Participants,

Game time is getting closer and the noose is getting tighter around the necks of the leaders and other wannabe’s in the race for the coveted Hewes Super Bowl Trophy!

HSBT Facts

• 10 years ago – 2011 Winner captured his 2nd consecutive trophy with a narrow 19-point victory over Buffalo Bill. 3rd place finisher Comeback Kid was 3 points behind Buffalo Bill.  Beyond the incredibly close finish, this game will be remembered for 2 things – Pete the Terp forgot to submit his Super Bowl pick and National Anthem singer Christina Aguilera did not know the words to the song.
• 20 years ago – Henrico FiveOh, in 2nd place after the Conference Championship games, jumped ahead of leader Buffalo Bill with his Super Bowl pick, on his way to his 3rd Trophy
• 30 years ago – Clinging to a narrow 48-point lead after the Conference Championship games, Comeback Kid earned only 112 points with his Super Bowl pick and held off Buffalo Bill (who posted a goose-egg) to capture his 2nd trophy.  The game was played in Tampa.  Bills fans would like to forget this one…  someday…  please…
• The chance of winning the Trophy when you are the leader after the Conference Championship games – 50%
• The last time Tampa Bay was in the Super Bowl (2003), they won and it (over the Oakland Raiders). This was also Buffalo Bill’s last HSBT trophy.  Could it be?
• Most points in a Super Bowl game – 684 (Henrico FiveOh); nobody is mathematically eliminated!

Less Than 55 Super Bowl 55 Facts

• The Buccaneers will wear white jerseys and pewter pants. They had 1st choice and did not pick their home jersey.  The last game they lost, to Kansas City in Week 12 of the (anything but) regular season, they wore their traditional red home jerseys and lost.  They have won 3 playoff games in a row wearing the white jersey.
• In that 27-24 home loss to the Chiefs, the 2 quarterbacks combined for 807 passing yards – Mahomes threw for 462 yards while Brady was the slouch that day with only 345 yards. The 2 offenses combined for 960 total yards.
• #12 G.O.A.T., who is 43, will be the oldest player to appear in a Super Bowl.
• The National Chicken (not goat) Council says that 1.42 billion wings will be chomped on during the game. That’s 4.3 wings per US resident.
• Each team playing in the Super Bowl gets 108 footballs (all hand-made in Ohio). Of those, 54 are for practice and 54 are for the actual game. During a typical Super Bowl, 120 balls are used.  The additional ones are kicker footballs, used for all kicking plays.
• The most points scored in a Super Bowl game is 55.
• When If Tampa Bay wins, it will be the 7th Super Bowl trophy for #12 G.O.A.T. – more than any other team.

Super Bowl Game Analysis & Prediction
The Chiefs are going for their 2nd straight title, a rarely achieved feat.  The heavy underdog Buccaneers are hoping to continue their winning formula playing on their home field.

When the Chiefs Have the Ball
The Bucs don’t…  In their meeting during the (ir)regular season, Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill amassed over 200 receiving yards and 3 TD’s – in the 1st quarter!  The speedy and elusive WR is a “go all the way” threat every time he touches the ball.  TE Travis Kelce is another game-breaker and the best in the business at his position.  QB Patrick Mahomes (the #2 G.O.T.T. – Second Greatest Of This Time behind that superstar in western New York…) will need to be his best to avoid the massive Bucs pass rush behind a suspect offensive line.  Will the Chiefs inconsistent running game come to life or fall prey to the tough Tampa Bay LB’s?  How fast can the Chiefs score?

Edge – Chiefs, unless the Bucs get to Mahomes for 3 or more sacks

When the Buccaneers Have the Ball
The Chiefs don’t…  By a huge margin, this is the best arsenal that QB Brady has ever had at his disposal.  3 terrific WR’s (4 if Antonio Brown plays), 2 bruising RB’s who could easily put up over 100 yards each.  Gronk at TE.  How slow can the Bucs move the chains and keep long scoring drives alive?  Will Gronk make another TD pass to Brady in the Super Bowl?

The Chief D is suspect and inconsistent, but have a nose for turnovers.

Edge – Bucs, unless the Chiefs force more than 5 three-and-outs

The Commish’s Game Prediction
One last run for The G.O.A.T. – Tampa Bay 33, Kansas City 31

HSBT Thoughts (based on current position)

• Buffalo Bill – Why are the images in my rearview mirror getting larger? Am I slowing down or is everyone else going faster?  Or both.  Yikes!  This shirt with the size 12 neck is starting to really get tight…  Gotta stay with the Chiefs and hope I get that Super Bowl Bonus of 100 points if I’m going to be the first across the finish line
• Henrico FiveOh – Here we go, again! I’m right on the heels of Buffalo Bill (only a scant 31 points behind) and everything is feeling really good for my 9th trophy! I’ll catch Tom Brady!  Go Chiefs!  I hope nobody picks the Bucs…
• Greg the Great – I’m not going to settle for the Bronze Chicken Wing, but will enjoy my share (and then some) of wings during the game. Nobody will believe I’m getting a zero variance in the Super Bowl!  Just wait until the final score is posted and I’m in my trophy-winning post-game interview with The Commish!
• Pete the Terp – 4th place doesn’t even get you on the podium, so look out for my pick! I already have the 100 bonus points with the Chiefs convincing victory and I’ll be posting a zero variance score as I capture my 3rd trophy in 6 years!
• JTB – I had a taste of the trophy a few years ago and want more! Who cares if I’ve missed the last 6 picks and had the Saints for my Super Bowl Bonus pick, I’m getting this pick so fine-tuned they won’t believe how I came from 5th place to capture my 2nd trophy!
• 2021 Winner – The name says it all. Trophy #7 on the way!
• Ben the Butler – Hey, guys, thanks for competing this season! It’s really a great feeling to finally win the trophy after being on Injured Reserve the past 2 seasons.
• Comeback Kid – Did you ever expect me to go from worst to 1st in 1 little game? How about that!  You never guessed someone could actually comeback from 356 points behind, but my magical pick has reinforced my name!  Hello, trophy #6!

Those were mighty confident statements from the Participants during my final pre-game interviews with each of them!!

Needless to say, your picks are due no later than 6:30pm EST this Sunday.  Once the final pick is submitted the scores will be posted on our website under the Standings tab.

Slack will be humming at full throttle and real-time scoring updates will be made to ensure you have the best possible viewing enjoyment of the game.  Speaking of enjoyment, get that array of appetizers and other traditional Super Bowl healthy foods ready, be sure the frig is stocked with plenty of your favorite beverage, and settle in your comfy chair for 3+ hours of fun in Florida!

You may get an email from me immediately after the game announcing the winner of the trophy, to be followed up next week by the usual post-game wrap-up.

Until then, I remain
~~ The Commish