Written by guest writer Dillon Kaller:
The stage that has been set for what is expected to be one of the greatest Super Bowls to ever be played is nothing short of legendary. The rising star and reigning MVP that is 25 year old Patrick Mahomes, affectionately known as Kermit, is leading his Kansas City Chiefs team into what is soon to be forevermore known as Tompa Bay, Florida. Awaiting the Chiefs and leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the man who refuses to cease banging on the door of history, setting an ever-rising bar that is the pinnacle of success in football if not sports, 43 year old Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr.
The timing of this cataclysmic matchup could not be better for not just these two teams but specifically, for the quarter back matchup and the historical implications that are going to come to fruition this Sunday. Let’s start with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champs lead by their MVP quarter back look to be nothing shy of the team that took the title last season. Kermit much alike many of his memes, has been absolutely setting the league on fire again in another potential MVP worthy season throwing for 4,740 yards, 38 TD’s and 6 INT’s. Could this be the proverbial “passing of the torch” game? Perhaps and to get here Patrick hasn’t done it all alone, coming off of a 14-2 regular season the Chiefs have stormed through the playoffs and are poised to pull off the most difficult achievement to accomplish in professional team sports, going back-to-back victors of the Super Bowl. Frankly, if the matchup were anyone else that Kansas City were to be taking on this weekend, they’d be an overwhelming favorite. However, that is not what the football gods had in mind and we’ve got a barn burner on our hands here folks.
On the other sideline of the NFL’s greatest rising star is the literal living legend who has done nothing but built his career in these very games and he’s now going for his seventh ring. Odds makers have long learned that stacking the odds against this man is a fatal decision, less one goofy Manning brother with two golden jacket earning games up his sleeve and the philly special of 2018. Regardless, we’ve been hearing for more than a few years now from just about every sports pundit and voice on earth saying “this year is finally the end for Tom”. Only for the man to show up at a “washed up” 43 years old to throw for 4,633 yards, 40 TD’s and 12 INT’s. “Washed” they said. Hell, Tom’s gone to the Super Bowl for 50% of his career now ladies and gentlemen. That’s right, one of the most tenured players ever has 20 seasons under his belt and he’s on trip number 10 to the dance. This is Tom Brady though so it doesn’t just end there, not only is Tom making his tenth journey to the Super Bowl which is yet another record in itself, he’s also leading the first team to ever play a Super Bowl in it’s own stadium.
Now let’s get back to those odds. The marking of the Buccaneers at +375 to win the Super Bowl going into the AFC/NFC championship games, making them the least favorite team of four remaining teams following the divisional playoff round was the first red flag. The Chiefs as the favorite made sense of course and while I personally wouldn’t have put the Packers above the Bucs, I would have had them even, I can totally understand the argument. But there is no way on god’s green earth that at any point in time you could have actually convinced me or any rational human being that the Buffalo Bills should have been favorited above the Buccaneers. The most talented team Tom has ever lead, after this season’s performance and in this position? No chance, yet that was the line and here we are now.
Take into account the events that have now followed those lines being set, with the Buccaneers not just beating but absolutely torching that Aaron Rodgers lead Packers team on their way to a historical Super Bowl, the writing is on the wall here. We’ve seen this movie before and we know how it ends. Tom Brady is going to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, an NFL all time leading record of seven titles for himself, the second title for Tampa Bay and the first title to not only be played for but also won by a team playing the Super Bowl in their own stadium. So while you’re placing your money line bet on the buccaneers go ahead and sprinkle a few more dollars on the first play from scrimmage to be a run at +100, I’ve got a feeling that’s free money too.
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