{"id":946,"date":"2021-02-08T09:11:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T14:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firstandpen.com\/staging\/5861\/?p=946"},"modified":"2021-02-09T19:46:19","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T00:46:19","slug":"bucs-todd-bowles-byron-leftwich-deserve-co-mvp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firstandpen.com\/staging\/5861\/bucs-todd-bowles-byron-leftwich-deserve-co-mvp\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bucs’ Byron Leftwich And Todd Bowles Deserve Co-Super Bowl MVP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Sunday night in Tampa, the Bucs’ executed a masterful game plan which frustrated and eventually demolished the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9. The master of that game plan was not Tom Brady, nor was it a single man. The architects were defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, and offensive coordinator, Byron Leftwich<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And those two deserved Super Bowl LV co-MVPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realistically, we know that’s not possible, especially with Brady under center. He played an efficient game, throwing for 201 yards and 3 TDs. But it was Leftwich’s playcalling that frustrated and demoralized a Chiefs defense which only mustered one sack and failed to put serious pressure on the seven-time Super Bowl champion. As a matter of fact, the biggest play made by their defense was due to a poor snap that forced Brady to recover the ball after it rolled backward for a big loss. Outside of that, the Chiefs could do nothing against Leftwich’s game plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This exemplifies why his head coach lashed out at owners for ignoring Leftwich’s talents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was very, very pissed Byron at least didn\u2019t get an interview this year,\u201d said Arians a few two weeks ago<\/a>. \u201cFor the job that he\u2019s done, I get way too much credit and so does Tom Brady. I think next year people will see he took Jameis Winston, who broke every single record here for scoring and passing\u2026and now Tom has broken both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as much as Leftwich and his offense dominated, the Bucs’ defense actually had a stronger performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd Bowles’ defense bullied the Chiefs all night. Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett had Patrick Mahomes in constant scramble mode while second-year linebacker, Devin White, was all over the field. White, who finished with eight tackles, also had the game-sealing interception in the end zone. But it all boiled down to Bowles. His defense held a frustrated Mahomes to 270 yards passing and 2 INTs and neutralized the big playmaking talents of the Chiefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is in stark contrast to their first matchup<\/a> in week 12. In that game, the Chiefs put up 543 total yards and Tyreek Hill went ballistic, catching 13 passes for 269 yards and 3 TDs. Bowles’ secondary was absolutely destroyed in that game. Last night, he instituted a plan that shut down the big play and forced the Chiefs into finding other ways to push the ball down the field. But they couldn’t because Bowles had his squad amped up and prepared.<\/p>

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