The Super Bowl LV will be the most watched TV broadcast of 2021, bringing together nearly 100 million Americans for a few hours of togetherness and entertainment.
Why it matters: All Super Bowls are culturally important, but this year’s “Big Game”, more than any other, will offer a reflection of the country.
- American Citizens, and even those watching from abroad will assess the national situation from what they see on the broadcast.
- “The game represents a strange chance for American reform – a new year, a new administration, a new perspective, “writes John Branch of NYT.
The big picture: When the Chiefs won the Super Bowl LIV in Miami, “social distance” was not even a term.
- 369 days later, it’s our lifestyle – and it will be on full display in Tampa, where there will be more cardboard cutouts (30,000) than fans (25,000).
- After entry at Raymond James Stadium, each fan will receive a mask, an item that was foreign to us a year ago, but is now an important member of the key wallet-phone checklist before leaving home.
What to watch: The pre-match festivities will be moderated, setting the tone for a four-hour broadcast in which the NFL and CBS must strike a delicate balance between pure “escapism” and the reality of the moment.
- Three honorary captains – a nurse, teacher and a veteran of the Navy – will participate in the draw.
- Amanda Gorman, fresh out of his star role in President Biden’s possession, he will recite an original poem.
- The national anthem, a duet of Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church, will be preceded by a presentation of HER’s “America the Beautiful”
The final result: The Super Bowl LV will be a contained show, but there is still potential for a lot of magic, starting with the dream duel of Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.
Details of the game:
- Time: 6:30 pm ET
- Network: CBS
- Speakers: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
- Weather forecast: 73 ° F, 56% chance of rain
Matchup: On one side of the ball …
The bosses are the poster boy for “passing the vision test” (emphasis on passage)
Yes but: While everything stems from Patrick Mahomes’ unique talent, Andy Reid and OC Eric Bieniemy’s evolution strategy cannot be overlooked.
- 40.5% of Mahomes passes resulted in first casualties this season (36.5% in 2019), probably thanks to the decision to reduce deep balls.
- Last year, Kansas City completed 18 passes with more than 40 yards; this year, it dropped to just eight, but they scored in six of them and led the championship with 69 passes over 20 yards.
- This more balanced attack, using the very real deep threat to open the middle of the field for Travis Kelce and slot receivers, has paid big dividends.
What they are saying: “Everyone fits the system because the system is built to include everyone,” writes Kevin Clark of The Ringer.
“From the GM’s point of view, you don’t need to be labeled thinking if this guy is suitable for what we do. If we like the guy and the skill set, the coach will find a way to make him stand out.”
– Chiefs GM Brett Veach
In defense … Bucs are as well equipped as anyone to stop the steamroller they’re facing, with a trio of recovery projects – Ndamukong Suh, Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul – forming the league’s most fearsome quick pass.
- In the NFC title gameThe absence of Packers star OT David Bakhtiari opened the door to five bags of Bucs.
- How many can they to join Chiefs OT star Eric Fisher in the same way?
Go deeper: 20 statistics to know (For The Win)
Matchup: On the other side of the ball …
“No risk, no cookie,” Bruce Arians’ captivating training philosophy, which could be loosely translated as “growing up or coming home”, is proving quite successful when implemented by the right people.
- Tom Brady, as Bucs QB Jameis Winston of 2019, led the league in intended air yards (total air yards on all passes, complete or not) and launched the second highest number of touchdowns.
- But while Winston’s The 2019 interception rate was by far the worst in the NFL (4.8%), Brady limited the damage that a freewheeling strategy is likely to do (2%).
- Despite 12 choices are the highest number of Brady since 2011, he also cracked 40 TD for the second time, released by a new system and armed with the best reception body of his career.
What to watch: Penalties, or more specifically, Tampa Bay’s ability to tie them. Bucs’ opponents were charged with 24 pass interference penalties during the regular season, the highest total since at least 1985.
“If the pass interference were one person, it would be the Buccaneers’ sixth most productive recipient, contributing more yards to their passing game than tight end Cameron Brate.”
– Mike Tanier, NYT
In defense … pressing Brady is of paramount importance, as his 84.3 CBR this year without seeing pressure was the fifth best, but his 6.4 CBR (!!!) under pressure was 30th.
- Here, the Chiefs have confrontational advantages, as line stars Chris Jones and Frank Clark can intimidate the Bucs’ guard duo, Ali Marpet and Aaron Stinnie, who rank close to the bottom spot in the block win rate.
Go deeper: All 55 Super Bowl QB matches, ranked (WashPost)
Meet the players who chose to leave
66 players folded of the NFL season because of the pandemic. Four of them play for the Chiefs and Bucs. These are your stories.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (RG, Chiefs): The choice of the sixth round of 2014 was one of six Chiefs to play all offensive snaps in Super Bowl LIV.
- Why he gave up: He was the first NFL player to formally give up, choosing to put his medical degree into practice, working at a long-term institution near his hometown of Montreal.
- “If I should take any risks,” he wrote in his opt-out statement, “I will do this by taking care of the patients.”
Damien Williams (RB, Chiefs): From 2014, free agent not drawn to the Super Bowl star. His line in last year’s game (133 yards in total, 2 TD) was as good as anyone’s.
- Why he gave up: After his mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, he decided that being with her was more important than anything else.
- “My mother is my rock, my everything, so during a difficult time like this, I think I should be beside her at every step. “
Brad Seaton (OT, Bucs): The choice of the seventh round of 2017 and the lonely Bucs chose to leave the league, but have not played anything in their NFL career yet.
- Why he gave up: “Although I love the sport and know that I will miss all aspects of being part of this year’s team, I decided to put my family’s health and safety first,” He wrote.
Lucas Niang (OL, Chiefs): The rookie in the third round of the TCU probably wouldn’t start this year, but he was seen as a possible future replacement for veteran Eric Fisher … who is missing the Super Bowl with an Achilles tendon injury.
- Why he gave up: He never provided details, but of course he never did.
- Of importance: He was one of five newbies, but the only one recruited, to opt out.
Go deeper: What happened to the players who gave up? (ESPN)