Who will be this year's Super Bowl MVP?

The countdown to kickoff crew explains which Chief or Buccaneer could be the MVP of Super Bowl LV.

Video Transcript

LIZ LOZA: During this postseason run, both of these teams have received amazing performances from several players. Sunday, the stakes are even higher on the biggest stage in sports. So which players have the capability to rise to the challenge and become MVP of Super Bowl LV? We'll find out, presented by Honda.

All right, Charles, we're starting with you. Who is your MVP?

CHARLES ROBINSON: Well, of course, after we spent the entire two weeks talking about the quarterbacks, I'm gonna go away from that position. And, look, I'm dialing it back a couple of years ago. I remember going into the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots matchup, all I heard about Julian Edelman was, hey, you know what, the Rams, they can roll a safety onto him. They can roll a corner. Hey, maybe it's Aqib Talib. And all Julian Edelman did was chop them up and show that mismatches are really what matters in a Super Bowl.

And I think really I'm gonna pick Travis Kelce here, and here's why. I think that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sitting there, and the 269 yards and three touchdowns of Tyreek Hill earlier in the season has dominated the mindset of how they want to approach this game, Todd Bowles wants to approach this game as defensive coordinator. I think Tyreek Hill is gonna get so much attention in this game that it's gonna allow Travis Kelce to have a lot of one-on-one matchups with turn-and-run linebackers, which is great.

But as we've seen, Travis Kelce, the best pass-catching tight end in NFL history this season. I think Kelce goes off, pulls an Edelman, and wins MVP, despite all the talk about the quarterbacks.

LIZ LOZA: All right, Terez, what about you?

TEREZ PAYLOR: Well, I like being correct. And I think when you go two weeks and there's talk about the quarterback, what that means is that the quarterbacks are obviously gonna play a huge role in this game. And I think for either team to win the game, their quarterback is gonna have to play well, right? And just, to me, you go back and you look at the history of the game-- I went back and tracked. In past 54 Super Bowls, 30 of the Super Bowl MVPs were quarterbacks.

So that's 55%. I like those odds. I'm gonna take Patrick Mahomes. Look, it could be Tom Brady if the Bucs win. But I feel comfortable going with the quarterback there.

I think Mahomes has proven to be the most difficult matchup in football. You can't blitz him. If you play zone, he'll go up and down the field. The Bucs have a significant challenge. And he's had two weeks to rest that toe. And reports are good that he looks good in practice.

So I feel good going with Mahomes. As somebody who's watched every game of his career, I know that's not somebody that you want to be hoping fails. Just trust me. You don't want to be on that boat.

LIZ LOZA: Terez always bringing the stats to back the facts. I love it. Tank, who you got?

TANK WILLIAMS: Man, honestly, I got to say I agree with C-Rob's take wholeheartedly. I believe that the Bucs are gonna be focused on Tyreek Hill. I think Travis Kelce goes off. But at the same time, unless Travis Kelce dunks on Tom Brady in the fourth quarter after hitting a grand slam, there's no way that dude is winning the MVP. The NFL loves quarterbacks. And there's no way they have the dream matchup of Tom Brady versus Patrick Mahomes and one of those dudes not winning the game, man.

I always call Patrick Mahomes the third splash brother behind Klay Thompson and Steph Curry just because when that dude gets hot, I mean, it's like nothing that we've ever seen before. And I think he does that in this Super Bowl and he wins the MVP. Sorry, C-Rob.

LIZ LOZA: Well, he's not the only person you're gonna have to apologize to. Because I like being correct, but I also like being interesting here. I don't even want any of these players. My heart really wants to go with the Honey Badger because the connective tissue between him and Arians and Bowles is a content creator's chef's kiss. But, spoiler, I'm not so sure the Chiefs win.

And while a Tampa Bay victory would likely ensure a fifth MVP title for TB12, there is no denying how the play of JPP and Shaq Barrett got the Bucs to the big dance in the first place. Jason Pierre-Paul, though, he was a big reason the Giants were able to foil Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI, so I like how all that comes together. He obviously also has a tremendous comeback story. So my interesting MVP pick is JPP.

But regardless of which of us are correct, there are several excellent options that rise to the challenge, just like the rugged truck and SUV lineup from Honda. The Honda Ridgeline, Passport, and Pilot are built for strength, endurance, and powerful off-road capability that will blow you away.