© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Kansas City Chiefs' Hopes For Back-To-Back Super Bowl Victories Are Dashed By Tampa Bay

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles up field during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chris O'Meara/AP
/
AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles up field during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The Chiefs "Run-It-Back" tour ran into NFL superstar quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The duo of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have haunted the Kansas City Chiefs, again.

In Super Bowl LV, Brady and Gronkowski — on the home field of their new team in Tampa — the Tampa Bay Bucs beat the Chiefs, 31-9.

It prevented the Chiefs from becoming the first team in the NFL since the 2004 and ’05 New England Patriots to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) sits on the field after an incomplete pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) looks on in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Gregory Bull/AP
/
AP
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) sits on the field after an incomplete pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) looks on in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Brady, 43, threw two touchdown passes to Gronkowski in the opening half when the Bucs built a 21-6 halftime lead. In addition to that record-setting passer-receiver combo, the Chiefs’ biggest nemesis was themselves. They set their own dubious Super Bowl record for the most penalty yardage in a half with eight flags totaling 95 yards.

The Brady-Gronkowski tandem, meanwhile, set a record for 13 touchdown passes between them in the NFL playoffs.

Playing behind a makeshift offensive line, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was forced to constantly scramble under a heavy rush by the Bucs defense as anticipated. Mike Remmers started his first game at left tackle since 2016 because of Eric Fisher’s ruptured Achilles in the AFC Championship two weeks ago. Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has been out with a back injury since late October.

Mahomes has three victories over Brady, but his two losses against Brady are his most painful.

Sports have an economic and social impact on our community and, as a sports reporter, I go beyond the scores and statistics. I also bring the human element to the sports figures who have a hand in shaping the future of not only their respective teams but our town. Reach me at gregechlin@aol.com.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.