SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS

They didn’t think Kansas City would win the Super Bowl last season, and the majority of them didn’t this year, either.

Last season, the three area football coaches predicted San Francisco would defeat the Chiefs.

This year, two of them thought they would lose again.

Without further ado, here’s the third annual Beacon Super Bowl Breakdown (answers were given before Sunday):

JASON HARDER (South)

His record: 1-1

Prediction: Tampa Bay, 31-28

Not that I’m a betting man, but if I were, I think Tom Brady’s got one more in him. Maybe he’s not the same Tom Brady as before, but I think he’s got that ‘it’ factor going for him. It’s hard to go against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers right now.

Love or hate Tom Brady?

I respect him. I’m a die-hard Packer fan, but I respect all of the things he’s been able to do. Maybe he wasn’t blessed with the talent some of these other people are – quarterbacks who were taken ahead of him – but he uses that as his motivation. Sometimes you can’t measure things on paper or with 40-yard times.

Main reason Green Bay lost?

There’s a lot. I know people like to pinpoint some of the big things that stand out, but they dug themselves a hole and had uncharacteristic turnovers – even though they got some turnovers to help dig themselves back out of it. But Tampa Bay’s defense just played at a different level than the Packers. That stood out to me early on, and the (Packers) seemed just a step slow.”

RYAN EIGENBERGER

His record: 0-1

Prediction: Kansas City, 31-24

I think both offenses have a lot of power. There might be a lot of scoring, late in the fourth quarter, but I think the Chiefs have just a little bit more weapons and are a little better all around than the Buccaneers are.

Love or hate Tom Brady?

I love him, I guess, if those are the two options. I definitely don’t hate him. I think he’s a great competitor, so I definitely like and respect him in that regard.

Main reason Green Bay lost?

There’s a lot, you know? It’s a little bit on their coaching and their inexperience in that regard. Because I think that incapsulates most of the mistakes. The (Kevin) King play (at the end of the first half). There was a pretty poor kick after they made the field goal at the end. They kick it down to the 3-yard line with 2:10 left, that’s a pretty poor decision. Not knowing then the Buccaneers are going to throw the ball with 2:04 left. There was just a lot of coaching things, which is good, because I think they can look back on those and learn. 

JOE O’BRIEN (North)

His record: 1-1

Prediction: Tampa Bay, 38-28

I just think Tampa Bay got hotter as the year went on, really. And I think they’re in a good place right now as a team offensively and defensively. I think they’ve got a lot of power right now and they’re going to take care of business. 

Love or hate Tom Brady?

I respect him. I was never necessarily a Patriots fan or a Brady fan, but he’s definitely a football player you’ve got to respect. I think I saw a stat the other day: he’s been in 18% of all the Super Bowls, which certainly there’s something to be said about that. So I definitely don’t hate him. I respect the heck out of him and think he’s a terrific player.”

Main reason Green Bay lost?

That’s tough. Give me a second on that. I think at the end of the day, the Buccaneers came up to Green Bay and wanted it a little bit more. That’s what it comes down to. There’s a lot of things that go into the game of football, but it comes down to who wants it more.