The Kansas City Chiefs are seeking to make history on Sunday with a win on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Patrick Mahomes attempts to lead his group to back-to-back Super Bowl titles, a record final collection by no other than his opponent — Tom Brady.
There have only been seven organizations to ever win the Super Bowl two seasons in a row but the New England Patriots would be the last to achieve this feat with a success in 2003 and again in 2004 with Brady, who had earned the franchise three previous names.
Repeats are certainly uncommon in the NFL but lightning could strike twice for Mahomes.
Both quarterbacks have played against each other four times, together with the Mahomes getting the very best of Brady in their two most recent games. Comparatively, he has put up the greater numbers with 109.2 passer rating and 11-3 touchdown to interception ratio outpacing Brady’s 86 evaluation with six TDs and five interceptions.
But the stakes are higher this time Brady is no stranger to hardship.
Rather, Super Bowl LV is going to be determined by the operation of certain X-factors players. Listed below are just five players on the Chiefs who could really make a difference between winning and losing come Super Bowl Sunday.
Among Mahomes’ favorite targets, Tyreek Hill will be the Bucs biggest challenge come Sunday. In a head-to-head matchup, Hill played one of the greatest games against Tampa Bay in Week 12, totaling 13 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
Hill’s speed and size make him a difficult game for any defense, and of course that he had one of the best regular seasons to-date. He caught 87 passes for 1,276 yards this year, the next time in four years he’s topped 1,000. He had a career-high 15 TD catches, two more scores on the floor, and led the league with 14 yards a touch from scrimmage.
In his last Super Bowl appearance, Hill had nine catches for 105 yards to help the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers.
Arguably one of the best tight ends in the league, Travis Kelce Will Certainly place Bucs’ Lavonte Davis and Devin White to operate on Sunday.
Kelce looked great in last week’s AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills, finishing 13 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Kelce and Hill (together with his nine catches for 172 yards) became the first duo in league history with consecutive games of at least 100 yards receiving each in one postseason.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire has had a rookie year to recall. The first-round draft selection acquired an unusual opportunity to step up when veteran running back Damien Williams and guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif volunteered to opt-out just before the beginning season due to COVID-19 concerns.
In his introduction from the Houston Texans, Edwards-Helaire rushed for 138 yards and one touchdown. He overcame an ankle injury late in the season and returned in the AFC title game where scored a touchdown in his first playoff appearance.
He will be competing for his first Super Bowl ring after getting traded from the Jets in October. Bell has confronted some injuries this year but within the nine regular-season games he played, he totaled 353 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns.
Bell overlooked the Chiefs’ AFC title game from the courthouse due to a knee injury but according to multiple reports, is expected to play on Sunday. He was recorded as constrained in training this week but didn’t participate on Friday.
Frank Clark has the size and speed that makes him each quarterback’s worst nightmare. The veteran defensive end might have to keep the pressure on Brady in order to stop him from being able to connect with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin down the field.
Clark registered 21 solo tackles and six sacks in the regular season and two against Buffalo’s Josh Allen past week. This could spell trouble for Brady who has been sacked five times in the playoffs up to now.
