After a season that will go down as one of the most unique in NFL history , the finale is set up to be one of the most highly anticipated Super Bowls in NFL history.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs are set to square off in Super Bowl LV.
It’s the second time in franchise history that the Bucs have reached the Super Bowl, and their first appearance since 2002. This will also be the first time in NFL history, that a team will have the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainty dampened the element of fan power and crowd noise, but it’s certainly an achievement to make note of.
The Kansas City Chiefs were crowned AFC Champions for the second straight season, and are looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions for the first time since the 2003 and 2004 Patriots.
But, more importantly, it’ll be the most anticipated quarterback matchup in Super Bowl history.
Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
The six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be playing in his 10th career Super Bowl, and his first with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 10 Super Bowl appearances is an absurd number, that is difficult to even comprehend. No quarterback in NFL history has ever started more than five, and Brady is set to double that total. Discounting Brady’s rookie season, and the 2008 season in which he tore his ACL, Brady has made the Super Bowl 10 times in 19 full seasons.
The 43 year old has propelled the Bucs to seven consecutive wins, including three straight playoff wins on the road against division winners. On top of that, defeating two of the best quarterbacks of all time in Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers a long the way.
His counterpart, the 25 year old Patrick Mahomes is looking to win back-to-back Super Bowls, and start a dynasty of his own in Kansas City. Mahomes has won his last 12 starts, and has the Chiefs offense humming. Mahomes has taken the league by storm, winning 38 of his first 46 regular season starts. Not to mention, winning the MVP award in his first season as a starter. And winning a Super Bowl in his second season as a starter.
Patrick Mahomes has won six of his first seven playoff starts, and is well on his way to being the face of the NFL (if he’s not there already).
Brady and Mahomes have met four times in their career, and all four meeting’s have come down to the wire. Brady and Mahomes have each won twice against each other, and each of the four meetings have been decided by a seven points of fewer. In total, Brady has scored 120 points in those meetings, and Mahomes has scored 121 points.
Brady and Mahomes met in the 2018 AFC Championship game, and the overtime thriller was a high-scoring affair that resulted with a victory for Brady and the Patriots.
Now, the two will have an opportunity to battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy.
So, what’s at stake for Brady and Mahomes in this matchup?
Winning a 7th Lombardi Trophy in his first season with the Bucs would truly be unprecedented for Tom Brady. He has nothing left to prove, he’s proven time-and-time again that he’s the greatest football player of all time. The accomplishments continue to pile up for Brady, but winning a Super Bowl in his first season with the Bucs, would truly be an impressive accomplishment. When Joe Montana left the 49ers for the Chiefs, the furthest he reached was the AFC Championship. It took Peyton Manning four seasons to win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos, and by that point, Manning was more of a passenger in the Broncos, Super Bowl run.
Brady has been the conductor of the Bucs train, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon.
Another Super Bowl would further Brady’s legacy as arguably the most accomplished athlete in team-sports history.
For Patrick Mahomes, if the Chiefs were to win this game, he would be the first quarterback in NFL history to win two Super Bowl titles by the age of 25. Mahomes, who is undoubtedly the best player in the NFL, would really enter a new stratosphere among NFL legends. Winning two at such a young age would prove a lot for Mahomes, and beating Tom Brady to do it would make it extra special. A victory for Mahomes and the Chiefs would signal a new NFL dynasty.
Brady and Mahomes, the battle of old-school vs new-school.
The greatest of all time vs the the best quarterback in the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, since 2017, Tom Brady has a grade of 95.6, which is first among quarterbacks. Mahomes has a grade of 95.2, which is second among quarterbacks.
Will another football dynasty be born with Mahomes and the Chiefs, or will Tom Brady continue to add to his unprecedented career?