By Dylan Grismer ’22

After what will probably go down as one of the most unorthodox seasons in NFL history, Super Bowl Sunday is finally upon us. The NFL had it all this season, whether it be games played on Wednesday afternoons, primetime games in empty stadiums, or the Cleveland Browns actually making the playoffs. With that being said, it is only fitting that the season concludes with perhaps the greatest Super Bowl quarterback matchup of all time. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback, Tom Brady, in his first season in a Bucs uniform, following a legendary twenty year career with the Patriots, has marched back to the Super Bowl and is seeking his seventh Super Bowl title win. Many fans questioned if Brady would be able to continue his success on a new team after his shocking departure from New England, but Brady silenced every critic by tossing 40 touchdowns and throwing for over 4,600 yards during the regular season. The Buccaneers managed to sneak into the playoffs this season filling one of only three wild card spots. The path through the playoffs wasn’t easy, and Brady and the Bucs managed to defeat the Washington Football Team, New Orleans Saints, and the first seed Green Bay Packers on their way to the championship game.

While Brady had an impressive playoff run leading the Bucs to the Super Bowl, he was by no means a solo act. The Bucs high-powered offense, with perhaps the best wide receiver corps in the league, made up of stars including Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and former Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski, combined with a duo of dynamic running backs in Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones, took it to defenses all year. If Brady and this steamrolling Bucs offense wants to secure only their second title win in franchise history, they will have to get through an incredible adversary, Patrick Mahomes.

In just his fourth season in the league, Kansas City Chiefs signal caller Patrick Mahomes has already solidified himself as the most efficient quarterback in the league. The reigning champion and Super Bowl MVP picked up this year right where he left off, playing at an elite level. The Chiefs were unstoppable this season, plowing through team after team and only suffering one loss all year. With Mahomes at the helm and an arsenal of offensive weapons that includes Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Le’Veon Bell, the Chiefs are showing no signs of slowing down. While often overshadowed by the team’s unbelievable offensive power, the Kansas City defense has also been lights out. Led by superstars Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones, and Anthony Hitchens, the defending champs will look to disrupt Tom Brady’s bid for his seventh ring and repeat as world champions.

It is very hard to deny the level of sheer talent that will showdown this coming Sunday. Super Bowl LV will be the first Super Bowl between two quarterbacks that have each won a league MVP and a Super Bowl MVP, making the stakes even higher. And, in a season filled with firsts, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be the first team ever to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. With a matchup between the defending champ Patrick Mahomes and the winningest quarterback in league history, Tom Brady, this game will truly go down as one of the greatest fans of the National Football League have ever seen and will be an fitting finale to an incredible 2020-2021 season.

Artwork by Jude Pizzone