In this Super Bowl edition of Garden State Gridiron, we will be previewing the biggest game of the year! Here are some of the biggest matchups to watch for in Super Bowl LV.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday– February 7, 2021 – 6:30 PM ET
Opening Spread: Kansas City (-3.5) at Tampa Bay
Tom Brady vs Chris Jones
Chris Jones is one of the most disruptive defensive players in all of football. He is the center of the Kansas City defense, and while he does not always fill the stat sheet on a weekly basis, he is always one of the biggest threats opposing offenses prepare for. That being said, in 2020, he led all defensive tackles in both quarterback hurries and quarterback hits. This pairs conveniently with Tom Brady's aversion to contact and interior pass rush. If Jones can get some early hits on Brady, it could be a long day for the Buccaneers.
Travis Kelce vs Devin White
Travis Kelce assembled one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history. Not only, was he the leading receiver on a Kansas City team that features Tyreek Hill, one of the most dangerous big play threats in the league, Kelce broke the single season record for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,416 yards, good enough for 2nd in the league among all receivers. Kelce is the number one receiving option on this offense, represented by both his receptions and yardage totals expected to top Tyreek Hill’s on Sunday. He will spend a lot of snaps matched up with Devin White, who played every defensive snap for Tampa Bay all season. White finished the regular season 140 total tackles, 9 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, and 16 tackles for loss. He earned 2nd-team All Pro honors in just his 2nd season in the league and will be faced with his toughest test yet with the best tight end in the league.
Chiefs’ Injured Offensive Line vs Buccaneers’ Pass Rush
Chiefs starting left tackle Eric Fisher tore his Achilles in Kansas City’s 38-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the NFC Championship Game and will not be able to play in the Super Bowl. As a result, the Chiefs will be shuffling their offensive line to fill the void, resulting in changes at three of the five positions along the line. Mike Remmors, who had been filling in for the injured Mitchell Schwartz, will be moving from right tackle to left tackle. Andrew Wylie is expected to move from right guard to right tackle and Stefan Wisniewski will likely fill in at right guard. Wisniewski is best known for his performance at left guard for the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run, three years ago, when he took over for an injured Isaac Seumalo. This shuffled group will be tasked with containing one of the most dangerous pass rush attacks in the league. Jason Pierre-Paul, Devin White, and Shaquil Barrett each finished with 8 sacks or more in the regular season and Barrett has racked up another 3 so far this postseason. The Chiefs may need to adopt a quicker passing offense to protect Patrick Mahomes from this dynamic group of pass rushers.
Tom Brady vs Legacy
While Tom Brady has accomplished more than any other quarterback in the history of the NFL. Most quarterback wins, most passing yards, most passing touchdowns, and the list goes on. On Sunday he will become the first quarterback to ever host a Super Bowl in their home stadium. He has had one of the best seasons of his career at age 43. Brady could accomplish what has never been done before, and he could do it without the guidance of Bill Belichick, who has been credited with much of Brady’s success. A 7th Super Bowl victory would give Brady more victories as an individual than any NFL franchise. The biggest question is about how he will handle the pressure. We have seen Brady shine when it mattered most (61 career game-winning drives and 48 fourth quarter comebacks), and we have also seen him come up short against the Giants and the Eagles in Super Bowl losses. Brady’s mental approach can determine the course of this game and a potential new height to his legacy.
