Super Bowl LV vs Chiefs

Lore & Background

The Buccaneers' victory was their second and made them one of two teams, along with the Baltimore Ravens, to be undefeated in multiple Super Bowls. They finished the regular season with an 11–5 record and a wild card berth to advance to their second Super Bowl appearance through the guidance of several new acquisitions, most notably 21-year veteran quarterback Tom Brady in his first season away from the New England Patriots. The Chiefs, aided by their top-ranked offense, finished the regular season with a league-best 14–2 record to advance to their fourth Super Bowl appearance and were the defending Super Bowl LIV champions, seeking to become the first repeat champions since the Patriots in 2004.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hummed over Raymond James Stadium as a cold February breeze swept through the open dome. Inside the tunnel, Tom Brady adjusted his gloves, feeling the weight of history pressing against his pads. He looked out at the sea of pewter and red, knowing this was not just another game. It was the culmination of a lifetime spent chasing perfection. As he stepped onto the turf, the roar of the crowd washed over him, drowning out the noise of doubt from years past.

Reader's Guide

For the first time under quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown and lost by double-digits, making them the third Super Bowl team not to score a touchdown. They also committed 11 penalties for 120 yards, including a record eight penalties for 95 yards in the first half, most of which were called against the defense. The Buccaneers capitalized on these struggles to take a 21–6 lead at halftime and dominated the remainder of the game. Brady, who also extended his player records for Super Bowl appearances to ten and wins to seven, was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fifth time and was the first to receive the award with multiple franchises. He became the oldest player to receive the honor and win a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback at age 43, breaking additional personal records, while Bruce Arians was the oldest head coach to win the Super Bowl at 68.

Did You Know?

• Super Bowl LV was the first time a team played a Super Bowl in its home stadium.
• It was the least-attended Super Bowl, with only 25,000 fans due to COVID-19 protocols.
• Tom Brady extended his records to ten Super Bowl appearances and seven wins, and was named Super Bowl MVP for a fifth time.
• The Chiefs became the third Super Bowl team not to score a touchdown.