While we awaited Sunday’s action, I turned on my Xbox, turned on the Madden NFL 21 and set up a simulation of the clash that we will see happening in just two days at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for the Super Bowl LV. Let’s just say that we are in an instant classic if the real-life game is similar to the one I just witnessed alone at my home.
Tom Brady has six Super Bowl titles to his name (the biggest ever), so it might not be a surprise to learn that some of these championships have played out in a similar way. Yes, we have Super Bowl XXXVI and Super Bowl XXXVIII, where Brady managed to put two rings on his fingers thanks to kicks from Adam Vinatieri to win the game. Although the quarterback may be playing for a different team while making his last offer for the title, if the football gods Madden NFL make our latest CBS Sports Super Bowl LV simulation a reality on Sunday, Brady will repeat the championship arguably the most exciting part of his career.
Jordan Whitehead jumped into the same class as former Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (around Super Bowl XLIX) as he was able to secure a Super Bowl winning interception in Patrick Mahomes’ final zone. With only 33 seconds left to play in the Super Bowl LV and Kansas City on the 1-yard line while losing by six points, Mahomes, who probably could have just run to the scoreboard, rolled to the left and tried to connect with tight end Travis Kelce for a touchdown. So Whitehead was able to jump in front of the pitch, intercept Mahomes’ pass and help Tampa Bay win the 20-14 victory to give them their second Super Bowl in the franchise’s history.
The Super Bowl LV is almost here and you can watch it for free on the CBS Sports app.
Before this epic interception, this game was quite played. The Buccaneers kicked off and were able to get on the board early thanks to Leonard Fournette’s 12-yard touchdown run. However, Kansas City was quick to respond in the first minutes of the second half when Mahomes nailed Tyreek Hill with a beautiful pass in the rear left corner of the end zone.
That second quarter was where most of the scoring took place, with Tampa Bay responding with a quick touchdown to break the 7-7 draw, courtesy of a touchdown by Mike Evans. The receiver finished the game with 51 receiving yards and that score.
One of the first initial blips for Kansas City came on his next trip. With Mahomes and company catching the ball to start the second half, this was an ideal opportunity to score points on the board in two consecutive possessions before the Tampa Bay attack could touch the ball again. This ideal situation, however, never happened. Mahomes launched his first interception of the day while trying to reach Demarcus Robinson on a sloping route. Bucs’ corner, Sean Murphy-Bunting, was able to stand between the defender and the receiver and set the record for last year’s Super Bowl MVP. From there, Tampa Bay was able to double in a basket before the break and go up double digits.
Kansas City wasted no time trying to get back into the game at the start of the second half, pulling two shots that totaled 58 yards before Mahomes hit receiver Sammy Watkins, who received a 30-yard pass in the previous move, for a seven-yard touchdown.
At this point in the game, both defenses really started to close. Tampa Bay was closed in the third quarter and KC’s top seven were able to pressure Tom Brady much more often, including a major sack that would delay the attack on a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Both defenses forced three e-outs in the consecutive series on Wednesday, including a clutch stop by the Chiefs, who were giving Mahomes and his attack the ball back with more than two minutes left and an opportunity to march across the field to win his second consecutive title. And they almost did.
In a third-to-7 play with 40 seconds remaining, Mahomes accomplished what was prepared to be the game of the game. As he ran, he hurled a javelin at Tyreek Hill, who managed to land his toe right on the 1-yard line before falling off the field.
The next move, however, resulted in the choice of Whitehead that you saw at the top of the story, which gave the Buccaneers their first title since the 2002 season and Tom Brady a seventh championship in his career. Brady ended the game with 186 passing yards and a touchdown, while Mahomes had 204 yards in the air, two touchdowns and two choices. With that decisive choice, Whitehead was named MVP of the Super Bowl.
It should be noted that Mahomes was also losing in our simulation last year and ended up doing well outside the virtual world and in the actual Super Bowl LIV match with San Francisco. Can he beat the computer again and win another title? We’ll find out on Sunday.