The last football Sunday of the NFL season is upon us, and after a spectacular and unprecedented 2020 season, we finish it this week with the matchup many of us fans have been waiting for since the first time these two teams battled in Week 12: the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The historical and future implications of this game are unmatched, and the game itself is sure to put an exciting cap on the NFL’s 101st season.

Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes. The G.O.A.T. vs the “baby G.O.A.T.” Brady, over the last few years has been criticized, saying he couldn’t get to or win a Super Bowl without Bill Belichick and the Patriots. So, what did he do? He left New England for Tampa Bay, only to end up back in the Super Bowl playing for his seventh ring. 

Not to mention, the Buccaneers will be playing in their home stadium. This will be the first time any team has played a Super Bowl in their home stadium in the history of the game, and if he wins, Brady would become the first starting QB to win a Super Bowl in both the AFC and NFC. Peyton Manning is the only QB to win it with two different teams; however he did it with two AFC teams, the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Pattrick Mahomes, on the other hand, is back in the Big Game for the second straight season, and looking to beat Brady and the Bucs to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since, well, who else but Brady and the 2003 and 2004 New England Patriots. 

And, as if the stakes couldn’t get any higher, Mahomes has a 6-1 playoff record. The only QB to ever beat Mahomes in a playoff game: Brady in the 2018 AFC Championship game. This is also the first time in Super Bowl history that the last two Super Bowl champion starting QBs will be playing against each other. 

Mahomes has played three seasons in the NFL and has done some incredible things, including winning an MVP and a Super Bowl before the age of 25, but perhaps the most astonishing stat is that Mahomes will now be playing in his second Super Bowl before ever losing an NFL football game by more than one possession. The last time Mahomes lost by more than eight points was in college on November 19, 2016.

Looking back at the conference championship games two weeks ago, Kansas City played like the dominant team we know they can be against Buffalo. It was their first win by more than one possession since November 1, with the Chiefs defense holding the Bills to just two TDs with one of them coming after Mecole Hardman muffed a punt which gave the Bills an instant goal-line opportunity. This was after the Bills had won their last eight games, seven of them by double digits. The playoff Chiefs are looking to be back at last season’s playoff form.

The Buccaneers put on an absolute show against Green Bay and were able to finish the job in the fourth quarter after a late comeback scare by NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. Brady threw three INTs in the second half and the Buccaneers were bailed out by some penalties and no-calls that manny found questionable. Some questionable decisions by both Aaron Rodgers and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur also didn’t help the Green Bay cause. The Buccaneers are a complete football team when they’re at their best, but they need to be able to win by controlling their own destiny if they want to beat the reigning champs.

The Torch is taking the favorites in Super Bowl LV, picking the Chiefs to repeat as Super Bowl Champions by a score of 38-35. We asked some of OH’s best and brightest students their predictions, and here’s what they said:

• 10th grader and fellow writer for The Torch, Mason Silverstein is taking Brady and the Bucs 35-27. His reasoning for picking Tampa Bay: “Tom Brady is Tom Brady.” Can’t argue with that logic!
• 11th grader Rikki Siegel has the Bucs winning by 10, but notes, “it’s going to be an interesting game with Brady vs. Mahomes.” The Torch couldn’t agree more.
• Freshman Jake Rosini says the Chiefs will win via a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the game – something that’s only been done twice in Super Bowl history, both by longtime great kicker Adam Viniatieri – with the final score being 24-21. However, he does say that the Tampa Bay defense will be “insane” due to the Chiefs’ O-line coach getting into a car accident earlier this week.
• Sophomore Max Greenspan is taking Kansas City 30-27. He told The Torch, “Tyreek Hill went for 200+ yards and three TDs in their last meeting. I expect nothing less from the reigning champs.”

The Olympic Heights student body being split down the middle with their predictions can only mean that we’re in for a treat this Sunday evening, and it truly is a battle of the NFL’s two best teams in the biggest game of the year.