TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding a franchise-best seven-game winning streak, including three straight playoff wins on the road.
They have not lost a game since Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The same team they will meet in Super Bowl LV on February 7.
“I’m not really excited to play Tyreek Hill, [Travis] Kelce, and [Patrick] Mahomes,” Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said. “That’s a formidable challenge, but our guys will be up for it.”
Arians is not doing backflips for this matchup, unlike Hill’s end zone celebration when he racked up 269-receiving yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 27-24 win over Tampa Bay in Week 12. The Bucs essentially lost that game in the first 15 minutes.
“That game was one where I think we were down 17 [points] and then we came storming back,” Arians said. “Just couldn’t get the ball back. It should be a really good game. They’re a hell of a football team and they’re super well coached by Andy [Reid] and his whole crew – ‘Spags’ (Steve Spagnuolo) and everybody. [They have] great players, so it should be fun.”
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has taken notice of the Bucs' strong play over the last two months.
“You can see where Tom Brady’s leadership on the offensive side is showing,” Reid said. “He’s playing at an extremely high level. And, for somebody his age, it’s unbelievable. I mean, it’s unbelievable for a 25-year-old to be doing what he’s doing.
The Bucs defense also is a big part of the team reaching the Super Bowl. In the last two games, the defense has forced six turnovers and sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
