Most years, the Super Bowl is a time when we would watch our hometeam, the New England Patriots, attempt to win yet another championship. However, this season the Patriots did not make it to the playoffs, but many Patriots fans are still interested in following former Patriot, Tom Brady, as he attempts to earn a seventh Superbowl ring.

This year will be the 55th Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs, who played in the very first Super Bowl in 1967, will be looking to defend their title from their 2020 Super Bowl win. The Chiefs won the AFC Conference Championship game last Sunday, defeating the Buffalo Bills 38-24. Josh Allen, Bills quarterback, struggled to penetrate the Chief’s defense. In the first quarter of the game, Bills kicker, Tyler Bass, kicked a 51-yard field goal and Dawson Knox scored a touchdown, giving the Bills a 9-0 lead. However, in the second quarter, the Chiefs came back with Patrick Mahomes throwing three touchdown passes, bringing the score to 21-12 at halftime. The Chiefs maintained their lead in the third quarter, scoring one touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw another touchdown pass to Travis Kelce, and the Bills also scored a touchdown. The final score was 38-24 Chiefs. The Bills had their best season in many years, but Buffalo fans will have to wait until next season for another shot at the Super Bowl, as the Chiefs will now look for their second straight title. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC Conference Championship game last Sunday as well, defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-26. In the first quarter, Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to Mike Evans, giving the Bucs a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter, the Bucs scored two more touchdowns; and the Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, threw a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, bringing the score to 21-10 Bucs at halftime. The key moment of the first half occurred when, following an Aaron Rogers interception, Brady threw a long last-second touchdown pass to Scotty Miller. This gave the Bucs the momentum heading into halftime.  In the third quarter, Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to Cameron Brate, and Aaron Rodgers threw touchdown passes to Robert Tonyan and Davante Adams. Brady was much shakier in the second half, throwing interceptions on three consecutive possessions. By the end of the third quarter, the Packers had closed the gap to 28-23. In the fourth quarter, both teams scored field goals. The key moment at the end of the game came when the Packers decided to kick a field goal rather than going for a touchdown. Brady and the Bucs maintained possession and were able to close out the game. The final score was 31-26 Bucs. 

Many people’s view of Tom Brady has shifted since he left the Patriots last March. Some Patriots fans have been loyal to Brady and are rooting for him to win his seventh Super Bowl. Others are upset that Brady is wearing a different uniform and cannot bear to see him wearing pewter and red rather than New England’s red, white and blue. One thing is indisputable: even without Patriot’s coach Bill Belichick, Brady continues to play at a championship level – even at age 43. 

The Super Bowl will be played at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on February 7. This will be the first Super Bowl in which one of the teams is playing in their home stadium. It is also the first time in which the previous two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks will be playing each other. Mahomes, who was in kindergarten when Brady won his first Super Bowl, is clearly the best young player in the NFL. On the other side, Brady is currently the oldest player in the NFL and has more career wins than any other player. He maintains his reputation as the GOAT (the greatest of all time). The Chiefs are a slight favorite going into the game. This year’s Super Bowl will be an interesting matchup and an exciting game to watch for everyone. 

Cate Lynch ’24

24clynch@montroseschool.org