He’s the most dominant quarterback of our time. He routinely pulls off impossible plays and thrilling wins on the biggest stages. He will no doubt go down as the greatest in the history of the game. We’re talking of course about Patrick Mahomes, who got shut down by the Buccaneers in last night’s Super Bowl.
The strategy was naturally a bit more complicated, but Tampa played smothering coverage and pressured Mahomes more than any other team has done thus far in his career. The end result was a stunning blowout championship win for Tampa Bay. Here’s your NFC South review.
Bucs win Super Bowl vs. Chiefs, 31-9
Tom Brady was guaranteed to get so much attention after this game that it was the butt of a Saturday Night Live cold open joke. As comedic GOAT Kate McKinnon put it in her spoof Brady interview when he claimed getting here was a team effort, “No. No. Don’t even try it. No one believes there is anyone else on the team.”
Brady did have a strong line himself (21/29, 201 yards, three touchdowns, 125.8 passer rating) but this team wouldn’t have come close to beating the reigning champs in Kansas City if not for a flurry of big name additions over the last couple years. This Frankenstein squad got huge performances from some of them, including Rob Gronkowski (six catches, 67 yards, two touchdowns), Ndamukong Suh (1.5 sacks) and Leonard “Playoff Lenny” Fournette (one touchdown, 135 yards from scrimmage).
The addition that mattered most came when The Bucs hired Todd Bowles to be their defensive coordinator two years ago. They assembled a star-studded group of talents underneath him, but it was Bowles’ scheme that effectively put the lid on Mahomes and his insanely dynamic offense the entire game.
Even in defeat Mahomes did things no other quarterback is capable of. His 30-yard air-dart thrown sideways (dropped) was the most compelling example but there were several other gasp-inducing moments that would have gone down in Super Bowl lore if the Chiefs’ skill players had any kind of separation. They got none and their usually sure-handed receivers could only catch an awful case of the dropsies at the worst possible time.
One-sided officiating and Mike Remmers blocking Shaq Barrett didn’t help Mahomes, either. That said, this game was an excellent example that sometimes great team defense really can win championships – even with a physics-defying talent like Mahomes on the other side.
In a more sensible world, Bowles would be fielding multiple head coach offers today. That injustice is to Tampa’s gain. Who knows how long Brady and his marauding band of offensive ring-chasers will be around, but as long as Bowles is calling the shots and Devin White’s freakish speed is there to clean everything up, this is going to be the one of the top defensive teams in the NFL.
Saints restructure Drew Brees’ contract
Despite Devin White and Todd Bowles’ greatness, it’s tough to take Tampa too seriously as a potential dynasty because this wasn’t even the best team in the NFC South this year. That said, while the Bucs still have a window, the Saints’ may have finally slammed shut.
A few days ago, it was reported the Saints restructured Drew Brees’ deal to save some $24 million in salary cap room in 2021. While that helps, it’s also a sign that Brees’ retirement is imminent. They’re also still drowning in red ink. Over the Cap projects they’re at -$74.6 million right now – around $25 million more than any other team.
Jameis Winston is under contract for a few more weeks and if they can’t manage to re-sign him then Taysom Hill will become their QB1 in a year where they’ll be picking at No. 28 in the draft. Tough times may be ahead.
Falcons not moving Matt Ryan or Julio Jones
Finally, the Falcons are not expected to try to trade either Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, according to NFL Network. Practically every team that didn’t make the second round of the playoffs is expected to change quarterbacks this offseason, so it would have made some sense for this franchise to try to move Ryan – especially since they hold the No. 4 pick. Ryan is fading but he’s still an above-average QB and could be dangerous again under the influence of Arthur Smith.
Tyreek Hill may catch up some day, but for now Jones remains the game’s top wide receiver – he just missed seven games due to injuries this year. He’ll be back, and when he does this Falcons team could leapfrog over New Orleans and become the top contender to take down the Bucs within the division.
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