Sunday’s Cincinnati Bengals game and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final will feature a similar kind of matchup. Both will feature legendary players facing formidable teams with rising stars.

In the World Cup Final, the legendary Lionel Messi will lead Argentina. In what could be his last FIFA World Cup match. Argentina will face Kylian Mbappe and the defending champions France. Hours after the World Cup Final, the Bengals will face a similar matchup with much lower stakes. With Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Brady compares to Messi in a way, both are in the later stages of their respectively illustrious careers. While Burrow and Mbappe compare as the title contending rising stars.

One would figure with the Cincinnati Bengals holding a 9-4 record. While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go into Sunday with a 6-7 record. That the Bengals would easily be considered the favorite going into this weekend. Yet, they face a familiar refrain football fans have made for decades. “Yeah, but they’re going up against Tom Brady.”

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady has justifiably been given the benefit of the doubt on the field. Throughout the course of his hall of fame-worthy career. It’s the result of Brady winning more Super Bowl titles than any franchise. However, this is not the Tom Brady that has dominated the NFL for two decades. Plus, the Buccaneers will go into Sunday evening a depleted bunch.

The Bucs’ defense and offensive line is grappling with several injuries. Buccaneers’ safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is listed as questionable heading into Friday afternoon. Three Buccaneers linebackers are listed as questionable. Cornerback Jamel Dean and defensive tackle Vita Vea are also listed as questionable. While offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is considered doubtful for Sunday’s game.

Cincinnati is dealing with injuries too but they’re mostly affecting their offense. Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd suffered injuries last week. Both are listed as questionable heading into Friday afternoon. Boyd is dealing with a finger injury and Higgins is dealing with a hamstring injury. Tight End Hayden Hurst is considered doubtful with a calf injury.

The Bengals have been able to navigate without key offensive playmakers in recent weeks. Boyd and Higgins stepped up in fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s recent absence. They won despite running back Joe Mixon’s recent injury. Now both Chase and Mixon are back while Higgins and Boyd deal with their own injuries. Meanwhile, after a slow start to the season for the Bengals offensive line. That unit is holding up well heading into the home stretch of the regular season. Tampa Bay’s injuries could help Cincinnati’s defense pressure Tom Brady; in ways he has rarely experienced prior to this year.

Brady is likely eager for 2022 to come to an end. After his brief retirement, his divorce and a rough season on the gridiron. However, it’s not been all gloom for Brady and the Bucs. Despite being a game under .500, the Buccaneers are in first place in the hot mess NFC South. Tampa Bay is one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.

The New Orleans Saints are still in the mix with a 4-9 record. Carolina fired head coach Matt Rhule several weeks ago. The team also parted ways with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Atlanta is dealing with a quarterback change of their own. With University of Cincinnati alumnus Desmond Ridder set to make his NFL debut this Sunday. Ridder will be the Falcons starting quarterback against former Bengals QB Andy Dalton and the Saints. The move comes after Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota was sidelined by an injury.

Cincinnati is 3-0 against the NFC South so far this season. The lone close game was Cincinnati’s 30-26 win in New Orleans on October 16th. Cincinnati walloped Atlanta and Carolina at home by three possessions. The Bengals win against Carolina was a showcase of their resilience. The Bengals struggled days earlier in Cleveland; with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined by a hip injury. They didn’t have the same issues against Carolina. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow turned to Joe Mixon, who scored a franchise record five touchdowns against Carolina.

Burrow and the Bengals’ overall ability to adjust under pressure is helping in multiple ways. It’s helping the Bengals stay neck and neck with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North title race. Along with this, Burrow is emerging as a Most Valuable Player award contender. While the pregame hype centers on Burrow and Brady. Looking beyond the quarterbacks, the Bengals head into Sunday as the more complete team. Tom Brady has repeatedly showcased that he shouldn’t be underestimated. Throughout this season, the Bengals have shown they shouldn’t be underestimated either.