Pandemic style Super Bowl: Axios

Super Bowl LV will be the most-watched TV show of 2021, bringing together approximately 100 million Americans for a few hours of unity and entertainment.

Why it’s important: All Super Bowls are culturally important, but this year’s “Big Game,” more than ever before, will offer a reflection of the country.

  • American citizens, and even those who watch from abroad, will measure the national state of affairs by what they see on the broadcast.
  • “The game represents a strange opportunity for an American makeover: a new year, a new administration, a new perspective, ”writes John Branch of New York.

The big picture: When the Chiefs won the LIV Super Bowl in Miami, “social distancing” wasn’t even a term.

  • 369 days later, it’s our way of life and will be on full screen in Tampa, where there will be more cardboard scraps (30,000) than fans (25,000).
  • At the entrance at Raymond James Stadium, every fan will have a face mask, an item that was weird to us a year ago, but is now a major member of the wallet-keys-phone checklist before leaving home.

What to see: The pre-game festivities will be reduced, setting the tone for a four-hour show in which the NFL and CBS must find a delicate balance between pure “escapism” and the reality of the moment.

  • Three honorary captains – a nurse, a teacher and a navy veteran – will participate in the coin draw.
  • Amanda Gorman, after his star at President Biden’s inauguration, he will recite an original poem.
  • The national anthem, a duet by Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church, will be preceded by the performance of “America the Beautiful” by HER

The summary: The Super Bowl LV will be a moderate show, but there is still great potential for magic, starting with the dream QB showdown of Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.

Game details:

  • Time: 18:30 ET
  • Net: CBS
  • Advertisers: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
  • Weather forecast: 73 ° F, 56% chance of rain
Confrontation: on one side of the ball …
Note: * Sammy Watkins, Vita Vea and Jordan Whitehead are shocked, but are expected to play. Table: Michelle McGhee / Axios

The bosses are the children of the “pass the eye test” poster (emphasis on passing).

Yes, but: While it all comes from the unique talent of Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and OC’s evolutionary strategy Eric Bieniemy can’t be overlooked.

  • 40.5% of Muhammad’s passages caused the first declines this season (an increase of 36.5% in 2019), probably thanks to the decision to reduce deep balls.
  • Last year, Kansas City completed an 18-pass league over 40 yards; this year, he fell to just eight, but they scored in six of them and led the league with 69 passes over 20 yards.
  • This more balanced attack, using the very real threat to open half the field to Travis Kelce and the slot receivers, he paid big dividends.

What they say: “Everyone adapts to the system because the system is built to include everyone,” writes Kevin Clark of The Ringer.

“From GM’s point of view, you don’t have to wonder if this guy is right for what we do. If we like the guy and we like the skill, the coach will figure out a way to highlight him.”

– GM Brett Veach Caps

In defense … the Bucs are as well equipped as anyone to stop the juggling they face, with a trio of recovery projects (Ndamukong Suh, Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul) forming the league’s most formidable step race.

  • In the NFC title game, The absence of Packers star David Bakhtiari opened the door to five sacks of Bucs.
  • How many can arrive with Chiefs OT star Eric Fisher the same way?

In depth: 20 stats to know (to win)

Confrontation: on the other side of the ball …
Note: * Antonio Brown missed the NFC championship with a knee injury, but was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. Table: Michelle McGhee / Axios

“No risk, no cookies” Bruce Arians ’catchy coaching philosophy that could be freely translated to“ go home or go home, ”is proving quite successful when put into practice by the right staff.

  • Tom Brady, like the 2019 QB Jameis Winston Bucs, led the league in the planned air parks (total air parks in all passes, complete or not) and threw the second most touchdowns.
  • But while Winston’s The 2019 interception rate was by far the worst in the NFL (4.8%), Brady limited the damage a freewheeling strategy is likely to cause (2%).
  • Although there are 12 selections are the highlights of Brady since 2011, also broke 40 TD for the second time, released by a new system and armed with the best receiving body of his career.

What to see: Sanctions, or more specifically, Tampa Bay’s ability to tie them. Bucs’ opponents were charged with 24 penalties for interference passes during the regular season, the highest total since at least 1985.

“If passing interference were one person, he would be the Buccaneers’ sixth most productive receiver, which would help him be more aware in his passing game than Cameron Brate.”

– Mike Tanier, New York

In defense … pressing Brady is of paramount importance as his 84.3 QBR this year without seeing pressure was the fifth best, but his 6.4 QBR (!!!) under pressure took 30th place.

  • Here, the bosses It has coincidental advantages, as linebackers Chris Jones and Frank Clark could intimidate Bucs guard duo Ali Marpet and Aaron Stinnie, who rank at the bottom in the passing block winning percentage.

In depth: All 55 QB Super Bowl matches, ranked (WashPost)

Meet the players who have chosen not to participate
Clockwise from top left: Damien Williams, Brad Seaton, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Lucas Niang. Photos: Getty Images

66 players chose not to participate of the NFL season due to the pandemic. Four of them play the Chiefs and Bucs. These are his stories.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (RG, caps): The 2014 sixth-round pick was one of six bosses who played offensively in the Super Bowl LIV.

  • Why did you choose not to participate? He was the first NFL player to formally choose to choose to use his medical degree, working at a long-term care center near his native Montreal.
  • “If I have to take a risk” he wrote to his deactivation statement, “I’ll do it by taking care of patients.”

Damien Williams (RB, caps): Since 2014, unwritten free agent up to Super Bowl star. His line in last year’s game (133 total yards, 2 TDs) was as good as anyone’s.

  • Why did you choose not to participate? After diagnosing her mother’s stage cancer, she decided that being by her side was more important than anything else.
  • “My mother is my rock, everything, so at a time as difficult as this, I think I should be by her side at every step. “

Brad Seaton (OT, Bucs): The 2017 seventh-round pick and Bucs ’only exclusion have bounced around the league, but he has yet to play anything in his NFL career.

  • Why did you choose not to participate? “While I love the sport and I know you’ll miss every aspect of being part of this year’s team, in the end I decided to put my family’s safety and health first.” He wrote.

Lucas Niang (OL, caps): TCU’s third-round rookie was unlikely to start this year, but was seen as a possible future replacement for veteran team Eric Fisher … missing in the Super Bowl with an Achilles injury.

  • Why did you choose not to participate? He never provided details, but of course he never had to.
  • Note: He was one of five rookies, but the only one who had been chosen to choose not to participate.

In depth: What happened to the players who chose not to participate? (ESPN)

.Source