Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are kneeling on the ball, sealing their second consecutive AFC Championship. As the clock is running down to zero we started to look forward to the super bowl. Earlier in the day the Bucs pulled an upset of the Packers in Green Bay in a wild game. The pundits are calling this Super Bowl the GOAT Vs the Kid (a kid is a baby goat by definition, so clever those pundits). Let’s first pour one out for the Packers and Bills whom both won 13 games in great seasons for both squads. Okay, now we go to the big game (which I did not originate for the record). We will preview every position group against each other. We will check mark the advantages starting with individual matchups then finally the offense vs the defense, coordinators and head coaches to gauge who has the advantage. Because we all know that football games are won on paper and not the field, right? Right!!!
CHIEFS OFFENSIVE LINE VS BUCS DEFENSIVE LINE
The Chiefs suffered a big loss in the AFC Championship game when left tackle Eric Fisher injured his Achilles. With right tackle Mitchell Schwartz status for the super bowl also in high doubt the Chiefs will turn to backup swing tackles Mike Remmers and Andrew Wylie. With left guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opting out before the season the Chiefs were already lacking in depth up front. On the Bucs side the defensive line is one of the biggest strengths of the entire Bucs roster with stud veterans Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaquille Barrett, Ndamukong Suh and Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Also two more weeks to assist in getting rush stuffing demon Vita Vea back to health from injured reserve will also bolster an already strong unit. This is the biggest mismatch for Tampa in this game and an area the Bucs will have to dominate for them to win.
Advantage: Bucs
CHIEFS SKILL PLAYERS (WR, TE, RB) VS BUCS SECONDARY/LINEBACKERS
The Chiefs skill talent is some of the best in football led by speed demon Tyreek Hill and the elite route running of tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs have even more speed on the outside with receivers Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins (if he plays), Bryon Pringle and Demarcus Robinson. Because of the speed aspect the normally aggressive Bucs defensive scheme will likely blitz less than normal to prevent the Chiefs from getting big plays in the passing game. Chiefs running back Daryl Williams has been a big factor in the postseason thus far with 26 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown in the two playoffs games. The Chiefs will still need Clyde-Edwards Helaire to be a factor in the running and passing game to keep the pressure off the Chiefs offensive line having to hold up in pass protection for long periods of time. Bucs linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White are the best tandem of linebackers in the game with their ability to run and attack. Bucs Safties Antoine Winfield and Jordan Whitehead status are both in doubt for the super bowl. If neither can play the Bucs will have to depend on inexperienced backups Andrew Adams and Mike Edwards. The Bucs corners Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean are all fantastic range aggressive young corners. That being said no unit in football can cover the speed of the Chiefs receivers without help. This back end is talented but will need help from the pass rush to hang with the Chiefs skill talent combo.
Advantage: Chiefs
CHIEFS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ERIC BIENIEMY VS BUCS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TOOD BOWLES
The play calling schemes are going to be a treat to view on both sides when the Chiefs have the ball. It is two hyper aggressive units going toe to toe. I would expect the Chiefs to use a lot of jet sweeps and motion packages to offset a very aggressive Bucs defense and to setup shot plays over the top with the Chiefs speedy receivers. The Bucs defense may want to play more coverage packages and less blitzing to limit the Chiefs from getting the big play. Bowles would be trusting what is a very good front four to get pressure on Patrick Mahomes. This is about as close as you can get in schematic advantages but with Andy Reid assisting Bieniemy in the game plan I will give the Chiefs the slight edge.
Advantage: Chiefs
BUCS OFFENSIVE LINE VS CHIEFS DEFENSIVE LINE
The Bucs offensive line has improved over the season with both tackles Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs showing massive improvement since the beginning of the season. The key to the success of the Bucs will be protecting against the always disruptive Chris Jones. Chris Jones was the co-mvp in last years Super Bowl (in my opinion) against the 49ers with his ability to single handily wreck that game in the 4th quarter between pass deflections and pressure up the middle. This will be a tall task for guards Ali Marpet and Aaron Stinnie. Expect the Chiefs to bring pressure as well throughout the game as they like the Bucs (to a smaller degree) also blitz often. The Bucs offensive line has been above average all season while Chiefs up front are more on the average side so I will give the Bucs slight advantage here.
Advantage: Bucs
BUCS SKILL PLAYERS VS CHIEFS SECONDARY/LINEBACKERS
Just like the Chiefs the Bucs have a lot of talent at the skill positions especially at Wide Receiver and Tight End. Rob Gronkowski is a big game player with a lot of chemistry and experience with Tom Brady. Antonio Brown if he can play also brings a big play element to the passing game. Scotty Miller has made the two biggest plays of the Postseason for the Bucs. Miller will be a big matchup issue for the Chiefs in third down situations as a trusted target for Brady in big spots. The Chiefs have an excellent back end themselves with the very instinctive safety Tryonn Mathieu leading the bunch. A huge key to this game for K.C is gettingcornerback L’Jaruis Sneed back who suffered a concussion in last nights game. If the Chiefs can have Sneed back with Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland they can bring more pressure and play single coverage. One of the big keys of this game. Overall will give slight advantage to Tampa.
Advantage: Bucs
BUCS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH VS CHIEFS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
The Bucs have the advantage across the lines and skill areas so how can the Chiefs stop Tampa? Schematics is where I think the Chiefs have the advantage with the inexperience of Bryon Leftwich and the vast experience of Steve Spagnuolo in big spots. I expect Tom Brady and the Bucs to take several shots down the field and the Chiefs to bring a lot of pressure on Brady with blitzes (a mono e mono). Third down when Tampa has the ball is going to be a big key to this football game. I’ll give the Chiefs the slight edge here based on coordinator experience.
Advantage: Chiefs
HEAD COACH ANDY REID VS HEAD COACH BRUCE ARIANS
This is not much of a debate. Andy Reid has 221 career wins while Bruce Arians has 67. Worse the Bucs have a loose attitude to them that has lost them some games throughout the season and almost lost the game in Green Bay yesterday which is a reflection on the coach. Arians is in the top 10 in overall coaches in league but Andy Reid is number 2 and getting closer to asking Bill Belichek to hold his beer for the top spot.
Advantage: Chiefs
QUARTERBACK PATRICK MAHOMES VS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY
This is not an all time debate we may have it in 10 years if Patrick Mahomes keeps at this success rate. It’s who is the best quarterback right now. Tom Brady is a unicorn, alien, whatever you want to call it. We will likely never see again a 43 year old man be this awesome at football. But Patrick Mahomes is in another galaxy of quarterback right now. He throws passes underhand, left handed, without looking, while getting tackled. Watching these two play quarterback is an absolute treat to our Sunday afternoons. Best thing about this treat? Zero calories baby!!!
Advantage: Chiefs