Super Bowl 55 picks: Staff predictions for Chiefs vs. Buccaneers

Super Bowl 55 picks and score predictions from the NFL Spin Zone staff as it’s a natural split between if the Kansas City Chiefs or Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win. 

If you’d have asked NFL fans prior to the 2020 season which two teams would end up facing off in Super Bowl LV, there’s a good chance many would’ve predicted the matchup we have as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs vying for the Lombardi Trophy.

After all, the Chiefs are the reigning champions, still led by the league’s brightest young star in quarterback Patrick Mahomes and an elite group of weapons he thrives with under Andy Reid. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers immediately had Super Bowl aspirations as soon as they were able to ink Tom Brady, who is now set to play in his unprecedented 10th Super Bowl.

But now it’s not about which teams will get there; it’s about which team will win. We’ve polled some of the NFL Spin Zone staff, myself included, for their Super Bowl LV picks and score predictions. So who do we have capturing a championship? Let’s find out.

Super Bowl 55 picks, score predictions from the NFL Spin Zone staff

Cody Williams – With all due respect to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the AFC Championship Game revealed two obvious truths. First, the Kansas City Chiefs have a switch they can flip to dominate when necessary. Second, we’re programmed to pretend that anything that can happen in the NFL when the end result for Super Bowl LV feels inevitable.

Charged with going out for 60 minutes with a title on the line, Patrick Mahomes and his merry host of playmakers will strike at all levels and, though Brady will muster up a fight, they haven’t been able to display the offensive potency to keep up with Kansas City at their best. As such, a dynasty is born as the Chiefs win their second straight ring. Final Score: Chiefs 41, Buccaneers 26

Randy Gurzi – This is a matchup to remember as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kansas City comes in looking to defend their title from a season ago and they made it this far thanks primarily to the play of their young star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. For Tampa Bay, they ended a long playoff drought this season after luring Tom Brady away from the New England Patriots. After an astonishing 21 NFL seasons, Brady is set to play in his 10th Super Bowl and looking for ring No. 7.

Another layer is the fact that Tampa Bay won three road games in the playoffs to earn the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, which happens to be taking play in Tampa. For the first time ever, one of the participants has a home game, which is what tips this in favor of the Bucs. Brady gets his seventh title in a tight contest. Final Score: Buccaneers 37, Chiefs 34

Mitchell Hansen – The Big Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be headlined and highlighted by the two talented offenses on both sides of the field. Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will utilize their weapons and will air it out often, resulting in a high-scoring affair when it’s all said and done.

After a calm first half, both teams will go back-and-forth in an entertaining final 30 minutes. Mahomes and company, however, will ultimately come out on top by doing just enough to claim the Lombardi Trophy for the second consecutive year. Final Score: Chiefs 34, Buccaneers 28

Garner Hasler – Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs passing game will simply overwhelm a Buccaneers secondary that has been giving up big plays all year. The Chiefs have struggled to blow out opponents all year, however, so I would fully expect the Bucs run defense and Kansas City’s lack of rushing attack to lead to a high-scoring, fast-paced game.

In the end, look for Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill to both top 100 receiving yards as the Chiefs secure back-to-back Super Bowl victories. Final Score: Chiefs 34, Buccaneers 27

Edward Rollo – Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been Mahomes’ go-to guy and has come up with some spectacular plays throughout the regular season and the playoffs. The only question is if he can rise to the occasion on Super Bowl Sunday.

He’ll do exactly that as the Buccaneers strong defense will finally be cracked by the Mahomes-Kelce pairing while the tight end will win Super Bowl MVP while the Chiefs claim the victory. Final Score: Chiefs 28, Buccaneers 17