by Sean McGarry
On Sunday, February 7, Super Bowl LV was played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. On this snowy New Jersey day, the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football Conference (AFC) faced off in the humid sun against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football Conference (NFC). It was to the great surprise of eager fans that this game proceeded seemingly without complication, as the Pro Bowl scheduled for the previous week was cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns. Although tailgating and social gatherings were prohibited, the thrill of the day remained strong!
Score Analysis: The first half of the game was promising for both teams, but as time progressed, it was apparent that the Buccaneers would secure the victory. And they did, defeating the Chiefs a whopping 31-9. For the Buccaneers, it was quarterback Tom Brady that led the way with a total of three passing touchdowns and 201 yards. Although the Chiefs came up short, Patrick Mahomes had a total of 270 yards, both passing and rushing, but with this came two unfortunate interceptions. Thus, the core of the game was decided based on the strength of the defense.
Halftime Show: This year’s halftime show was performed by The Weeknd. He put a ton of visual effort into engaging the audience and designing the stage setup, but many people took to social media to express their dislike of his performance(s). The general feeling of those who had a distaste for the show was that although The Weeknd performed well, his songs and the tone at which he sang them did not intrigue the viewers. I think a part of this had to do with the limited crowd, in which he didn’t receive enough applause or enthusiasm from those present at the game for the people watching on TV to stay engrossed.
Significance: It is still a shock to many people that Tom Brady took part in this season and didn’t decide to retire, but it worked out well for him. At the age of 43, the Super Bowl LV MVP obtained his seventh ring to add to the collection, making him the first quarterback to win seven Super Bowls.
There is no telling where Tom Brady’s career will cease or how the roster will look for the Buccaneers in the coming year. Though, it is apparent that the chemistry formed between these guys is impeccable, and I look forward to seeing what the near future entails for this prospective team.
Sources
1. Chiefs vs. Buccaneers - Team Statistics - February 7, 2021 - ESPN. ESPN.com. https://www.espn.com/nfl/matchup?gameId=401220403
2. Lowry, A. C. B. B. (2021, February 8). Super Bowl 2021: TV coverage highlights and lowlights from a big game in a strange year. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/07/entertainment/super-bowl-2021-tv-coverage-highlights/index.html
3. M. (2021, February 8). Super Bowl LV 2021 Live updates | Buccaneers vs Chiefs: Score, highlights and half-time show. MARCA in English. https://www.marca.com/en/more-sports/2021/02/07/6020708c268e3e2e618b45f0.html
4. Roadtrips. (2021, February 11). Super Bowl LVI 2022 Ultimate Guide – History, Facts and Stats. https://www.roadtrips.com/luxury-travel-guides/super-bowl-ultimate-guide/
5. Rock, T. (2021, February 08). Tom Brady earns 7th ring as Tampa Bay routs KC in Super Bowl LV. Retrieved from https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/super-bowl/super-bowl-2021-tampa-bay-buccaneers-kansas-city-tom-brady-1.50146240