TAMPA, Fla. – Home was never like this and it might never be again.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are world champions again, having closed out the deal at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday night with a dominating 31-9 over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
They made believers of their fans and this community. You could tell with fireworks, either over the stadium or in backyards all across Tampa Bay, title town.
Up on the stage, where he always finds himself, was Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr., holding the Lombardi Trophy, his longtime kissing cousin.
Yes, it really happened. In his first season in Tampa Bay, Tom Brady really did bring it on home, the Bucs’ second world championship, his seventh. Nothing to it.
In the process, Brady and the Bucs chased down Mahomes and shut up yapping Chiefs defensive back Tyrann Mathieu and everyone else who ever wondered what a Brady in our midst would mean. Tom-pa Bay is what.
“I think we knew this was going to happen, guys, didn’t we?” Brady told his teammates from up on stage.
Never mind that this was the pandemic Super Bowl, played in a stadium limited to not even half capacity, populated by front-line health care workers, who helped keep COVID at bay, as well as assorted corporate CEOs and rich people.
Never mind that Brady was a mercenary, brought here with a mission in mind, along with Rob Gronkowski, and Leonard Fournette, and Antonio Brown.
Doesn’t really matter much now, that the deed is done.
Finally, the right kind of fever gripped Tampa Bay.
Bucs Fever.
What a remarkable performance by this team, and from all directions.
Brady did what was needed, throwing for only 201 yards, but three touchdowns. The run game pounded on the Chiefs, with Fournette running 27 yards untouched for s touchdown. Brady and Gronkowski, who have been to countless rodeos, kept their cools while the Chiefs flailed around, penalties everywhere, and connected for two scores. And Brown, a controversial pick-up by the Bucs during the season, caught a TD too.
You had to feel good for Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, 68, who paid all those dues across all those years to become the oldest winning head coach in Super Bowl history. He has earned his keep, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes out on top and retires to his lake house and happy hours. And I have just the guy to replace him.
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles designed a defense that stopped the unstoppable Kansas City offense. The Bucs took advantage of a depleted Kansas City offensive line, scrubs everywhere, hurried and harassed Mahomes all evening, something I didn’t think was possible, and even though he made some amazing throws while falling down, one nearly going for a touchdown, he was falling down just the same, that is, when he wasn’t being sacked.
Mahomes couldn’t find his double-teamed speedy receiver Tyreek Hill, who burned the Bucs for more than 200 yards and three TDs in a November win in Tampa, the last time the Bucs lost. This game was about a young defense that came of age, led by second-year linebacker Devin White, who capped a momentous postseason with 12 tackles, two for loss, and another interception. The great Derrick Brooks, who led the Bucs to a Super season in 2002, could not have done better.
But you had to come back to Brady, who was named was named Super Bowl MVP for the fifth time, padding another of his records. The man doesn’t rank his moments, but surely this has to be high on the list.
Remember when people thought Brady was washed up, a 43-year-old relic?
Remember his early, clumsy days in town, when he walked into the wrong Tampa home while looking for offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich? Tommy the Trespasser.
Remember when Brady was scolded by the NFL for holding informal workouts in the COVID-addled offseason, Brady completely oblivious?
Remember when Arians had the nerve to criticize Brady for mistakes early in the season? How would the legend take the heat?
He showed us how. He showed his teammates how to travel the road less traveled, his well-worn path to greatness. They went along for this ride. Many of you did, too.
Tampa Bay is already home to the Stanley Cup champion Lightning. It has the reigning American League pennant winner in the Rays. And now, most amazing of all, it has the Bucs rising from the ashes, a dozen years of darkness, to light up the football world.
Tom Brady made believers, out of them, out of us, all 43 years of him, in a season like no other, in a year we’re all a part of, in one way or another. And now we’ll have it always.
“This team is world champions forever,” Tom Brady said. “You can take this away from them.”
Who could? Who would try? It’s a story that beat all. And forever lasts a long time.
Enjoy it, everyone.