Through the COVID-19 pandemic and dozens of storylines across the league, the NFL has reached the 2020 season’s final chapter: Super Bowl LV.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) will take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 7 at 6:30 pm ET.
The Chiefs met the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, ending in a 38-24 victory for Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes managed to get out of concussion protocol in time to play in the game, where he threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Tyreek Hill (nine receptions, 172 yards) and Travis Kelce (13 receptions, 118 yards, two touchdowns) both had monstrous efforts in the win.
In the NFC Championship Game, the Buccaneers upset the Green Bay Packers by a score of 31-26. Tom Brady had 280 yards and three touchdowns in the win, punching his ticket for his 10th Super Bowl appearance. The Buccaneers defense came up big, thanks to players like Shaquil Barrett (four tackles, three sacks) and Jordan Whitehead (four tackles, two force fumbles).
Opening Super Bowl Odds & Lines
According to Bovada, the Chiefs are the favorites to win the 55th Super Bowl and you can find the odds and lines below:
- Point Spread: Kansas City -3.5 (EVEN), Tampa Bay +3.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Kansas City (-165), Tampa Bay (+145)
- OVER/UNDER: Over 56 (-115), Under 56 (-105)
BetOnline has also released their odds and lines for the Super Bowl, but the only difference between theirs and Bovada’s is that BetOnline has the Chiefs’ and Buccaneers’ point spreads at -3.0 and +3.0 respectively. Everything else is the same.
By the Numbers
This matchup will be a clash between two of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL this season.
This season (including playoffs) the Buccaneers averaged 30.7 points per game (2nd), while the Chiefs averaged 29.6 (tied-4th).
Defensively, the teams are close again as the Chiefs allow an average of 22.4 points against per game (10th). The Buccaneers, on the other hand, are averaging 22.3 (9th).
Other Important Information
Super Bowl LV will be the second time these teams have met this season. The Chiefs and Buccaneers first met in Week 12, which ended with a 24-20 Chiefs win. Despite the Chiefs winning, they were up 17-0 after the first quarter but the Buccaneers nearly clawed their way to a comeback.
Mahomes threw for 462 yards and three touchdowns, while Hill had the best game of his career to the tune of 13 receptions, 269 yards and three touchdowns.
Brady had 345 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Rob Gronkowski (six receptions, 106 yards) and Mike Evans (three receptions, 50 yards, two touchdowns) were the only other offensive standouts for the Buccaneers.
While the Buccaneers may not have walked away victorious from their first meeting with the Chiefs, they showed that they are capable of hanging with the defending Super Bowl champions. The only thing they have to make sure of is not falling behind early again.
Super Bowl Injury Report
The Buccaneers will hope to have Antonio Brown to rejoin Evans and Mike Godwin as their ‘Big 3’ receiving core. Brown missed the NFC Championship game with a knee injury. They’ll also hope to have rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. back, who also missed the Packers game with an ankle injury.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs suffered a couple of minor injuries during the AFC Championship game, but they have also lost offensive tackle Eric Fisher for the rest of the year due to an Achilles tear.
While their o-line has taken a hit, the Chiefs are hopeful to have Sammy Watkins and Le’Veon Bell back in the lineup to give the team an offensive boost. Watkins has been out of the lineup with a calf injury and hasn’t played since Week 16, while Bell missed the Bills game with a knee injury.
