tag Godwin if they are unable to bring him back on a long-term deal, which would allow him to come back for one last push regardless of the results of the Superbowl. Jay @Gmenjay PICK: Buccaneers 30 Chiefs 28
Q: For the Chiefs to win this game they must ____________?
A: Protect Patrick Mahomes and get Tryeek Hill the football… As mentioned by Courtney, the Bucs defense has been getting to quarterbacks. With Eric Fischer and Mitchell Schwartz out, it will be no easy task. They also need to get Tyreek Hill as involved as possible. The Chiefs struggle to run the ball with CEH, Bell and Williams. Hillis the guy who can break runs off for large gains. They’ll need to get him the ball on short passes, screens and sweeping run plays if they want to open up the passing game for Hill, Watkins, Hardman and most importantly, Travis Kelce. Nate Williams @NateHimselfish
Q: Who is the biggest X-Factor for the chiefs?
The Chiefs are going to need someone outside of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill to step up on the offensive side of the ball, much like Damian Williams was for them last year — and should have won the MVP, but I digress.
I’m going to put the X-Factor on the young rookie, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The Bucs run defense is one of the best — if not the best — in the league. I don’t expect Edwards-Helaire to find much room, and he won’t likely put up a ton of yards in the game, but he needs to be modestly effective. He needs to at least be a threat that the Bucs have to account for. That will help keep the edge rushers from just teeing-off on Mahomes and ignoring the run game.
He will also be needed in the passing game, something us fantasy owners wished he’d been a bigger part of in the regular season. If he can get 6-to-7 targets with 40-to-50 yards receiving, the Bucs are going to have a hard time slowing this Chiefs offense.
Q: Who will be the non-QB MVP if the Chiefs win?
A: The last time the Bucs and Chiefs met Tyreek Hill was running past the Bucs defense for 13 catches, 249 yards and 3 touchdowns. 200 of those yards and 2 of those touchdowns came in one quarter. That’s the football equivalent to Klay Thompson dropping eleven threes in the 2016 Western Conference Finals or Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs in a World Series
game.
Hill’s career-high game was a complete anomaly, and will undoubtedly never happen again……or will it?
Looking at the Bucs defense against wide receivers this season it isn’t pretty. In Week two Robbie Anderson and DJ Moore both had 100 yard receiving days, week seven Nelson Agholor had 107 receiving yards, week 11 Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp had over 100 yards, week 15 Calvin Ridley had over 100 yards, Cam Sims had 107 in the wild card round, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling had 115 in the conference championship Those are just the games where receivers went over 100 yards. Allen Robinson had 90 yards in week two, DJ Moore had 96 in week two, and Russel Gage had 91 in week 17. The point being is the data does not lie. The Bucs give up yards to receivers.
Now, you could argue that the Bucs will pay special attention to Hill this time around by jamming him at the line, doubling him with a safety, playing box and one against him. Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles could take the notion that anyone but Hill this time around. That sounds great in meetings and in practice, but practically speaking-not so much. The Chiefs offense is like trying to solve a Rubix cube that fights back. Andy Reid is the most creative play-caller in the history of football and will find a way to get Hill the ball. Jet sweeps, speed sweeps, pop passes, reverses, screens, etc. Hill is the only player on the field that can take a five-yard hitch route and turn it into a touchdown. One missed assignment, one missed tackle, and BOOM! Fifty yards.
In the past twenty years, there have been four receivers named Super Bowl MVP (Deion Branch, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Julian Edelman) and in each of those games, the receiver made the play of the game (Ward and Holmes) or was consistency made plays during the game (Branch and Edelman). Tyreek Hill may not catch ten passes on Sunday, but he will make the play of the game and be named Super Bowl MVP. Â Tom hardy @Tomhardy8080 PICK: Chiefs 34. Bucs 31
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