Things That Made Me Giddy
The Immortality of Brady: He wasn’t the best player on this team, and my MVP vote went to Shaq Barrett (and also wasn’t counted because I didn’t have a vote). But whatever unquantifiable leadership quality Brady brings to a franchise, this was the end result of it.
Tom Brady’s Rings:
Todd Bowles: He didn’t try to reinvent the wheel despite the extra week for preparation. The Bucs played a lot of two-deep, and he trusted his pass rush would get home, which it did. Shaq Barrett and the front four wrecked this game, and the secondary was in place to clean up everything else.
Brady and the Bucs Get Under the Chiefs’ Skin: The Bucs got the better of the Chiefs in every way possible and didn’t hesitate to tell them all about it. This was utter domination.
Devin White Is Everywhere You Want Him to Be: He's been a little up-and-down through two seasons, but it seems he might be a year or two away from becoming one of the league's special linebackers.
I Mean, This Was a Butt Kicking: The officiating was problematic in the first half, but it wouldn’t have mattered in the end. The Bucs outplayed and, especially, outcoached the Chiefs in every way imaginable.
How Much More Money Did Shaq Barrett Earn Tonight?: Probably not more, since he had already earned the right to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in football when he hits free agency this offseason. He played 2020 on the free-agency cancellation tag, and at age 28 should absolutely draw what amounts to a top-of-the-market three-year deal.
Rob Gronkowski’s Lives: And catches touchdowns. Two of them, to be exact. And throws the ball at the ground at a great velocity afterward.
Ali Marpet Pulling in Front of Leonard Fournette: Just a beautifully executed, classic power run.
The Bucs Will Take Those Points at the End of the First Half: There were some questionable calls in the first half, but the 34-yard pass interference penalty on Bashaud Breeland was not one of them. The Chiefs used a time out after stuffing Leonard Fournette on the first play of that drive, and another after giving up eight yards on second down, and the Bucs made them pay for it in the form of seven points heading into halftime.
Mike Edwards’s Classic Air Jordan Cleats: Remain awesome, arguably the best the NFL has seen since Walter Payton’s Roos.
Mahomes’s Highlight Reel of Incredible Incompletions: There was the ball he bounced off Tyreek Hill’s face in the end zone on the first drive, and a few others sprinkled in throughout the game (the Kelce third-down drop comes to mind). And there was also this one on a desperation fourth down in the fourth quarter.
Hey, At Least Harrison Butker Was Pretty Good!: He hit all three of his kicks! Including a 52-yarder!
