Sean Bunting
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians holds the Vince Lombardi trophy following the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Free-agent pickups have made a difference for some champions

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 16, 2021 12:56 PM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) sits on the field after an incomplete pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) looks on in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Buccaneers defense rises to occasion again in Super Bowl win

By Fred Goodall Feb. 08, 2021 12:13 AM EST

Security tries to grab a fan on the field during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tom Brady wins Super Bowl No. 7, Buccaneers beat Chiefs 31-9

By Rob Maaddi Feb. 07, 2021 10:17 PM EST

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) celebrates after intercepting a pass intended for Green Bay Packers' Allen Lazard during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Young Bucs secondary braces for another dose of Tyreek Hill

By Fred Goodall Feb. 04, 2021 06:41 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Kansas City, Mo. The Super Bowl matchup features the most accomplished quarterback ever to play the game who is still thriving at age 43 in Brady against the young gun who is rewriting record books at age 25. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Chiefs aim to repeat as Super Bowl champs against Buccaneers

By The Associated Press Feb. 04, 2021 12:15 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)
Physical secondary play in Super Bowl could test officials

By Josh Dubow Feb. 04, 2021 11:29 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs with a elastic band around his legs during an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brady, productive drafts fuel Tampa Bay's run to Super Bowl

By Fred Goodall Jan. 29, 2021 07:24 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the championship trophy after winning the NFC championship NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Defense could be decisive in Super Bowl of dynamic offenses

By Barry Wilner Jan. 29, 2021 03:33 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jason Pierre-Paul sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
JPP, Barrett pace stingy Buccaneers defense against Rodgers

By Fred Goodall Jan. 24, 2021 09:23 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the championship trophy after winning the NFC championship NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Road warriors: Bucs win 31-26 at Green Bay, reach Super Bowl

By Steve Megargee Jan. 24, 2021 06:37 PM EST

Workers removed the tarp on Lambeau Field before the NFC championship NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers 1/24/2021

Jan. 24, 2021 12:36 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White, right, intercepts a pass in front of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
NFC Matchups: Where else to start but Brady and Rodgers?

By Barry Wilner Jan. 22, 2021 01:30 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White, right, intercepts a pass in front of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Confident White sets tone for rejuvenated Buccaneers defense

By Fred Goodall Jan. 19, 2021 07:44 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White, right, celebrates after his interception with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Confident Buccaneers defense reverts to form at right time

By Fred Goodall Jan. 18, 2021 06:19 PM EST

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, right, runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Brady, Bucs, end playoffs for Saints, Brees, 30-20

By Brett Martel Jan. 17, 2021 10:03 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees warms up before the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints 1/17/2021

Jan. 17, 2021 05:06 PM EST

From l-r., Dale Shaw, Bart Longson, Derick Bowers, Steve Novak, Chad Hill, Bruce Stritesky and Terrence Miles pose for their Officials Portrait before the start of the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Football team, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team 1/9/2021

Jan. 09, 2021 08:08 PM EST

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1/3/2021

Jan. 03, 2021 12:52 PM EST

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) makes the catch against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons 12/20/2020

Dec. 20, 2020 01:26 PM EST