The Defense of Super Bowl LV

Author: Jack Casabonne

Editor: Fran Attie

While all the talk so far has been on the offenses led by Brady and Mahomes, there’s always truth in the saying “defense wins championships.” Sunday’s matchup is going to come down to what team can get enough stops and takeaways to swing momentum, and both teams were exceptional at that during the regular season, with Tampa Bay forcing 25 turnovers and Kansas City forcing 22. If either team can get the opposing quarterback uncomfortable and off his A-game, they’ll surely be holding the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night.

Defensive Line:

Chiefs:

The Chiefs tout one of the best defensive tackle and defensive end duos in the league with Chris Jones and Frank Clark. Jones is a two-time 2nd team All-Pro, and in the 2020 season he tallied 8 sacks while earning an incredible 90.3 PFF grade. On the other hand, Frank Clark had a quieter year than normal, incurring just 6 sacks, but he’s played his best ball in the playoffs, tallying 2 sacks against Buffalo and a tackle for loss against Cleveland. Other names to watch along Kansas City’s defensive front are Alex Okafor, Tanoh Kpassagnon, and Derek Nnadi.

Bucs:

Vita Vea’s return to football following his Week 5 ankle fracture couldn’t have come at a better time for Tampa Bay. In his first game back against Green Bay he made an immediate impact against the run, containing star running back Aaron Jones to just 27 yards. Playing alongside Vea are pass rushers Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. Barrett came back down to earth during the 2020 season with 8 sacks following his monster 19.5 sack season in 2019; JPP wreaked havoc against the Packers, sacking Rodgers twice; and Pierre-Paul and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh are two veteran leaders along this defensive line that will look to continue their strong playoff performances.

Linebackers:

Chiefs:

In their AFC Championship matchup, the Chiefs used their linebackers sparingly, totaling just 88 snaps on 71 defensive plays. Former Dallas Cowboys Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson have led the way at linebacker for the Chiefs throughout the season, and both recorded low PFF grades in the 50’s, which could be why former Hawkeye Ben Niemann has seen an increased snap count in the playoffs. Linebacker is definitely the weakest position group for Kansas City, and an area Tom Brady may try to attack in coverage throughout the Super Bowl.

Bucs:

One of the biggest surprises this year has been Devin White’s play. The 22 year old has had an incredible second season, showcasing exactly why Tampa drafted him 5th overall in the 2019 draft. White has been all over the field in the playoffs, incurring 15 tackles against the Packers, and a huge interception against the Saints. Playing alongside him is the three time All-Pro Lavonte David, and the two combine to make one of the most impressive linebacker duos in the entire NFL.

Defensive Backs:

Chiefs:

Rookie cornerbacks are supposed to have a tough time transitioning to NFL-speed and -route running. Nobody told this to L’Jarius Sneed, though. The 138th overall pick has had a fantastic rookie season, where he’s tallied 3 interceptions and just 28 receptions allowed. Chavarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland round out the cornerback depth chart for Kansas City, and the Chiefs are also deep at safety, where they can play Tyrann Mathieu, Daniel Sorensen, and Juan Thornhill. Mathieu is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the league. He recorded 6 interceptions in the regular season, including one that he returned for a touchdown against the Patriots in Week 4.

Bucs:

This Buccaneers' pass defense has gained a lot of attention since their divisional matchup against the Saints, when star receiver Michael Thomas got completely shut down. Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Jamel Dean will now be tasked with trying to slow down Kansas City’s explosive passing game. Davis and Murphy-Bunting were both 2nd round picks by the Bucs in 2018 and 2019, while Dean was drafted in the 3rd round of 2019. They aren’t, however, the only high draft picks in the Tampa secondary: Antoine Winfield Jr was the Bucs 2020 second round draft choice and has manned the free safety role for Tampa. Jordan Whitehead has been working as the strong safety, a role in which he has excelled throughout the playoffs.

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