The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. The Bucs won in blowout fashion, which came as a surprise to some, given that the Chiefs were -165 favorites to win the game. From the game itself to The Weeknd’s halftime performance to drunk Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady, there were plenty of memorable moments from the Super Bowl weekend.
THE BUCS:
Not enough can be said about what a dominant performance the Buccaneers put up against the previous defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. It is somewhat unbelievable that the Bucs were such underdogs, given that they were led by the greatest of all time, Brady, with a deadly offense and even deadlier defense.
Brady put up a show once again on the NFL’s biggest stage. Brady threw three touchdowns with 201 passing yards en route to winning his fifth Super Bowl MVP award, the most by any player ever.
Rob Gronkowski, a longtime teammate and friend of Brady, was responsible for two of the touchdowns, a dynamic duo bittersweet to New England Patriot fans. Antonio Brown caught Brady’s third touchdown just before halftime, creating what would be an insurmountable lead for the Chiefs.
Another player that put on a show in the big game: Leonard Fournette. “Playoff Lenny” absolutely crushed the opposition, plowing through the Chiefs defense en route to 89 yards in 16 carries, scoring a touchdown in the process.
The Bucs defense cannot get enough praise for the job they did in stopping the Chiefs offense.
Under the coaching of defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, the Chiefs were not able to score any touchdowns and Quarterback Patrick Mahomes had virtually no time to get the football out of his hands.
In addition, the Bucs defense forced two turnovers on the Chiefs, in comparison to no turnovers for the Brady-led offense. They also managed three sacks on Mahomes.
This performance led Brady to his seventh Super Bowl championship, surmounting not just every player, but every NFL franchise for the most rings in Super Bowl history. NFL teams and fans who have fallen victim to Brady’s greatness have bad news in store.
“We’re coming back,” Brady told reporters when asked if he’d be back for another season.
THE CHIEFS:
The Kansas City Chiefs played atrocious football, resulting in the worst loss of superstar Mahomes’ short, but nonetheless incredible, career. Receivers couldn’t get open and make catches and Mahomes barely had time to throw the football due to the incredible defense from the Bucs.
The offensive line was horrible for Kansas City, there’s just no other way to put it.
Mahomes had no time to throw the ball and, as a result, was seen running for his life on many plays. To give the team the benefit of the doubt, there were three players from the offensive line missing from the 2019 Super Bowl squad.
But there is simply no excuse for one of the most skilled quarterbacks in the NFL to be sacked three times on the biggest stage.
The wide receivers were shut down. This is especially true for Tyreek Hill, the incredibly talented and ultra-quick receiver, who was nowhere to be seen during the game. Credit goes out to the Tampa Bay defense for running great defensive plays to stop one of the NFL’s best from being a key factor.
“I just don’t think we were on the same page as an offense in general,” Mahomes said.
But he did maintain optimism, saying that the team “can’t let this define us” and that they will be preparing for next year’s game.
HALF-TIME:
The NFL’s halftime shows are the most iconic in American sports. This year, The Weeknd graced the football fans with an electric performance, chipping in $7 million out of his own pocket to create the show he imagined.
With a discography like The Weeknd’s, it’s hard to disappoint. From playing classics such as “I Can’t Feel My Face,” to current hit “Blinding Lights,” fans were treated to great music, and a great performance by The Weeknd and the many dancers who joined him.
THE CELEBRATION:
The Bucs celebrated in style, hosting a boat parade on Feb. 10 to celebrate their win.
Brady was the highlight of the day, possibly having a few too many drinks. A video capturing him wobbling off the boat guided by another man went viral on social media.
After that performance, though, no one can blame the G.O.A.T. for having some fun.
The Lombardi trophy also had itself a scare, with Brady throwing his seventh trophy from his boat to Gronkowski’s boat, with tight end Cameron Bate making the clutch catch.
The Super Bowl weekend had itself memorable moments. From the blowout game, to Brady making history, to an insane halftime show and finally to a wild celebration, it was an eventful time to say the least. Super Bowl LV, taking place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will certainly be one for the history books.
