Way-too-early 2021 NFL Power Rankings: Rams, Packers, Chiefs chasing Buccaneers

Heading into the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs were the favorites and most NFL fans expected them to successfully defend their title against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It would have been quite the win for the Chiefs too as it would have signaled a passing of the torch from Brady to Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City quarterback who already has one Super Bowl ring and an NFL MVP in his back pocket.

Instead, Mahomes spent the entire game being harassed by the Bucs front-seven. Clearly, the injuries to the Chiefs offensive line had started to catch up to them even though the oddsmakers weren’t thinking that would make a huge difference.

Even with the loss, the Chiefs still come in at No. 2 and there could be a case made for them to remain No. 1. They do still have Mahomes as well as some of the better offensive weapons in the game with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire all on the same roster.

Defensively, they also have some star power with Chris Jones, Frank Clark, and Tyrann Mathieu. Unfortunately for them, this was a rough game for the entire team — especially the defense that was not only beat up by Tampa Bay but the refs as well.

Don’t be shocked to see them get better from this though, just as they did following the 2018 season when they lost to Brady and the Pats then came out and punished the league in 2019.