Tampa Bay Dominates Chiefs In Super Bowl LV

TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs squared off in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defense dominated the Chiefs 31-9 to secure the seventh Super Bowl ring for Tom Brady and the first Super Bowl victory since 2003 for Tampa Bay. 

Tampa came into the Super Bowl with the second-ranked passing offense as Tom Brady threw for almost 4700 yards and 40 touchdowns. He had eight games of over 300 passing yards in the regular season. Tampa Bay also ranked first overall in run defense this season.

As the Chiefs looked to drive down the field easy, Devin White made a huge tackle for loss on 2^nd down which forced the Chiefs to a third down and long which they couldn’t convert, forcing a field goal for Harrison Butker.

Tampa Bay didn’t take long to respond, as they drove down the field on their next possession and an eight-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski. The eight-play 75-yard drive took just over four and a half minutes. Brady was 4-5 for 44 yards on the drive. Tampa held that same 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Buccaneers defense held Patrick Mahomes to just nine first-quarter passing yards. Todd Bowles’s defense was all Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense.

The first drive of the second quarter for the Buccaneers looked very similar to the last as they drove down the field on a nine-play 69-yard drive before Ronald Jones was stopped at the goal-line on fourth down and goal.

After a short punt from the Chiefs, the Buccaneers took advantage of the short field and two costly penalties by the Chiefs to add to the lead with a 17-yard touchdown from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski. This was Gronkowski’s second touchdown in the first half. This Gronk and Brady connection looked like the Patriot days with these two.

Harrison Butker connected on his second field goal of the first half to cut the lead down to 14-6 with one minute remaining in the first half. Tom Brady connected with Antonio Brown with six seconds remaining in the first half to take a 21-6 lead at the half. Through the first half, Tom Brady was 16-for-20 for 140 yards and three touchdowns. The Tampa Bay defense held the explosive Chiefs offense to just 124 total yards.

Kansas City cut the lead to 12 to start the second half with a 53-yard field goal by Harrison Butker. Tampa responded with a 27-yard touchdown run by Leonard Fournette to take a 28-9 lead early in the third quarter. Tampa Bay picked off Patrick Mahomes on the next possession with a great interception from Antoine Winfield. Ryan Succop drilled a 52-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-9, which was the score at the end of the third quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay held Kansas City on a fourth down on the nine-yard line to force a turnover-on-downs. Tampa Bay’s defense was able to pick off Mahomes one more time in the final minute and a half to seal the victory. 

Tom Brady led the offense going 21-29 for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Rob Gronkowski had six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns and Leonard Fournette led the rushing with 16 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown. The Buccaneers defense held the explosive Chiefs offense to only 350 total yards and no team touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes was held to 26-49 for 270 yards and two interceptions. 

“We came together at the right time tonight. I think we knew this was going to happen tonight,” Tom Brady said following his seventh Super Bowl victory. 

Going into the offseason, the question will be if Tom Brady will retire after winning his seventh Super Bowl. The Buccaneers will head into the offseason with ideas of going back-to-back if Brady returns.