Super Bowl preview: Chiefs vs. Buccaneers outlook, staff picks taken on the South Side (NFL)

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Raymond James Stadium

Steelers fans face a tough decision when it comes to having a rooting interest in Sunday's Super Bowl.

Do they root for the latest threat to become a dynasty in the AFC, the Chiefs, who look to be on the cusp on unseating the Patriots as the team to beat year in and year out in the conference? A team that also includes Le'Veon Bell, who famously spurned the Steelers' contract offers to sit out a year and force his way into free agency?

Or, do they root for the Buccaneers, a team that includes Antonio Brown, a player who did far more damage to the Steelers on his way out the door, forcing a trade with the Raiders and leaving the team holding the bag with a $22 million salary cap hit in 2019?

Add to that the fact the Bucs are also led by Tom Brady, who will be making his record 10th Super Bowl appearance and trying to win his seventh, which would give him one more victory than the Steelers and Patriots, the two franchises tied for the most wins in Super Bowls, and it might become more clear.

Then again, the Bucs have strong Steelers ties, with cornerback Ross Cockrell and defensive tackle Steve McLendon on their roster along with head coach Bruce Arians and assistant coaches Tom Moore, Harold Godwin, Byron Leftwich, Antwaan Randle El and Larry Foote on the staff.

It makes for an interesting conundrum.

There's also this, the Bucs would be the next in line to match the 2005 Steelers as a Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl. The Steelers did it that season, winning all three of their games on the road to reach the Super Bowl in Detroit.

The Bucs won all three of their playoff games on the road -- to become the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.

“This team reminds me a lot of the 2005 Steelers,” Arians said. “They have a lot of fun. They’re really, really close. Sometimes our offense and defense, they don’t click together sometimes. But this team really reminds me of the 2005 Steelers in how much they care for each other; we were also Wild Cards and went all the way and won the Super Bowl."

But they'll have their work cut out for them. These two teams met at Raymond James Stadium back on Nov. 29, with the Chiefs coming away with a 27-24 victory.

Can Kansas City make it a clean sweep? Bettors seem to think so. The Chiefs are favored by three points despite the game being played in Tampa Bay's home stadium.

Of course, none of that matters when the ball is kicked off.

All that will matter is if Mahomes, just four years into the NFL, will win his second Super Bowl, or will it be Brady, in year 21, winning his seventh?

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Our football staff predicts the game:

Dale Lolley: The Bucs love to blitz. But Mahomes kills the blitz. Then again, given the state of Kansas City's offensive line -- which will include four players who have been cut at some point in their career and a former seventh-round draft pick -- maybe the Bucs won't need to blitz. But Mahomes is the X-factor. He avoids and beats pressure perhaps better than anyone in NFL history. And he'll pick apart Tampa Bay's secondary. Chiefs, 31-28

Ramon Foster: I'll be honest: I'm picking with my emotions because I know more guys on the Tampa side -- AB, B.A., everyone -- but there's also Playoff Brady, which is a real freaking thing, and the Chiefs being without both starting tackles. Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy have two weeks to prepare to protect Mahomes. And if we see a lot of movement out of the pocket and not just drop-back passes, then Kansas City can win. But if they drop back ... Tampa's got some dogs up front. They can make a long day for Mahomes. Bucs, 35-31

Chris Carter: The Bills were the hottest team in the NFL in the second half of the season, and the Chiefs stomped them like the Bills of old. The Buccaneers' front seven present a different challenge for the Chiefs, but Mahomes has shown he can deal with pressure and challenge secondaries with the Chiefs' diverse weapons. The Buccaneers' defense has been opportunistic with multiple turnovers in their last two playoff wins, but Mahomes can always bounce right back. Chiefs, 34-30

Tom Reed: It's difficult to go back-to-back in any sport with salary-cap restrictions. It's what makes the Penguins two straight Stanley Cups in 2016-17 so amazing. But I can see it happening this season in the NFL. The Chiefs survived their scare against the Browns and, even with their issues on the offensive line, Mahomes will find a way. It's hard to bet against Brady in a game with Roman numerals, but I think the Buccaneers' run falls just short. Chiefs, 27-23

Dejan Kovacevic: Between the Bucs' resurgent old guys on offense and their aggressive pass rush, they could beat Mahomes ... if Mahomes were human. Which I'm seldom convinced he is. Every era of every sport sees that one truly special athlete, the one who can seemingly do anything. And with all due respect to Brady's achievements and his own amazing place in that same conversation, his era's already given way to this one. Sunday night will only reinforce it further. Chiefs, 52-49

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