Chief's Magic Doesn't Last Forever

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31

Kansas City Chiefs 9

Unwavering trust in an unlikely outcome is a once in a decade achievement in sports that we may have taken for granted these last two years. Time and time again the Kansas City Chiefs have dug themselves a grave, had themselves lowered down and buried before emerging spotless by nights end. The belief that these Chiefs cannot be stopped on offense when it matters most has been a theme we have all subscribed to, that is until tonight. Unlike the fearless daredevils we have become accustom to, remaining calm in the face of despair, tonight, they suffocated. Crushed by the weight of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense prepared for more than anything the Chiefs could throw at them. They lined that coffin with thumbtacks, backed in the cement truck to fill up the grave and hired an armed guard with 'shoot on sight' orders. Tampa Bay is hoisting the Lombardi and our collective unwavering trust in the unlikely outcome is no more.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are NFL Champions for the second time in franchise history. Welcoming in a determined Tom Brady and the collective pull of his name, the Bucs have flipped this roster from talented what-if's to the last team standing at years end. One year ago the franchise was contemplating bringing back the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season, tonight they were showered with confetti on a February evening. With Tom Brady running the show, an offensive line more than able to hold their own, the best receiving core in football and a dynamic, stout defense; in hindsight no one should be surprised by this result. If not for this Kansas City team on this kind of a run, Tampa Bay would have been lock-'em-up favourites for anyone playing at home.

The Kansas City Chiefs were off centre all night Sunday. Touchdown passes were tipped away at the last second, penalties extending Tampa Bay drives and ended their own, first down passes were consistently dropped and Patrick Mahomes was running for his life; all this culminated in nine points of offense and a defensive performance lucky to be kept to 31. More than just dominated along the offensive line, by the second half Mahomes didn't trust the pocket in front of him and was right to evacuate early and often. Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul were flying off the edge and Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh were pushing the pocket every passing down. Riddled by injuries, the Chiefs offensive line was so over-matched it's a miracle they only surrendered three sacks and, no thanks to themselves, kept Mahomes off that same injury report.

After a season that felt like a miracle to even get to the final game, given the deadly pandemic sweeping the nation, it was silly of anyone to even entertain the idea that one man would not be standing atop of the podium, trophy in hand, gleefully smiling like an infant, knowing he out smarted and outworked us all. With more Superbowl wins to his name than any team in the sports history, Tom Brady can add another tombstones to the list of fallen foes, enjoy your resting spot, Kansas City Chiefs, and remember, no one tests Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. and lives to tell the tale, just ask the Rams, Panthers, Eagles, Seahawks, Falcons, Rams again and of course, The Deflator.