We made it. Super Bowl LIV has arrived and the NFL has blessed everyone with a game between two of the heavyweights of the 2019 season.
The matchup between head coaches Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan is the main draw for this game _ and rightfully so. They are the two premier offensive minds in the game and have been NFL fixtures for the past two decades. Shanahan follows the same outside zone and play action-heavy offensive approach as his father Mike did with the Broncos in the 90s. Their run game has steamrolled opponents in the postseason, but they also had an effective passing game led by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle during the regular season. The Chiefs offense, in simple terms, is somewhat of a mix between college offenses and traditional NFL offenses. They spread defenses out, cause confusion with motions, and let Patrick Mahomes rip it to an outrageously athletic group of skill players.
The talent that will actually be on the field is as riveting as the coaches orchestrating the action. The league's most unstoppable offense over the past two seasons will be taking on a chaotic defensive line featuring FIVE former first round picks. Just the idea of the Chiefs offense taking on the 49ers defense is tantalizing.
How do the 49ers plan to contain Mahomes in the pocket? How will they prevent Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman from picking up huge chunks of yards? How will the Chiefs manufacture a run game to keep some of the pressure off of Mahomes? From a schematic point of view, this game is the definition of football heaven.
As good as the 49ers defense has been, it's unfair to expect them to completely put the clamps on the Chiefs offense. There's just too much firepower and the coaching is absurdly good. They might have the defensive talent to at least hold the Chiefs below their season average of 28.2 points per game. Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford can wallop every offensive line in the league. Linebacker Fred Warner can shut down the middle of the field in coverage. Richard Sherman is still playing at a Hall of Fame level. They have pieces to slow down Mahomes and his crew, but that's clearly much easier said than done. There's only so much you can do versus a quarterback that's thrown eight touchdowns in his last two games.
This game is going to come down to the performance of 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. San Francisco has overwhelmed teams on the ground over the past few months. But leaning on their rushing game and draining the clock isn't all that helpful when the Chiefs' offense can score on any given play. Garoppolo is going to have to throw, which isn't a huge concern for the 49ers. Garoppolo is an above average quarterback that's certainly helped out by Shanahan's playcalling approach. The 49ers had the second lowest average depth of targets in the league at just 6.5 yards.
Their approach is clear: get the ball out quick and let their playmakers make plays.
San Francisco's skill talent isn't highly regarded, but they have a specific set of skills that makes them a dangerous offense. All three of their running backs are blazers _ Deebo Samuel has turned into a nightmare in the open field, and Kyle Juszczyk and Kittle give them an uncommonly talented fullback and tight end combination.
This game's underrated battle is between Shanahan and Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu is like an active, on field coach for the Chiefs defense. Part of the reason he's considered to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate is because of how quickly he's able to diagnose what the other team is doing. Whether it's filling a gap against the run or playing deep down the field as a free safety, Mathieu is making plays. It'll be hard to isolate Mathieu and attack him because he plays all over the field for the Chiefs. If the 49ers can keep him from wreaking havoc they'll have opportunities to move the ball.
Kansas City's run defense has been strong in the postseason, but they ranked 29th in opposing yards per carry (4.9) during the regular season. Is that just a strong two game trend, or will they revert back to being a poor run defense at the worst possible time?
That'll be answered on Sunday as an amazing season ends with a game between the best the NFL has to offer. Let's roll.
