Chiefs take playoff experience into Sunday night vs Steelers
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs, Tyreek Hill was a wide-eyed rookie wide receiver, Chris Jones was learning the ropes at defensive tackle and Travis Kelce was just becoming one of the NFL's best tight ends.
Tom Brady has denied 27 QBs in unparalleled playoff success
Brady is shooting for his seventh ring when he leads the Buccaneers (14-5) against the reigning champion Chiefs (16-2) in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday. Brady's postseason record includes a 33-11 mark, 14 conference championship appearances and 10 trips to the Super Bowl. If the Bucs dethrone the champs, Mahomes would become the sixth quarterback Brady has beaten multiple times in the playoffs. Although heโs not showing his age, 43, Brady will be the oldest to play in a Super Bowl, displacing Colts kicker Matt Stover, who was 42 in Super Bowl 44. Unlike Warner, he wasn't going to get ahead of himself and talk about anything but the Super Bowl title in front of him.
Mahomes the rare quarterback with no weakness
In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) speaks during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. In his short time as a starting quarterback, Mahomes has put together perhaps the best three-year stretch of play the game has ever seen. That would make the 25-year-old Mahomes the youngest quarterback ever with two Super Bowl wins, reaching the mark a year before Brady and Ben Roethlisberger both did. Tampa Bay cut its blitz by more than half in the first meeting when Mahomes gashed the Bucs for 462 yards and three TDs. Mahomes also thrives on corner and go routes as his strong arm helps him make some of the more difficult throws.
Old (Brady), young (Mahomes), different Super Bowl 55 awaits
(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)For Tom Brady, another trip to the Super Bowl โ but this time, in a Tampa Bay uniform. โWhoever would've thought a home Super Bowl for us? It gave New England its third straight trip to the Super Bowl, and Brady's last of nine as a member of the Patriots. He's leading the Buccaneers to only their second Super Bowl; the Bucs won on their first trip, back in 2002. But nobody would mistake Johnson for Brady, who could join Peyton Manning as the only other quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.
All eyes on QBs as Packers host Bucs for NFC championship
The Packers defeated the Rams 32-18 to advance to the NFC championship game. When Rodgersโ Green Bay Packers (14-3) host Bradyโs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5) in the NFC championship game Sunday, it will be just the fourth time theyโve squared off as starting quarterbacks, and first in the playoffs. โIโm excited about the opportunity to play against him one more time.โThe Bucs trounced the Packers 38-10 in Tampa on Oct. 18. A win at Lambeau Field clinches their first Super Bowl berth since their 2002 championship season. โWe play the Packers in the NFC championship game.
Brady vs. Brees: A matchup for the ages and aged
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)The NFL has never seen a playoff matchup quite like the upcoming one between Tom Bradyโs Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Drew Breesโ New Orleans Saints. Brees has thrown for more yards than any QB in the regular season with 80,358 and ranks second in TD passes with 571. Brady holds the mark for touchdowns with 581 and trails only Brees in yardage with 79,204. The combined age of the starting quarterbacks will be an NFL-record 85, surpassing the 84 from their two starts in the regular season this season. The team that swept the regular season series won 14 of the previous 22 matchups, which bodes well for the Saints this week.
Fred Dean, 68, fearsome pass rusher of 49ers' dynasty, dies
FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, file photo, former San Diego Chargers defensive end Fred Dean waves to fans after his speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio. Dean, the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty, has died. His death on Wednesday night, Oct. 14, 2020, was confirmed Thursday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
Fred Dean, 68, fearsome pass rusher of 49ers' dynasty, dies
Dean, the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty, has died. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)SAN FRANCISCO โ Fred Dean, the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty, has died. โThe 49ers family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of one of the gameโs all-time greats, Fred Dean,โ the team said in a statement. Deanโs career in San Diego ended in a contract dispute in 1981 and he was traded to San Francisco in October. "I could consider it being born by the Chargers but having a renewal life with the 49ers,โ Dean said in his Hall of Fame speech.
Woman charged in attempted kidnap of Joe Montana grandchild
Sodsai Dalzell appears in court for an arraignment Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles. Dalzell is charged with attempted kidnapping of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana's granddaughter. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool)
Woman denies attempted kidnapping of Joe Montana grandchild
Dalzell is charged with attempted kidnapping of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana's granddaughter. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool)LOS ANGELES โ A 39-year-old woman was charged Tuesday in what authorities say was an attempted kidnapping of the 9-month-old granddaughter of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana from his Southern California home. Sodsai Predpring Dalzell of Los Angeles pleaded not guilty in LA County court to felony counts of attempted kidnapping of a child under 14 and burglary. After a brief struggle, Jennifer Montana pried the girl away, and Dalzell fled from the home, authorities said. He and Jennifer Montana, a philanthropist and former model, have been married since 1985 and have four adult children.
Joe Montana, wife block attempted kidnapping of grandchild
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, Joe Montana and his wife, left, Jennifer walk onto the field at Levi's Stadium before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
Joe Montana, wife block attempted kidnapping of grandchild
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)LOS ANGELES โ Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their 9-month-old grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement officials confirmed on Sunday. Montana and his wife, Jennifer, confronted the woman, whom authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell, tried to โde-escalate the situationโ and asked her to give back their grandchild. After a tussle, law enforcement officials say Jennifer Montana pried the child out of Dalzell's arms. โThank you to everyone who has reached out,โ the former San Francisco 49ers star tweeted. Montana, 64, retired after the 1994 season, playing 13 years of his 15 year-career with the San Francisco 49ers, which won four Super Bowls with him as starting quarterback.
Tannehill's playoff debut comes against the Patriots' Brady
8 pick in the 2012 draft has gone from being traded in March to preparing for his postseason debut with his second NFL team, the Tennessee Titans, after eight seasons and 100 games played. โHe's a guy that's been doing it for a long, long time at a very high level,โ Tannehill said. โI mean, the offense works well together with their strong running game and play-action passes, and heโs hit them. Really impressive offense and their system, very impressive.โNow comes the biggest test of Tannehill's career. He is 4-7 against New England and beat the Patriots in just his second season in the NFL in 2013.