Through the most unusual life experiences, 400,000 Americans have died over the last 11 months. I’m a passionate person. God has guided my life through it all. Our nation’s capitol has been assaulted by treasonous, red-cap-wearing, delusional followers duped into believing the biggest lie of all told by our president, Donald Trump, who is impeached again.
The National Football League, in the shadow of it all, has delivered us to the Final Four with Buffalo, Green Bay, Kansas City and Tampa Bay all vying for Super Bowl LV. And yes, ironically the respective conference finalists have played before. On October 10 in Tampa, the site of Super Bowl LV, the Buccaneers dominated Green Bay 38-10. Kansas City on October 19 beat Buffalo at home 26-17.
You could not ask for a more dramatic Final Four. Green Bay and Kansas City are the respective favorites Sunday. Why? They played in this game last year with different results. It’s no secret the Chiefs and Packers are the number-one seeds in the AFC and NFC and both have the home field advantage.
Kansas City (15-2), defending Super Bowl Champion, is trying to repeat as a Super Bowl Champion for the first time since the 2004-05 New England Patriots. Green Bay has won 13 NFL Championships, more than all 32 NFL teams. The Packers (14-3) are the NFL’s highest scoring team—they scored 509 points.
Buffalo (15-3) won the AFC East for the first time since 1995. They have never won the Championship. They are 0-4 as a franchise in the Super Bowl. They secured a trade with another organization 0-4 in Super Bowls, Minnesota, for Stefon Diggs. Diggs in 2020 led the NFL in receptions, 127, for 1,540 yards. The Bills scored 501 points.
Tampa Bay (13-5), led by the NFL’s greatest free agent quarterback Tom Brady, made the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades. He signed a two year deal for $50 million. He will play Sunday in his 14th Championship game and his first NFC title game.
Brady is 9-4 in previous AFC Championships with New England, including nine Super Bowls with six Super Bowl wins. It’s no secret he’s the GOAT, the greatest of all-time, at age 43 in this his 21st season. I love it. Both Brady and Diggs proved they were right and won while the Patriots and Vikings lost having it their way.
Brady threw 40 touchdown passes; only Rodgers with 48 threw more. Two players this year, Brady and Diggs, have shown two organizations, New England and Minnesota, that they made huge mistakes. Both were 7-9 and both missed the playoffs. They either devalued Brady’s and Diggs’ greatness, or they screwed up.
I would say the Patriots and Vikings did both. The Patriots know how to win, but the Vikings are zero for 60 years in terms championships and keep making the same mistakes.
Bill’s QB Josh Allen was sensational this year with 37 TD passes for 4,544 yards. This is his third season. Until 2020 he had never thrown for 300 yards or more in a game. With Diggs he has done it nine times.
Patrick Mahomes, last year’s Super Bowl MVP, has won 23 of his last 24 games. He threw 38 TD passes for 4,740 yards as defending champion. He suffered a concussion on Sunday in the 22-17 win over Cleveland. He did not finish and is questionable for Sunday vs. Buffalo
Either Rodgers, Mahomes or Brady will be the NFL’s MVP. Allen and Brady as underdogs are trying to keep Super Bowl LV from being the State Farm Insurance Finals. In terms of point differential: Buffalo +126, Kansas City +111, Green Bay +140, Tampa Bay+137. This is what the NFL wanted, the best in entertainment to keep us from losing our minds after the worst year in history.
There you have it, two rematches, four great teams. Who do you have winning on Sunday?
Larry Fitzgerald is a longstanding contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on “Almanac” (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.