Super Bowl 2021 cheat sheet: Here’s everything you need to know before Buccaneers vs. Chiefs kicks off
HAPPY SUPER BOWL SUNDAY EVERYONE, WE MADE IT!
Actually, I don’t want to jinx anything, so I’m not going to say we made it until the game kicks off at 6:30 p.m ET. I mean, who knows what could happen between now and then, and I’m mostly saying that because the city of Tampa got hit with a TORNADO WATCH last night, which was weird, because I didn’t even know Florida could get tornadoes.
Since we’re going to have several hours to burn between now and game time, I thought it made sense to shoot out a newsletter today that will give you enough reading material to last until the next Super Bowl. For starters, be sure to click here so you can check out our monstrous prop guide, which might be the most comprehensive thing that I’ve ever read.
Remember, this is a Super Bowl newsletter, so we’ll save everything else for tomorrow…. except Aaron Rodgers winning MVP and getting engaged, those both made the cut today.
- How to watch the Super Bowl
Since I work for CBS Sports, I’ve probably mentioned this at least 112 times over the past two weeks, but just to be safe, I’m going to mention it one more time right now: The Super Bowl is on CBS this year.
If you love to spend Super Bowl Sunday watching as much pregame coverage as possible, we’ll have you covered. On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to turn on the game just minutes before kickoff, we’ll also have you covered.
Here’s how you can watch Super Bowl LV:
Date: Sunday, Feb. 7
Kickoff time: 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)
TV: CBS
How to stream: FOR FREE on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App on your phone and connected TV devices.
And just in case that isn’t clear enough, Super Bowl LV is available live on TV through CBS and it’s live to stream via CBS All Access and CBSSports.com. The link above will take you to the CBS Sports app where you can watch it on your phone, tablet or connected TV devices.
The Super Bowl pregame will kick off at 9 a.m. ET on CBS Sports HQ, which you can access for free by clicking here. Two-time Super Bowl winner Bryant McFadden and former first-round pick Brady Quinn will join CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora from Tampa to kick off the coverage. Including that show, there will be nine straight hours of coverage leading up to the game, so make sure to bookmark CBS Sport HQ.
On the TV side, CBS will have you covered starting at 11:30 a.m. ET with a schedule that looks like this:
11:30 a.m. ET-12 p.m. ET: That Other Pregame Show
12-1 p.m. ET: Road to the Super Bowl (Presented by NFL Films)
1-2 p.m. ET: Tony Romo goes to the Super Bowl
2-6 p.m. ET: The Super Bowl Today
6-6:30 p.m. ET: Super Bowl on CBS Kickoff Show
During the game, we’ll also be presenting a live Twitch and YouTube stream where we’ll talk props, react to the game and I think we’ll also be gambling on the game DURING the stream, so you’ll definitely want to watch. I will be taking part in that during the fourth quarter you can check out that on our YouTube page by clicking here. You can also check out all the Super Bowl themed podcasts we’ve had this week here.
- Everything you need to know about the Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are just hours away from becoming the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl at their home stadium. However, someone must have forgotten to let the NFL know that this game is being played in Tampa, because the league has decided to take away one aspect of Tampa Bay’s home-field advantage: The Buccaneers aren’t ALLOWED TO FIRE THE CANNONS on the pirate ship. Why even have a Super Bowl if you’re not going to let them fire the cannons, NFL?
Anyway, here’s everything else you need to know about the Buccaneers heading into today’s game.
For more Buccaneers news, you can check out our team hub by clicking here.
- Everything you need to know about the Chiefs
Although things were quiet with the Buccaneers for most of the week, the same can’t be said for the Chiefs, who had to deal with two completely different types of problems. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the Chiefs heading into today’s game.
For more Chiefs news, you can check out our team hub by clicking here.
- Super Bowl LV picks
I’ve been sharing Super Bowl picks with you from every CBS Sports writer over the past two weeks, but since there’s a 100% chance that you don’t actually remember any of those specific picks, I’m going to rehash everyone’s pick here, starting with me. I write this newsletter, so it only makes sense that I would give my pick top billing.
Here are the picks from our 11 writers who are taking the Chiefs:
John Breech: Chiefs 34-27 over Buccaneers (Full pick)
Pete Prisco: Chiefs 35-30 over Buccaneers (Full pick)
Jonathan Jones: Chiefs 28-27 over Buccaneers
Will Brinson: Chiefs 31-20 over Buccaneers
Ryan Wilson: Chiefs 28-24 over Buccaneers
Dave Richard: Chiefs 36-30 over Buccaneers
Jamey Eisenberg: Chiefs 31-30 over Buccaneers
Jared Dubin: Chiefs 33-27 over Buccaneers (Full pick)
Jordan Dajani: Chiefs 28-24 over Buccaneers (Full pick)
Cody Benjamin: Chiefs 32-28 over Buccaneers (Full pick)
Jeff Kerr: Chiefs 34-24 over Buccaneers (Full pick)
And just in case you’re wondering, we do have three souls who were brave enough to take the underdog Buccaneers and those brave souls are:
Jason La Canfora: Buccaneers 30-27 over Chiefs
Tyler Sullivan: Buccaneers 33-27 over Chiefs (Full pick)
Bryan DeArdo: Buccaneers 31-27 over Chiefs
You can check out our full picks hub for the Super Bowl by clicking here.
If you plan on gambling on the game, here are my five favorite props (I’ve combined three I really like with two long shot props):
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Game to be tied after 0-0 (-130): This prop has hit in five of the past six Super Bowl and I’m thinking it’s going to hit again tonight.
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Harrison Butker four or more extra points (+115): If you think the Chiefs are going to score a lot, then Butker is also probably going to score a lot and this is one of the few kicking props that gives you great value.
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Each team scores 7 or more in the second quarter (+140): The second quarter is usually when things start to get spicy in the Super Bowl and all you need to win this is for each team to score one touchdown.
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First score of the game is a Chiefs FG (+550): The last time these two teams played, the first score was a Chiefs field goal and I’m betting that history repeats itself.
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Brady and Mahomes to each attempt 45 or more passes (+1000): If this turns into a shootout, this prop could very well hit and since it’s paying 10-to-1, I’m going to take a flyer on it.
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Best part of Super Bowl Sunday
Let’s be honest, half the people watching the Super Bowl aren’t watching for the game, they’re watching for the commercials, and maybe they’re also watching because it gives them an excuse to pig out. I think there are also some people who only watch for the halftime show.
This will be the first Super Bowl I’ve been able to watch at home on TV since 2013, so I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of excited for the commercials.
With that in mind, here are some details about some of the best things about Super Bowl Sunday:
Finally, here’s a casual fan’s guide to the game that’s expressly written for the people out there who don’t know Tom Brady from Marcia Brady.
- Non-Super Bowl news: Aaron Rodgers wins MVP
This newsletter was supposed to be only loaded with Super Bowl tidbits, but I decided to call an audible so I could include a list of everyone who won all of the NFL awards that were handed out on Saturday night. At the 10th annual NFL honors event, the league handed out its annual awards for MVP, coach of the year and all the other big ones.
The biggest headline belongs to Aaron Rodgers, who not only won MVP, but the quarterback apparently also got engaged at some point over the past couple of weeks (He announced during his MVP speech that he had a fiancée). Although there were no huge surprises, there was some debate on Twitter after Aaron Donald won the defensive player of the year award over T.J. Watt. The Watt brothers – T.J. and J.J. – chimed in on that debate and they were definitely not thrilled that T.J. lost.
Here’s a look at all the key award winners:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Offensive player of the year: Derrick Henry (Titans)
Defensive player of the year: Aaron Donald (Rams)
Offensive rookie of the year: Justin Herbert (Chargers)
Defensive rookie of the year: Chase Young (Washington)
Comeback player of the year: Alex Smith
Coach of the year: Kevin Stefanski (Browns)
Assistant coach of the year: Brian Daboll (Bills)
NFL Man of the year: Russell Wilson
The class of 2021 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was also announced and here’s a look at the class: Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, John Lynch, scout Bill Nunn, Drew Pearson.
- The Kicker: Final Super Bowl weather forecast
Holding an outdoor Super Bowl is always a gamble due to the weather, but it appears the NFL is going to luck out this year and get surprisingly good weather for the game. Although there had been rain in the forecast for most of the week, it’s now looking like there are going to be clear skies in Tampa by the time the game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET.
With that in mind, here’s the current weather report for the game:
Chiefs vs. Buccaneers in Tampa
Projected weather: Clear skies
Projected temperature: 67 degrees at kickoff down to 60 by the end of the game
Chance of rain: 6% chance of rain for the day with 2% chance at kickoff
Winds: NNW 5-7 mph
If you consider the fact that there was a TORNADO WATCH last night in Tampa, this is the best situation the NFL could have asked for. All the rain should be leaving Tampa by 3 p.m., which means it should be a non-factor in the Super Bowl.
Hopefully this newsletter will provide you with enough reading material to get you through to the game. As for me, I’ll be eating corn dogs from now until kickoff and crossing my fingers that neither kicker pulls a Scott Norwood.
Super Bowl LV: Kansas City Chiefs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: How to watch, when does it start?
The deciding game of the American football season is upon us.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the reigning champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, in Super Bowl LV — or 55, if you’ve moved on from Roman numerals.
Not even COVID could stop the league’s showpiece occasion, which is almost always the most-watched TV show of the American year.
The match and everything that comes with it will be taking place in Tampa Bay on Monday morning Australian time.
So, if you’re going to a Super Bowl party, intend to watch at home, or just want to sound like you know what you’re talking about when you’re next in the bar, this is the piece for you.
Who is playing in the Super Bowl?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who won 11 games and lost 5 this season) of the NFC will take on the reigning Super Bowl champions, the AFC’s Kansas City Chiefs (who won 14 and lost 2).
The Buccaneers beat the highly fancied Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the NFC championship game, knocking out Aaron Rodgers in the process.
Prior to that, they accounted for the Washington Football Team on wildcard weekend and beat the Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional game a fortnight ago.
The Chiefs, as number one seed in the AFC, had a bye through the wild card, before ending the Cleveland Browns' fairytale run and seeing off the Buffalo Bills.
Patrick Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP last year. ( AP: Seth Wenig )
What happened the last time these two teams played?
In week 12, the Chiefs outlasted the Buccs to claim a 27-24 victory at Raymond Jones Stadium.
The Chiefs led by 17 points twice as Patrick Mahomes connected with Tyreek Hill for three touchdowns in the game as he went 37/49 and 462 yards, while also rushing for 28 yards off four carries.
Tom Brady threw three touchdowns and two interceptions for 345 yards as he led a fightback that ultimately fell just short.
Where is the Super Bowl being played?
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For the first time in the Super Bowl era, the decider is being played in the home stadium of one of its participants — the Raymond James stadium in Tampa Bay, home of the Buccaneers.
The NFL is normally keen for the location to be neutral for Super Bowl games, but with venues determined years in advance (at the moment, up to the 2025 season, which will be hosted in the Louisiana Superdome), this statistical anomaly could not be helped.
This is the Raymond James stadium’s third Super Bowl game.
Will the Buccaneers have home-field advantage?
Tom Brady will be playing in his 10th Super Bowl. ( AP: Matt Ludtke )
In theory, yes: The same locker rooms, the same trip to the stadium, the same sight-lines within the ground, the same spots on the bench — there will be a lot of familiarity for the Buccaneers that the Chiefs will not have.
Adding to that, the Chiefs will only fly into Tampa the day before the game, foregoing the usual week of acclimatisation and preparation due to the pandemic.
Staying in Kansas City will allow the Chiefs to maintain their strict testing regime and limit interaction with strangers.
The Buccs have won five games at the colloquially named Ray Jay stadium this year, losing three-in-a-row in weeks 9, 11 and 12.
Those defeats came at the hands of the Saints (38-3), the Rams (27-24) and the Chiefs (27-24).
The famous cannon at the stadium, which goes off whenever the Buccaneers find the end zone during the regular season, will not fire during this game.
Are fans allowed in?
Patrick Mahomes’s work on the ground will be key for Kansas City. ( AP: Jeff Roberson )
Raymond Jones stadium will be about a third full as coronavirus restrictions limit attendance to the hottest sporting ticket around.
22,000 fans will be attending in a stadium that can fit 75,000 in with temporary seating.
Some 7,500 of those tickets will be taken up by vaccinated health care workers.
The NFL has mandated that everyone will be masked, and will hand out a KN-95 mask to everyone, just to make sure.
Who is playing the halftime show?
The Weeknd will perform during the always highly anticipated halftime show this year.
Expect a medley of his top hits, possibly with some guest performers thrown in for good measure.
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Watch out for country star Eric Church and R&B artist Jazmine Sullivan pre-game as the pair of Grammy nominees perform the national anthem.
Before that, H.E.R. will perform America the Beautiful.
Three players on each team to look out for
Kansas City’s quarterback is Patrick Mahomes, one of the rising stars of the NFL. He’s the guy who’ll throw the ball — and probably run it a fair bit as well.
He’ll mostly be throwing it to Tyreek Hill, whose nickname is Cheetah, and Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce, left, will be key for Kansas City. ( AP: David J Phillip )
Veteran Tom Brady is the opposing quarterback and he’ll most likely aim for Chris Godwin with his throws.
He’ll also likely hand the ball off to running back Leonard Fournette.
How can I watch the Super Bowl?
Your best bet in Australia is Channel 7 or 7mate or, alternatively, Kayo or Fox Sports.
Both will take the CBS feed, with veteran caller Jim Nantz and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the booth.
We will also have a live blog, where you can keep track of all the action if you can’t get to a TV.
When does the Super Bowl start?
Coverage will begin at 10:30am AEDT, meaning you can spend the whole game making your way through brunch into lunch with your choice of American snacks.
Tom Brady Laughed Off Some ‘Mean Tweets’ Before the Super Bowl
Super Bowl LV has arrived with the quarterback who has been in the most Super Bowls. He’s facing a 25-year-old quarterback who is already appearing in his second championship, which is a feat in itself. Only 20 QBs have appeared in more than one Super Bowl.
Tom Brady is about to start in his tenth Super Bowl, and a lot of fans are tired of seeing him in the game. Just as many people, if not more, think the 43-year-old is the greatest to ever play the game. (And maybe there are some sitting in both camps.) Fortunately, they can all come together to enjoy a new installment of Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” that solely focuses on Brady in advance of the Super Bowl. It’s a bit of a Rorschach test. Everyone might interpret the segment in their own way. If you love the former Patriot, you’ll see him being a good sport about nasty messages. If you’d be fine never watching another game with him under center, well, you can revel in the vitriol.
This isn’t the first time that Kimmel has twisted the “Mean Tweets” format to focus on a single person. President Barack Obama did a whole segment of tweets people have sent about him, and so has Kimmel himself. There’s also that brilliant set of outtakes with Larry David, which doesn’t really count but is nonetheless hilarious.
Brady isn’t doing this for the first time, either. He appeared in an NFL-focused “Mean Tweets” segment around the Super Bowl last year. (And maybe these are all from that time because he’s in the same clothes and repeats a tweet from that segment.)