Real-life sport often has the knack of producing Hollywood-style storylines and endings. The “underdog vs. giant” narrative, when the bigger opponent gets defeated, is the classic sporting script and one that always brings blockbuster takings at the box office.
In the NFL this year a true underdog story is currently in production - and it’s starring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Widely considered the greatest of all time (the “goat”), Brady doesn’t usually play the underdog. But since his move from New England to Tampa there were high hopes that the 43-year-old could write new chapters for a team that were last in the playoffs in 2007.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
After finishing second in the NFC South division, the Bucs finally secured a playoff spot and qualified for Wild Card weekend. Here they beat Washington before slaying the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees in the divisional round. Then on Sunday night in the NFC Championship game, Brady and the Buccaneers saw off the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers to secure their place in the big one: Super Bowl LV.
Now they face the biggest challenge of all on the biggest stage of all. Next up it’s reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs and their own leading man Patrick Mahomes who stand between Brady and the Bucs lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Tampa Bay’s only previous Super Bowl win was back in 2003 when they beat the Raiders.
The winners of Super Bowl LV will lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
A move to Tampa Bay last March was the latest chapter in the Brady story and upon signing a two-year contract with the Bucs he said he was “excited, humble and hungry” to start his new football journey.
Even though Brady has a new team, in a new town, the destination is the same: another Super Bowl and at home too, says the Associated Press.
Taking place at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium, Super Bowl LV on 7 February will be the tenth of Brady’s career and for the Bucs they become the first franchise in NFL history to play a Super Bowl on home turf, Sports Illustrated reports.
Speaking after Sunday night’s 31-26 win over Green Bay at Lambeau Field, Brady said: “It’s great to get another road win and now we got a home game, and who would have ever thought a home Super Bowl for us. But we did it.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was Super Bowl MVP in 2020
(Image credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Mahomes vs. Brady: dynasties collide
Led by their star QB Mahomes, defending champions Kansas City started the 2020-2021 NFL season as many people’s favourites to retain their crown. They secured their place in Super Bowl LV with a 38-24 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship match on Sunday.
The Mahomes vs. Brady narrative at Super Bowl LV will see the “author of the old dynasty” collide with the “creator of a new one”, says NFL.com columnist Judy Battista. “It should provide a delicious storyline about a potential passing of the torch from one generation of greatness to the next.”
For 25-year-old Mahomes it’s a match-up that he can’t wait for. Last year’s Super Bowl MVP said: “Being able to go up against one of the greatest, if not the greatest quarterback of all time, in his 150th Super Bowl, it’s going to be a great experience for me.
“To go out there and have a chance to repeat, and I get to do it against the best, it’s something special and I’ll be excited for the opportunity.”
Mahomes and the Chiefs are listed as slight favourites to defend their crown at Super Bowl LV, CBS Sports reports. But with home field advantage and Brady pulling the strings, the wildcard Bucs will be confident of completing a fairytale end to the season’s story. Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians said: “We’re coming home, and we’re coming home to win.”
Super Bowl LV: the key details
Who: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
When: Sunday 7 February 2021
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
US won its war on 'murder hornets,' officials say
California declares bird flu emergency
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
After Tua injury, can NFL make progress on concussions?
Cop benched after NFL star handcuffed in traffic stop
The economics of taxpayer-subsidized stadiums
How the NFL's new kickoff rules could change football
The NFL's concussion settlement has seemingly failed its players
The Swift-Kelce effect: a 'dream pairing' for the NFL
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
NFL indefinitely suspends three players over gambling
