Super Bowl 2021 live updates: Score, analysis for Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl 55 might go down as one of the most important in NFL history. At least, it has been billed that way over the last two weeks, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the first true “home” Super Bowl against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, putting a bow on the 2020 season the league navigated under the circumstances and challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.
USA TODAY Sports is here to bring you the latest updates and analysis from our reporters and columnists at the game and across the country.
With kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS, check out these stories ahead of the big game:
- WATCH ALL OF THE SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS
- Inauguration poet Amanda Gorman to read before coin toss |Her words
- Game predictions: Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes comes out on top?
- WATCH: Brady’s hype video
- Ranking all 54 Super Bowls best to worst
- Women playing major roles in Super Bowl have message: Get used to it
That’s 30,000 cardboard cutouts in between pods of fans. There are about 25,000 people in attendance, including 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers.
“There are 30,000 fan cutouts killing seats spread out evenly among the lower, middle and upper bowls,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote to USA TODAY Sports in an emailed statement. “These cutouts provide physical distancing between pods of fans and the vaccinated health care workers.”
Chiefs D comes up big with goal-line stand
A 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Chiefs pass-rusher Chris Jones pushed Tampa Bay near midfield and then Brady found Mike Evans for a 31-yard gain into the red zone. Offensive lineman Joe Haeg got his hands on a potential touchdown but the ball was knocked away on second down. Running back Ronald Jones II was stood up the next play. That brought up the pivotal fourth-down play – there was hardly any doubt coach Bruce Arians would go for it. Defensive lineman Vita Vea came in as the fullback and the officials ruled Jones as short of the goal line on a second consecutive rush – a possibly massive momentum shift and much-needed for a Kansas City unit that was bullied on that drive.
Tampa Bay challenged the play, but the call on the field stood, so the Buccaneers lost their second timeout, leaving them with one for the rest of the first half.
Buccaneers answer to jump out front
And here come the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay had gains of 16, 15 and 11 on the drive before the most prolific postseason tandem – Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who joined Brady in Tampa this offseason – connected on a play-action pass. It was Brady’s first first-quarter touchdown in his 10th Super Bowl, with 37 seconds to spare, as the Buccaneers took a 7-3 lead. The duo passed the legendary combination of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice for most touchdowns between a quarterback-receiver pairing (13).
Chiefs take 3-0 lead
Aided by comfortable field position after the Buccaneers’ second punt of the game, the Chiefs strolled into Tampa Bay territory. Tampa Bay defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting saved a touchdown after his team jumped offside and Mahomes took a shot to the end zone on a free play from the 35-yard line.
Mahomes and Tyreek Hill nearly connected for what would have been an incredible touchdown play, but the ball fell through Hill’s hands. The first points of the game came on a Harrison Butker 49-yard field goal with 5:14 left in the first quarter.
End of the 1st quarter
Buccaneers 7, Chiefs 3: The Buccaneers carry a four-point lead into the second quarter and have the ball back.
Mahomes threw for 229 yards during the Chiefs’ win over the Bucs earlier this season. He had nine on Sunday.
Tiger Woods is at the Super Bowl
Tiger Woods made an appearance at Super Bowl 55, posing with NFL Hall of Famer and former Buccaneers great Derrick Brooks.
Two punts open game
Kickoff, officially, was at 6:39 p.m. ET. Hardly two minutes later, the Buccaneers had punted the ball back to the Chiefs and Mahomes, who was able to gain a first down with his legs before he and the Chiefs punted. The Chiefs missed on two downfield shots near midfield. Tampa Bay will take over at its own 20 after a touchback by punter Tommy Townsend, who kicked for only the second time this postseason.
KC Chiefs win Super Bowl 55 coin toss
It was heads! One of the most intriguing prop bets for the Super Bowl – heads or tails – swung plenty of dollars at the sportsbooks. The Chiefs deferred and the Buccaneers will receive the ball first.
Amanda Gorman preceded the coin toss with an emotional reading of an original poem she penned, honoring the frontline workers who went to work every day during the pandemic.
Sarah Thomas is making history on Sunday. Never before has a female official worked a Super Bowl. Thomas became the league’s first full-time female official in 2015 and has four playoff games under her belt.
No notable inactives
The big names – like Chiefs RB Le’Veon Bell, Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins, Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr., Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate and Buccaneers WR Antonio Brown – are active. Here’s the full inactive list:
7,500 will be vaccinated healthcare workers.
The numbers may be limited, but the prices sure aren’t — beers are going for $13-15.
KC Chiefs will be without Britt Reid
Britt Reid, the Chiefs’ outside linebackers coach and son of head coach Andy Reid, did not travel with the team after he was involved in a multi-vehicle accident Thursday night. Kansas City TV station 41 Action News reported that Reid told police two or three drinks.
Reid, 35, has been on the Chiefs staff since 2013.
Joe Biden wants to catch a pass from Patrick Mahomes
The 46th president has been preaching unity during his first weeks in office, and he struck a conciliatory tone when asked whether he’d go with Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes (Biden played wide receiver growing up).
“Obviously, Brady is a great quarterback,” Biden told CBS. “Mahomes seems like he’s got a lot of potential and so I’d probably take a shot with the young guy.”
When pressed if his pick of Mahomes reflected who he thought would win the game, the president demurred.
“I don’t know who’s going to win,” Biden said. “I think they’re both great quarterbacks.”
