by Asher Rice ’22
February 2021
In a year where almost nothing is certain, there’s always one thing you can count on: Tom Brady being in the Super Bowl. Nothing seems to hold back the 43 year-old superstar; he’s managed to move to a new city, join a new team, learn a new system, and bring them to the promised land.
As the world approaches the one year mark of the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Tampa Bay has managed to have their single greatest sports year in the city’s history. The first championship the city received was the Stanley Cup after the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 4-2 in the NHL playoff bubble. Approximately two months later, the Tampa Bay Rays advanced to the World Series after their 3-2 series victory over the New York Yankees. In addition to that, the city of Tampa Bay received a transplant basketball team in the Toronto Raptors due to NBA COVID protocols. To top it all off, the city is not only hosting this year’s Super Bowl, but the Buccaneers will become the first team to ever play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
With the big game just a few nights away, the stage is set for Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. The stakes are high, and the expectations are even higher. Sunday’s bout is considered the greatest quarterback matchup in the history of the game. Will it be the new and flashy offense of speedy Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce? Or will it be the old school run n’ gun style of Tom Brady and Bruce Arians?
Super Bowl 55’s bout may have seemed anti-climactic for the casual fan, but the Buccaneers win was anything but boring. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and the rest of his Buccaneers defense miraculously held Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs offense to career lows in passing yards, rushing yards, points, and just about every other offensive stat you could think of. Patrick Mahomes recorded his first career game with zero touchdowns, a stat going all the way back to his high school days.
And thus, history was made as Tom Brady became the first player or franchise to ever eclipse seven Super Bowl titles. He enhanced that win by breaking his own record of oldest person to win the super bowl, for the third time.
Just one year ago, the world was doubting the future of Brady’s career, as he bid farewell to New England and entered his final chapter in Tampa Bay. Even once he beat legends Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers people thought, no way he can beat the Chiefs. The Chiefs are supposed to be unbeatable; that’s exactly what Tom Brady wants you to think.
Just when the world has doubted him, he puts up over 200 yards with three touchdowns to go along with it. Tampa Bay’s defense was nothing short of spectacular, as they held Patrick Mahomes to career lows in passing yards, completions, and touchdown passes (0).
The game started off uneasily for both sides, but the Buccaneers were quick to pick up their mistakes and get into the flow of the game. The Chiefs, on the other hand, were never quite able to escape their early game blunders, and therefore were playing from behind for the rest of the match. As hard as he tried, magic Mahomes couldn’t work enough tricks to outdo the rough and determined men on the Tampa defensive line. Thus, Tampa emerges victorious, and the 2020-21 city of champions adds another title to its list.
