Tampa Bay Buccaneers win 2021 Super Bowl thanks to “Tampa Tom”

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played against the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2021 Super Bowl.

It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had just lost their third straight game after a disappointing 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Buccaneers were sitting at a record of 7-5 and on the bubble of being in the playoffs.

However, the Buccaneers, led by 43-year-old quarterback Tom Brady, were not going to miss the playoffs. Brady led his team to four straight wins to close out the regular season, leading his team to an 11-5 record and the fifth seed in the NFC conference.

After three straight playoff victories over the Washington Football Team, the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers, the Buccaneers were heading to the franchises’ second Super Bowl appearance since the team joined the NFL in 1976. 

Though the majority of the team’s roster did not have much Super Bowl experience, head coach Bruce Arians’ addition of former New English star Tom Brady was easily the most significant offseason move. 

“When we got Tom, that makes you a contender,” wide receiver Mike Evans said. “He’s like LeBron [James]. Whatever team you put him on, they’re going to be a contender. They’re going to be a tough team to beat.”

In Brady’s career, he has made it to ten Super Bowl appearances, of which he has won seven. The Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV win over the Kansas City Chiefs also gave Brady his fifth Super Bowl MVP award. 

It seems that time cannot touch Brady, and although he is in his mid-40’s, he continues to mesmerize fans everywhere with the continuous winning of Super Bowls, well past his ‘prime’.  

While Brady was excellent, completing 21 of his 29 total passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns, it was Tampa’s defense that was outstanding and gave the team that extra push for victory. 

Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, had the perfect game plan. 

The last time these two teams faced in Week 12, Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill torched the Bucs for 269 receiving yards and three touchdowns. 

On Sunday, Feb. 7, Hill was held to 73 receiving yards, with most of those yards coming in the fourth quarter.   

Bowles adjusted his defensive plan and put more defenders back to double up on Hill and Kelce. According to the NFL Next Gen Stats, Bowles had two high safeties playing 81% of the time, which is the highest total in Bowles coaching career. 

Bowles, known as a “blitzing guy”, only sent pressure 9.6% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps, which was the lowest rate recorded for any single game in the past five seasons by a Bowles-led defense. Even with only four guys attacking Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes, it still felt that the Buccaneers were sending pressure every play because of the injuries on the Chiefs’ offensive line. According to the NFL Next Gen Stats, Mahomes was pressured on 29 dropbacks, which is the most pressure in Super Bowl history. Also, Mahomes scrambled for 497 yards while being chased around like elementary schoolers playing tag at recess before even releasing the ball to his receivers.  

Although people may not like that Brady keeps winning Super Bowls. People cannot deny his obvious greatness and his G.O.A.T status, which is showcased in every one of Brady’s games.