The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV by a final score of 31-9. This gives the Buccaneers their second Super Bowl win (the other coming in the 2002 season), and Tom Brady his seventh ring as well as his first one without the New England Patriots.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defeat Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV
First Quarter
The Buccaneers got the ball to start the Super Bowl, but went three and out immediately. The Chiefs did not do the same, but they were still ultimately forced to punt on their first possession as well. After another Bucs three-and-out, the Chiefs got on the board first with a 49-yard Harrison Butker field goal, making the score 3-0.
The Buccaneers finally got the ball moving on their next drive, and eventually capped it off as the quarter ran down with an eight-yard touchdown screen pass to Rob Gronkowski, making the score 7-3 in favor of the Bucs. Shockingly, it was the first touchdown pass of Brady’s career in the first quarter of a Super Bowl. Before the quarter ended, the Chiefs had a 40-yard kick return by Byron Pringle. Patrick Mahomes finished the first quarter going only 2-for-8 due to the Bucs defensive line pressuring him, which ended up being a common theme on the night.
Second Quarter
Despite the big kick return, Mahomes continued to struggle under pressure and they had to punt again. It didn’t take long for the Buccaneers to get in the red zone again with a 31-yard pass to Mike Evans. However, they were stopped at the goal line after going for it on fourth down and Ronald Jones got stuffed twice in a row. The Chiefs were still forced to punt again after an unusual Travis Kelce drop, and Tommy Townsend shanked the punt leaving the Buccaneers in Chiefs territory to start their next drive. That resulted in another Gronkowski touchdown after some costly Chiefs penalties, this time for 17 yards, making the score 14-3.
Mahomes and the Chiefs finally got things going on the next drive, mostly relying on Kelce to move the ball down the field. However, shortly after the two-minute warning, they were forced to settle for a 34-yard field goal, making the score 14-6. Brady and company kept the gas pedal on even in the final minute of the half, and got some help from a long pass interference call. The drive ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown, making the score 21-6 at the half.
Third Quarter
The Chiefs got the ball to start the second half, and immediately had their biggest play of the entire game so far on a 27-yard Clyde Edwards-Helaire run. However, they still ended up settling for another field goal (this time 52 yards), cutting the score to 21-9. The Buccaneers continued to make the Chiefs pay for settling for field goals, as on their next drive they scored another touchdown, this time on a Leonard Fournette 27-yard run.
The next Chiefs drive ended in disaster as a Mahomes pass was deflected and then intercepted by Antoine Winfield Jr. Due to a snap gone awry on third down, the Buccaneers were forced to settle for a 52-yard Ryan Succop field goal, making the score 31-9.
Fourth Quarter
The Chiefs started off the quarter by getting back into the red zone, but ended up turning it over on downs. Mahomes almost made two miracle plays in a row while running for his life–including throwing a dart while being almost horizontal to the ground, but it bounced off the receiver’s face.
The Chiefs stopped the Bucs fairly quickly after that, but weren’t able to get anywhere as Mahomes continued to be harassed by the defense. They ended up turning it over on downs again with under five minutes left despite Mahomes’ efforts to make another miracle play on the run. The game was essentially over after that, but one more nail in the coffin was given when Mahomes threw an interception in the end zone to Devin White after another deflection. And thus Super Bowl LV ended there at the final score of 31-9.
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