Bold Super Bowl Predictions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to host the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, making them the first team in NFL history to play for the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium.

Bold predictions for the season. Twelve teams currently have shorter Super Bowl odds than the Steelers, but this is a team that should be considered.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55, and here are four bold predictions. The Big Game is upon us. Will the Patriots or the Rams take home the Lombardi Trophy? The MMQB staff makes their predictions for the winner, score and MVP. Five Bold Predictions for Super Bowl LIV By Ryan Phillips Jan 19, 2020, 9:35 PM.

Here are our bold predictions for Sunday night’s big game:

Tyreek Hill won't have 200 yards, 2 TDs in 1st quarter

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Back in Week 12, Hill carved up the Tampa Bay defense, racking up over 200 yards and two touchdowns through the air in the first quarter alone. It’s a good bet the Bucs won’t allow that sort of dominance again, at least not in the first 15 minutes. Hill is sure to make plenty of plays in this game, but Tampa Bay will be focused on keeping him from taking over the game so quickly this time around.

Ronald Jones II will return with a vengeance

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

While Ronald Jones II has been working his way back slowly from multiple injuries, Leonard Fournette has stolen the headlines with his solid performance throughout Tampa Bay’s impressive playoff run. But after an extra week of rest, don’t be surprised if Jones has a huge impact in this game, especially against a Kansas City defense that isn’t one of the league’s best on the ground. Jones made key plays against the Chiefs back in Week 12, and he’s primed to do it again.

Bucs will win the trench battle

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The Chiefs don’t get enough credit for their overachieving offensive line, but the Bucs have arguably the most underrated unit in the NFL. Tampa Bay’s blockers have been the unsung heroes of their Super Bowl run, even after losing starting right guard Alex Cappa to a season-ending injury. On defense, Tampa Bay has one of the best fronts in the league, as the return of nose tackle Vita Vea has made the pass-rushing tandem of Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul even more dangerous. On both sides of the ball, Tampa Bay should win this all-important battle in the trenches.

Mecole Hardman makes big plays

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The Bucs will be hyper-focused on containing Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, and rightly so. But the Chiefs have a dangerous, explosive weapon in Mecole Hardman, and they do a fantastic job of finding creative ways to get him the ball in space. While the Tampa Bay defense has their attention locked elsewhere, don’t be surprised if Hardman makes some huge contributions in this game.

Bucs' 4th-quarter defense will make the difference

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Tampa Bay’s defense has been one of the league’s best in the fourth quarter this season, and they’ve been particularly locked in during the playoffs, coming up with key stops in the final moments to close out three straight road wins in the postseason. Whether for good or ill, this game will likely come down to them needing to do it one more time, something they couldn’t do on the final drive of their Week 12 loss to the Chiefs. Whether it’s a big stop to give Tom Brady a chance to mount a game-winning drive, or a takeaway to seal a victory, this unit will be the key with the game on the line.

2020 Super Bowl Winner Predictions

Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes showdown will live up to the hype

Super bowl bold predictions

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The big ticket in this matchup is a battle between the greatest quarterback of all time, and the best quarterback in the NFL right now. Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t deliver the must-see TV everyone will be expecting. Even against capable defenses, these legendary passers will rise to the occasion, making iconic plays all night long in a shootout for the ages.

Rookies will make their mark on big stage

Syndication: The Record

Both teams in this game have gotten huge contributions this season from some of their first-year players, and they’ll be key in this game, as well. For the Bucs, Tristan Wirfs has been one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles period, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has been a consistent playmaker. Wide receiver Tyler Johnson has made some clutch plays in key moments during these playoffs, as well. The Chiefs have experienced the same kind of return from running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, and will need them to deliver again Sunday night.

Kicking will decide the outcome

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It may not come down to a last-second kick, but this game will be decided by either team’s ability to rely on their kicker whenever they’re called upon. Tampa Bay’s Ryan Succop and Kansas City’s Harrison Butker were two of the best in the league this season, and neither of them can afford to blink in this game. If there’s a missed extra point or field goal, it will make all of the difference in what should be another tight contest.

© Provided by The Big Lead Super Bowl LV Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Super Bowl LV has finally arrived. In one corner, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by one Tom Brady. In the other, the Kansas City Chiefs led by one Patrick Mahomes. The narratives are ripe and the play should be entertaining.

We here at The Big Lead have some thoughts about the main event. Thus, a series of bold predictions for you to chew on. Here we go.

Super Bowl Predictions

Jason Pierre-Paul Wins MVP to Cap Off Remarkable Comeback Story

The Super Bowl MVP almost always goes to the most productive offensive player of the winning team. Occasionally it is a defensive player, usually one who returns an interception for a touchdown (like Seattle's Malcolm Smith against the Broncos in 2014). But this is a space for the boldest of claims, so this is mine: the Super Bowl MVP will be Jason Pierre-Paul. The Chiefs' offensive line has been ravaged by injuries as the season has gone along, capped off by losing left tackle Eric Fisher to an Achilles injury in the AFC Championship Game.

JPP lived in the backfield against Green Bay in the NFCCG, notching two QB hits and two sacks along with two tackles for loss. He'll rack up three sacks as the most disruptive linemen on the field on Sunday along with a forced and recovered fumble and will become the first Super Bowl MVP with less than 10 fingers. I assume. -- Liam McKeone

Ronald Jones will play a big role

Ronald Jones II only rushed for 16 yards on 10 carries during the NFC title game and had issues finding room to run against the Green Bay Packers. Don't expect a repeat of that. While Leonard Fournette should see a decent amount of carries, Jones is Tampa Bay's only true home run threat at running back. The Chiefs struggled to corral opponents on the ground all year, allowing 121.9 yards per game. The Bucs will need to run the ball to keep pressure off Tom Brady.

Jones averaged 5.1 yards per carry in a breakout season in 2020. Expect him to get a chance to show off his speed during the big game. -- Ryan Phillips

Travis Kelce Will Be a Non-Factor

2021 Super Bowl Winner Predictions

Travis Kelce was far and away the most important Chiefs player against the Bills not named Patrick Mahomes, catching 13 passes for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Bucs know this. They also have two of the best cover linebackers in the league in Devin White and Lavonte David. Tyreek Hill and all the other weapons Kansas City has will be planned for, but Tampa Bay will be dedicating most of their attention to ensuring Kelce doesn't break their back on every third down. When the Mahomes-Kelce connection is strong, the opponent has no chance. The Bucs will shut down Kelce, but it won't be easy, and there will be plentiful opportunities for the Chiefs' receiving corps. -- McKeone

Mecole Hardman Scores on Special Teams

In the history of the Super Bowl, there have only been 10 kick-off returns for a touchdown and there's never been a punt returned for a touchdown. Mecole Hardman could easily add his name to the first list or make history himself. He has the speed (4.33 40-yard-dash), vision and moves to make people miss in the open field, which is how he scored on a punt return earlier this year. It should also help that he's facing a Tampa Bay special teams unit that was ranked 26th in the NFL by Football Outsiders. -- Brian Giuffra

Tom Brady Scores the First Touchdown

Tom Brady has done so much winning at the NFL level that it's virtually impossible to believe he's the same pale guy from the combine. Until he endeavors on a run in open space. Then one can very much believe he's still the same guy, only with two decades' worth of inhuman wear and tear on his body.

So it seems counterintuitive to take a chance on him at 28-1 to score the game's first touchdown. But never forget that the 43-year-old remains one of the finest sneakers of the football to ever say hut and then move forward really quickly into the line. So if Tampa Bay gets the ball down to the one-yard line, why would they screw around with a goal line fade when they could go with the path of least resistance? -- Kyle Koster

The Game Will Be Decided in the Fourth Quarter

With Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes under center, don't expect a blowout either way. Two of the best late-game quarterbacks in NFL history are going to give us a classic on Sunday night. Mahomes and the Chiefs have a penchant for starting slow and finishing strong, and Brady has authored several heroic late-game Super Bowl wins. Expect the GOAT and the Baby GOAT to go back and forth down the stretch, culminating with a great, late-game finish. -- Phillips

Things Will Feel Moderately Normal

Super Bowl Predictions Espn

This will be a Super Bowl like no previous Super Bowl. The reduced attendance and protocols and completely lack of supporting revelry have become the new normal. But considering the fact that the Bucs are playing at home, and CBS is going to go to great lengths to make things feel normal, it may not be as different from previous years. In fact, upon replay, the only way we'll know it was the COVID era will be the facial coverings. -- Koster

Nfl Super Bowl Score Prediction

Tony Romo Makes Sexual Innuendo

Bold Super Bowl Predictions 2020

If you've followed Tony Romo the last few weeks, you know him and Jim Nantz have gotten a kick out of accidental sexual innuendo mentions. On a Drew Brees touchdown against the Bears, Romo mentioned 'just the tip' of the ball needing to cross the goal line for it to be a TD. Nantz got a kick out of that and the two have been giggling about any similar reference since. It's bold to project Romo making mention of that during the big game, but now that he's got a taste for the humor, I could see it happening again. -- Giuffra

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