Andrew Harnik / Associated Press
The idea of playing in the Super Bowl is great. Playing Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl is not ideal.
“I mean, you go back and see the game and the fights you had, “Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told reporters before the Super Bowl LV.” I’m not really excited to play Tyreek Hill and [Travis] Kelce and [Patrick] Mahomes. It is a formidable challenge, but our boys will be ready for it. “
The Chiefs and Bucs crossed in Week 12, and the final score – 27-24 in favor of Kansas City – obscured how much Tampa Bay struggled to contain the Chiefs’ high-octane attack.
Mahomes finished 37 of 49 for 462 yards and three touchdowns. Kelce had eight catches for 82 yards. Hill apparently made it his singular purpose to give Carlton Davis nightmares, ending with 13 receptions for 269 yards and three hits.
Tampa Bay successfully expiated his two losses in the regular season for the New Orleans Saints beating them in the divisional round. Closing an attack led by 42-year-old Drew Brees is not exactly the same as the test the Bucs faced on February 7, however.
Any coach would obviously love to be in the Arians’ shoes now, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t experiencing any stress now, as he and his team work out a game plan.