Peterson: Super Bowl featuring former Cardinals makes matchup a win-win
Jan 29, 2021, 10:01 AM
Even though the Arizona Cardinals season ended without a playoff berth, cornerback Patrick Peterson is still heavily invested in the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Peterson, appearing on Wednesday’s episode of his podcast All Things Covered, said he will be watching with the mentality that the game is a win-win matchup featuring former teammates and coaches on each sideline.
Either his former head coach Bruce Arians or his former partner in the secondary, Tyrann Mathieu, will hoist the Lombardi Trophy on February 7.
“It definitely will feel like I won a Super Bowl with them,” Peterson said.
Peterson recognized that both individuals have won the Super Bowl before, but for Arians, it will be his first chance to win as a head coach instead of as an offensive coordinator.
“I texted him right after (winning the NFC Championship) and I know he was so excited and anxious for this game,” Peterson said.
Joining Arians on the Tampa Bay staff is his former defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, who Peterson was happy to see get a chance at the NFL’s ultimate prize.
“There’s nothing like seeing guys like that getting rewarded,” Peterson said. “With BA putting in 40-plus years, Todd Bowles coaching for 20-plus years, those guys put in their blood, sweat and tears.”
The coaching duo has a chance to be on the first team to win the Super Bowl on their home turf, a feat the Cardinals nearly tasted in 2014.
“We were one of the first teams to go to the playoffs with the Super Bowl being at their home facility,” Peterson said.
Arizona finished 11-5 that season earning the top Wild Card spot before falling to the 7-8-1 Carolina Panthers in the first game of the playoffs.
It was Mathieu’s second season in the NFL as the duo combined for four interceptions that season. The two LSU products are still close to this day.
“I feel like I won a Super Bowl last year with him,” Peterson said.
Mathieu is now shooting for his second Super Bowl title in a row with the Chiefs.