“It’s the star players that give the Super Bowl its sizzle, but what about the steak?” That’s how Peter Bukowski started the Question of the Day on Wednesday's Locked On Today Podcast. His burning question: Who is the most underrated player on the Bucs and Chiefs heading into the Super Bowl?
Tom Brady has more Super Bowl experience than a doctor has in medical school and he's seen his fair share of under-the-radar players making the biggest difference in the biggest game.
David Tyree probably rings a bell in Tom Brady’s head as one of the rings that got away when Tyree made the miracle helmet catch in the final drive of Super Bowl XLII. Before that game, if you said you knew he’d be the difference, you’d be lying. In six seasons in the NFL, Tyree had just 650 total receiving yards.
Malcolm Butler was a rookie when he picked off Russell Wilson with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIX. Marshawn Lynch is still waiting for the handoff.
In Super Bowl LIII, it was another rookie that made the difference for the Patriots and Tom Brady. Sony Michel finally broke a defensive 3-3 score battle against the Rams in the 4th quarter when he capped a five-play, 69-yard touchdown drive with a 2-yard score to put the Patriots up 10-3.
“For me, this weekend, my under-the-radar player is going to be safety Mike Edwards,” says David Harrison of Locked On Bucs Podcast. Edwards was the Buccaneer that picked off Drew Brees in the NFC Championship game after stepping into the starting role due to an injury to Antoine Winfield Jr.
“L’Jarius Sneed has come up huge. He will be an intricate part of the Chiefs game plan on defense for Steve Spagnolo,” said Ryan Tracy of Locked On Chiefs Podcast when he was asked who we should be keeping an eye on for the Chiefs.
While every football fan is excited to watch Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, Tyreek Hill and Mike Evans, it’s Brady who knows best how it could be someone we don’t see coming that makes the biggest difference on the biggest stage.
Who could that player be this Sunday? We'll have to wait and see.
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