The Kansas City Chiefs will make a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, thanks to their 38-24 victory over Buffalo Bills on Sunday in the AFC championship game, and a handful of draws in Utah will be trying for another ring when the Chiefs play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl LV.
Kansas City overcame a 9-0 deficit against Buffalo to advance to the NFL title game, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the current Super Bowl MVP, playing for 325 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s victory.
Chiefs’ games with Utah return to the Super Bowl
- Previous BYU security Daniel Sorensen, who had six tackles in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory last year, was a Kansas City high school starter in his seventh professional season.
- Utah State ex-running back Darwin Thompson won a ring last season as a rookie. He has been a backup in his second year.
- Marcus Kemp, a former Layton High receiver, recently returned to the Chiefs’ training squad. He was on injured reserve last year when Kansas City won the title.
- Boss Trainer Andy Reid, a former BYU striker and graduate assistant, won his first Super Bowl title as head coach last year. He is in his 22nd season as an NFL coach.
- Defensive quality control technician Alex Whittingham, a former Utah player and son of Utes coach Kyle Whittingham, is in his third season on Reid’s team.
- Offensive quality control technician Porter Ellett, a BYU graduate from Loa, Utah, spent the previous three years as Reid’s senior assistant before taking on his current role this season.
The opponent: Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers, the Chiefs’ opponents in the Super Bowl LV on February 7, after Tampa Bay beat Green Bay 31-26 in Sunday’s NFC championship game, have no draw with Utah on their list.
Tom Brady overcame Aaron Rodgers, while the Buccaneers built a 28-10 lead before resisting a late Packers rally attempt. Tampa Bay becomes the first team to play at their stadium for the Super Bowl.
How Utah’s draws were on Sunday
A look at how Utah ties with active lineups in the performance of Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games:
Buccaneers 31, Packers 26
Tampa Bay
Green Bay
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah: It is not active for the game.
- Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: 7 carries, 23 yards; 4 receptions, 22 yards; 1 kickoff return, 30 yards.
Chiefs 38, Bills 24
Kansas City
- Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: It started with free safety, 6 tackles (5 solo stops), 1 quarterback rush.
- Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah: Played as a reserve.
Buffalo
- Jordan Devey, OL, Snow College and American Fork High: It is not active for the game.
- Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Started in nickelback, 5 tackles (3 solo stops), 2 deflections of passage.