The NFL has officially pulled off a season in a pandemic. Almost. Still one more game to play. The BIG ONE. Super Bowl LV will feature the Kansas City Chiefs, who just defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game 38-24, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who beat the Green Bay Packers earlier at Lambeau Field 31-26.
The Chiefs, led by its swarming “D,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce will take on the GOAT Tom Brady, who at 43, is leading the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl since 2003 when they beat the now Las Vegas Raiders 48-21.
With the Super Bowl being played in Tampa, the Buccaneers also become the first team ever to host a Super Bowl being in their home stadium.
The Buccaneers have made a dramatic turnaround after going 7-9 last season. The credit has to go to future hall-of-famer and six-time champion Brady, who left the New England Patriots for warmer conditions.
Brady and head coach Bruce Arians led the Bucs to three road playoff victories, including against Super Bowl-winning QBs Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers.
The Chiefs, coached by Andy Reid, have resembled a high-speed rail, only losing two games this season as league MVP Patrick Mahomes drove the high-powered offense to the top seed in the AFC and playoff victories over the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills.
The Chiefs now look to become the eighth team in NFL history — and the first since the 2004 Patriots — to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
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Health Care Workers to be Honored
NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced earlier today that the NFL is inviting approximately 7,500 vaccinated health care workers to Super Bowl LV as guests of the NFL to thank and honor them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic.
The majority of these health care workers – all of whom will have received both doses of the vaccine – will come from hospitals and health care systems in the Tampa and central Florida area. They will receive free Super Bowl tickets and gameday experiences directly from the NFL. All 32 NFL clubs will select vaccinated health care workers from their communities to attend the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay on Sunday, Feb 7.
The NFL will also recognize health care heroes around the country through a variety of special moments both in the stadium and during the CBS broadcast.
“These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude,” said Goodell. “We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings.”
There will also be 14,500 additional fans in attendance at Raymond James Stadium.
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When Brady takes the field at the Super Bowl for a record tenth time, he will become the oldest player at any position to do so.
Super Bowl LV will air on CBS on February 7 at 6:30 PM EST.