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How Tampa Bay Buccaneers Were Able to Dominate Patrick Mahomes & Kansas City Chiefs, Explains NFL Analyst

Published 02/09/2021, 5:21 PM EST

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via Reuters

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers overcame all the odds this weekend. In the Super Bowl, they were able to defeat the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs handily in order to lift the Super Bowl trophy in their own stadium. It was a dominant performance, as the defensive unit of the Buccaneers held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to zero touchdowns throughout the game.

NFL analyst Michael Vick spoke recently on Undisputed. He noted that the Buccaneers put on a great team performance. And while Todd Bowles has been garnering plaudits for his defensive tactics, Buccs’ offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich also deserves a lot of credit. He believes that the Chiefs also came in with underwhelming tactics.

USA Today via Reuters

‘Tom Brady Was a Complimentary Piece’ – Analyst Singles Out Buccaneers Defense for Praise

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He said, “I think the biggest reason that this game was won, and I know we talked about Todd Bowles this morning, but you got to give some credit to Byron Leftwich and also Tom Brady. When they started to run the football, they came up in the first drive and went 3-0. And they may have run it once and drive it twice. But I would say to myself ‘this is the wrong formula’.” 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs

Vick added that the Buccaneers’ running game was absolutely crucial to their win. Executing a solid running game is not easy, and failing to do it right would’ve given the ball to Patrick Mahomes. However, the Buccs were excellent in their running game execution, which allowed them to steamroll the Chiefs.

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“If you don’t sustain a good running, then you’re going to give the ball to Patrick Mahomes. And this could turn into a high scoring shootout game. Second possession, they give the ball back, they run in Fournette…Running game became existent. All of a sudden the play-action became evident.” 

Vick further noted, “It was something they relied on continuously throughout the first half. Then they find their comfort zone, and their comfort zone was created by the play calling. And I think Brady benefitted from it, I think the entire offense benefitted from it. And then it was just smooth sailing from there.”

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“Patrick Mahomes Was Running for His Life” – Analyst Lauds Buccaneers Defense After Super Bowl Win

What was the biggest reason for the Buccaneers’ victory? Both units of the team played exceptionally well and had an equal part in getting the Lombardi trophy in the hands of the Buccaneers.

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Written by:

Aaditya Krishnamurthy

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Aaditya Krishnamurthy is an NBA & NFL journalist for EssentiallySports, before which he worked at BusinessWorld magazine. He has been a fan of Basketball for over 10 years now, since Shaquille O’Neal was a Phoenix Suns player. During his time at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, he started a sports magazine for the college called the Overtime Tribune and hosted the Overtime Tribune Podcast until he graduated.
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