Super Bowl LV: History of Chiefs vs Bucs

 

On Sunday February 7th, the NFL season comes to a close with Kansas City Chiefs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, where the Chiefs are currently sitting as a three-point favorite to repeat as champions.

Bucs vs Chiefs History

These teams have played 13 times previously, and the Bucs lead all-time series 7-6.

Chiefs won 27-24 during week 13 of the 2020 regular season. Prior to that win, Bucs had won 5 straight between 1999-2016.

Before 2020, the Chiefs previous win over the Bucs came in week 1 of the 1993 season, which was notably the Chiefs debut of Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana. Chiefs won 27-3 and Montana threw 3 TD passes.

Chiefs are 1-3 all-time at Raymond James Stadium, both the Bucs’ home and home of SB55. (KC is 3-4 all-time on road vs Bucs).

Mahomes vs Brady

Brady is 7-5 all-time vs Chiefs (5-5 in regular season and 2-0 in playoffs).

In 4 all-time matchups, each QB has won twice.

Brady’s Wins

10/14/2018 – In the first ever head-to-head matchup, Patriots beat Chiefs 43-40, thanks to a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski as time expired. Both QBs threw for over 300 yards. Mahomes threw 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and Brady threw 1 touchdown.

1/20/2019 – Patriots beat the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime of the AFC Championship Game. Chiefs never got the ball in overtime as Brady led the Patriots on a 75 yard drive, that ended with a Rex Burkhead touchdown run. Mahomes threw 3 TDs and 1 INT and Brady threw 1 TD and 2 INT.

Mahomes’ Wins

12/8/2019 – Mahomes got his first win over Brady as the Chiefs won on the road 23-16. Brady’s 4th down pass to Julian Edelman was knocked away by Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland. Both QBs threw 1 TD and 1 INT.

11/29/2020 – The final score doesn’t accurately reflect how this game was played. Mahomes threw for 462 yards and 3 TDs – more than half of those yards (269) went to Tyreek Hill, as did all 3 TDs. Hill went over 200 yards receiving in the first quarter. Brady threw 3 TDs and 2 INTs.

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Brady isn’t the only legendary #12 QB and he isn’t the only one with multiple Super Bowls. 28 of 55 Super Bowls have featured QB #12

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Bruce Arians Connections

Tyrann Mathieu

Before the 2019 season, Mathieu signed a 3 year, $42 million contract with the Chiefs, after spending one year with the Texans.

Mathieu knows Bucs head coach Bruce Arians well as their tenures with the Arizona Cardinals overlapped. Both were in Arizona from 2013-2017 and Mathieu was a third round pick (#69 overall) in 2013. Arians led Cardinals to a 49-30-1 record, which included a trip to the NFC Championship Game in 2015.

Mathieu had 11 interceptions in 5 seasons playing for Arians and in 2015, he made the Pro Bowl and was named First Team All Pro.

Andy Reid connections

Career vs Brady

In 2005, Tom Brady and the Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years, beating Andy Reid and the Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Before winning it all with the Chiefs last season, this was Reid’s only Super Bowl appearance.

Overall, Brady is 7-5 H2H against Brady. (4-0 vs Eagles, 3-4 vs Chiefs with NE, 0-1 vs Chiefs with Bucs).

LeSean McCoy

McCoy spent the first 4 years (2009-2012) of his career playing for Andy Reid with the Eagles and the two reunited in KC in 2019. McCoy ran for 465 yards and 4 TDs in a supporting role.

In 2020, he joined the Bucs and saw minimal action carrying the ball just 10 times but has a chance to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

Steelers Reunion

From 2013-2017, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell were teammates with the Steelers.

In those 5 years, Pitt made the playoffs 4 times, advancing to the AFC Championship Game in 2016.

Brown exceeded 1,200 yards and 8 receiving TDs each year, while Bell exceeded 800 yards and 7 rushing TDs in 4/5 years (played just 6 games in 2015).

College connections 

2015 Texas Bowl

Patrick Mahomes and Leonard Fournette have faced each other in a big bowl game before – the 2015 Texas Bowl.

LSU beat Texas Tech 56-24. This was the only bowl game appearance of Mahomes’ career. He threw 56 passes and 4 touchdowns. Fournette ran for 212 yards and 4 TDs and also caught a 44 yard TD.

They also have history from the 2017 Draft. Jaguars selected Fournette 4th overall, 6 picks before the Chiefs took Mahomes. Jags’ justification was the presence of Blake Bortles, who for the record led the Jags to the 2017 AFC Championship Game.

LSU Running Backs

Fournette, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams all played their college ball at LSU.

• Fournette (2014-2016) – 3,830 rushing yards (6.2 ypc), 40 rush TDs
• Darrel Williams (2014-2017) – 1,651 rushing yards (5.1 ypc), 19 rush TDs
• Edwards-Helaire (2017-2019) – 2,103 rushing yards (5.7 ypc), 23 rush TDs

Kelce and Gronk

Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski are, statistically, the two greatest postseason tight ends in NFL history.

Gronk is 1st among TEs in receptions, receiving yards, receiving TDs, and tie-second in 100+ yard games. Kelce is second in receptions, receiving yards, receiving TDs, and has the most 100+ yard games.

Gronk was a second round pick (#42) in the 2010 Draft. He played two seasons at the University of Arizona (2007-2008) and caught 75 passes for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns. He did not play his senior season due to a back injury.

Kelce was a third round pick (#63) in the 2013 Draft. In 2011-2012, Kelce had 59 catches, 875 yards and 10 TDs. He did not play in 2010 while serving a team-mandated suspension.