💍 Number 7

February 8, 2021

By: Carlos Alvarez

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions…

February 8, 2021

Welcome Back,

How ‘bout them Bucs? What a year it’s been for the city of Tampa Bay. The Lightning were Stanley Cup champions. The Rays were World Series runner-ups. And the Buccaneers are Super Bowl champs for the first time in 18 years.

43 years old and Tom Brady’s not done yet.

Letter Rip!

Brady Wins Number 7

Buccaneers Beat Chiefs (31-9) to Win Super Bowl LV; Tom Brady Wins Super Bowl MVP

A total of 322 days after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady holds the Lombardi Trophy once more. There would be no torch-passing ceremony from TB12 to young Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV. Instead, a lesson in humility, and a night of scrambling for dear life was “the Patrick price.” The Bucs’ defense made the Chiefs’ super-human offense appear rather pedestrian, at times, awful, and they did it on sports’ biggest stage. Emphatically.

Super Bowl LV was like many before it for Brady. Even in capturing his fifth Super Bowl MVP award, it was his supporting cast, offensive weapons and defensive dominance that helped him secure Ring Number 7.

Super Bowl MVP: Tom Brady

Brady’s numbers weren’t gaudy, as they usually aren’t, but he was the same old Tom we’ve come to expect — poised and efficient. He went 21-for-29 for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns in the big game, and almost all of it came in the first half.

The Supporting Cast

One of the biggest storylines in Super Bowl LV was the contribution of new Bucs who joined the team this year after Brady signed on. Rob Gronkowski (2), Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette scored each of Tampa Bay’s four touchdowns. But in the end, it was the Bucs’ defensive unit — holding the Chiefs without a touchdown — that stole the show.

QB Comparison

• T. Brady: 21/29, 201 yds, 3 TDs
• P. Mahomes: 26/49, 270 yds, 2 INT

Super Bowl LV Fun Facts

• Sunday’s 22-point loss was the first game in Mahomes’ career (54 games) where the Chiefs lost by more than one score.
• The Bucs’ 29 QB pressures were the most in Super Bowl history.
• At 68 years old, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians became the second-oldest head coach to win a Super Bowl (George Halas).
• The Chiefs’ 8 first-half penalties were the most in a half in Super Bowl history.
• Brady and Gronkowski (14) moved past Joe Montana and Jerry Rice (12) for most touchdown connections in postseason history.
• The Bucs became the first team ever to beat three former Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks in a single postseason (Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes).
• Brady’s seven Super Bowl rings are more than any entire franchise; Patriots (6), Steelers (6), 49ers (5), Cowboys (5).

That’s a wrap on the 2020-21 NFL season. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs are world champions. Sweet, sweet number seven. And he’s not done yet.

Watch: Super Bowl LV Highlights

Box Score: Super Bowl LV Gamebook

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Brady Says ‘We’ll Be Back’ for Bucs Title Defense Next Year

FiveThirtyEight: What Went Down in Super Bowl LV

USA Today: This May Have Been Tom Brady’s Most Impressive Championship Yet

The NFL 2020 Season Honors

Aaron Rodgers Wins 3rd NFL MVP in a Landslide

Saturday night’s NFL Honors show took center stage on the eve of the big game, and there were few surprise winners. Aaron Rodgers did have a surprise up his sleeve, though. After winning his third MVP, he seemingly announced his engagement to actress Shailene Woodley during his acceptance speech. Rodgers became just the sixth player in NFL history to win the award at least three times, joining Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Jim Brown. He received 44 of the 50 votes for MVP, while Josh Allen (Bills, 4) and Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs, 2) claimed the other six votes.

Aaron Rodgers 2020 Stats

4,299 Yards, 48 TDs, 5 INTs, 70.7% Comp.

All NFL Awards

• MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
• Offensive POY: RB Derrick Henry (Titans)
• Defensive POY: DT Aaron Donald (Rams)
• Comeback POY: QB Alex Smith (Washington)
• Offensive Rookie: QB Justin Herbert (Chargers)
• Defensive Rookie: DE Chase Young (Washington)
• Coach of the Year: Kevin Stefanski (Browns)

Other Honors

• Man of the Year: QB Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
• Sportsmanship: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Panthers)
• Play of the Year: “Hail Murray” (Cardinals)

2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

QB Peyton Manning, DB Charles Woodson, WR Calvin Johnson, S John Lynch, OL Alan Faneca, WR Drew Pearson, Coach Tom Flores

Additional Storylines

B/R: Where Does Aaron Rodgers Rank Among NFL’s All-Time Greats After 3rd MVP?

SI: Class of 2021 Judgements: The First-Ballot Frenzy Gripping Hall Voters

Bauer Heads West

Trevor Bauer Signs 3-Year, $102 Million Deal to Join the Dodgers

The next big domino of the MLB offseason has fallen. Trevor Bauer is signing a 3-year, $102 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that will make him the highest-paid player in annual salary over the next two seasons. Bauer announced the news in a YouTube video on Friday. And just like that, the defending champs add the 2020 NL Cy Young award winner.

Bauer’s Magical 2020 Season

In the shortened calendar of a unique MLB season, Bauer recorded career bests in nearly every statistical category, including ERA (1.73), opposing batting average (.159) and a ridiculous WHIP (0.79) — that’s walks and hits per inning pitched. He also had 100 strikeouts in just nine starts, and ranked first or second in each category alongside Indians’ pitcher Shane Bieber. He also had two complete-game shutouts. The rest of the league had six combined.

Buckle up, Dodger fans. The road back to the Fall Classic looks promising.

Additional Storylines

The Ringer: The Dodgers Have Landed the Best Free Agent Pitcher—And Everything That Comes With Him

Sporting News: Dodgers’ Signing of Trevor Bauer Sends Clear Message to Padres, Rest of MLB

D-Rose Goes Back to the Garden

Knicks Acquire Derrick Rose From Pistons in NBA’s First Big Trade of 2021

For the second time in his career, Derrick Rose is going to the New York Knicks and reuniting with his former head coach Tom Thibodeau. The trade package sends Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for the veteran guard.

Knicks Impact: New York (11-14) is sitting in the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, and they have a legitimate chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013. Rose’s average of 14 points and 4 assists per game is an upgrade at the point guard position for New York.

Pistons Impact: Detroit (5-18) is now dead last in the East, and they’re ready to start selling. Blake Griffin is rumored to be the next big name on the Pistons’ trade block.

Additional Storylines

B/R: Winners, Losers & Takeaways From Knicks’ Derrick Rose Trade

CBS Sports: Adding Derrick Rose Creates Logjam in Already Muddled Knicks Rotation

🎾 AUS: Serena, Osaka Start Strong

The first night of action at the Australian Open is underway, and two of the biggest names in the sport started off hot with straight-set sweeps to advance through Round 1. Naomi Osaka (6-1, 6-2) and Serena Williams (6-1, 6-1) are moving on.

🏀 NBA: The Doncic-Curry Barn-Burner

A shootout for the ages! Luka Doncic (42 points) and the Mavericks survived a 57-point night from Steph Curry and the Warriors in an unforgettable game on Saturday. Dallas held off a late Golden State run (134-132) in a game of must-see highlights.

🏒 NHL: Laughton’s 1st Hatty Lifts Flyers

Scott Laughton recorded his first career hat-trick on Sunday to give the Flyers a 7-4 win over the Capitals. Laughton scored one goal in each period, and teammate Sean Courtier scored twice in a third-period runaway.

⛳️ PGA: Koepka Captures Phoenix Open

Brooks Koepka claimed his first PGA Tour win of the season with a Sunday surge to take the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Koepka (-19) shot a 6-under final round, including an eagle chip-in on Hole 17 to erase a six-stroke deficit down the stretch.

The Super Bowl Streaker

In a season in which most fans were unable to get into the stadium, one made it onto the field of Super Bowl LV. The Super Bowl streaker got his 15 seconds of fame as he ran from end zone to end zone, something the Chiefs failed to do all night. (Yahoo! Sports)

Best & Worst Commercials of SBLV

As the Chiefs found out the hard way, they can’t all be winners, and in fact, some times there can be big, big losers. While the Super Bowl reminds us of that lesson, the commercials did, even more so. (Sporting News)

The SBLV Officiating Was Terrible

There’s no conspiracy. There’s no Commissioner Roger Goodell hitting a button that connected directly to the cerebral cortex of the refs that caused them to punish the Chiefs. It was none of that. It was a normal NFL problem that’s been one for years. (USA Today)

Houston Texans Insist They’re Not Trading QB Deshaun Watson

(ESPN)

 

Philadelphia Eagles Expected to Trade QB Carson Wentz in Coming Days

(Yahoo! Sports)

 

Bucs Fans Flood Streets of Tampa Bay Following Super Bowl LV Win

(Sports Illustrated)

 

UNC’s Win at Duke Delivers Excitement Even Without Rankings or Fans

(CBS Sports)

 

New York Jets Received Multiple Calls Regarding Trade for QB Sam Darnold

(Bleacher Report)

 

Longtime ESPN Baseball Reporter Pedro Gomez Dies at Age 58

(USA Today)