Feb 1

Feb 1 Super Bowl LIV

100 years. It's been 100 years since the world was introduced to the National Football League. What began as the American Professional Football Association with a mere 10 teams across 4 states has expanded to 32 teams across 22 states. Sunday, February 2, 2020 will mark the final installation to the first century of football. The Super Bowl.

At 6:30 PM ET in Miami, the NFL's finest will kickoff the pigskin one last time with the Vince Lombardi Trophy on the line. The two teams playing? Two of the franchises with some of the richest history. The Chiefs founded in 1960 have made their way back to the big game after 50 years! The 49ers were founded in 1946 and officially joined the NFL in 1949. With 5 championships, the city of San Francisco seeks a 6th title to join the Steelers and Patriots among the NFL's elite when it comes to the hardware. Instead of bidding farewell to the NFL's 100th season... Welcome to the NFL’s 100th season.

-thefanalyst

ONE DIMENSIONAL OFFENSE?!

One of the biggest factors of this game is the dimensional offenses. Yup.. that’s plural! I’m not a fan of one-dimensional offenses. It simply takes the creativity in play calling out of the equation, however, one thing I simply cannot deny is if something is working why change it up? “One dimensional” is a very fitting term that summarizes the Chiefs and 49ers playoff run thus far. The Chiefs have pass heavy with good reason. When you have Patrick Mahomes, you sling that pigskin! On the contrary, the 49ers’ offense has a clear-cut ground attack… something that might not bode well against a Chiefs defense.

49ers Playoff YPG

The 49ers didn’t need Jimmy Garoppolo to play hero football throughout the playoffs and this is certainly a game where you don’t want to be in that situation. Garoppolo is indupudibly the Achilles heal of Shanahan’s phenomenal offense. The 49ers certainly are a well-balanced team on both sides of the ball however, when breaking down their offense, it’s been one-dimensional in great favor of the run. 74.8% of their plays in the postseason have been run plays! Shanahan has been in this game before and surprisingly enough, the run game let him down last time. This time around, I have a gut feeling it is going to be the pass attack that is going to let him down. Quarterback play will be one of the determining factors of this game.

San Francisco ranks last among playoff teams this season when it came to the aerial attack. Sure they haven’t had to air it out as often as they rank #1 among playoff teams when it comes to the ground game. Shanahan has to be well aware of what he is doing with this offense. The Chiefs have an offense that can strike at any given time as the 49ers offense stays consistent and relies on the run game which chews up the clock. That is not something they can do in a late game situation as Garoppolo will have to start airing it out! The Chiefs run defense has been a work in progress allowing 5.1 Yds/Rush from weeks 1-11 however, they have brought that down to 4.3 Yds/Rush since week 13 including an AFC Champ performance holding Titans’ Derrick to fewer than 70 rush yards. I expect the 49ers to go with the hot hand at running back, but Jimmy Garoppolo is going to have to find a way to challenge this Chiefs defense if San Francisco wants to stay in this one…

Unstoppable or Immovable?

There is no denying that this is one of the better Super Bowl matchups in the more recent years. We are back to the “Unstoppable force vs. Immovable object” debate. I’m going to make something blatantly clear. I simply do not know how the 49ers are going to be able to hold the Chiefs offense down. I really don’t! If you can’t take my word for it, hear it from 49ers’ Defensive Coordinator, Robert Saleh himself…

“
It almost looks like they got their roster from the Olympic relay team and threw them all on the football field.”
- Robert Saleh on Chiefs’ Offense

Photo: (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group

He could not have used a better way to describe the Chiefs’ high-powered offense. If I was to paraphrase his quote and put it in my own words… speed kills! It’s as simple as that. The 49ers most definitely will have to keep the Chiefs one-dimensional and stop the run. Quite frankly, the Chiefs might even give up on the run before this game starts. I’m not going to shy away from the 49ers having perhaps one of the best front sevens in the league, best believe Patrick Mahomes is well aware of this as well. Generating pressure and hitting home has been Saleh’s M. O. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the 49ers have a 33.5% pressure rate with 4 or fewer pass rushers and Dee Ford on the field this season (highest non-blitz pressure rate in NFL). That is absurd and quite frankly the 49ers might not want to send 5 or more guys on Mahomes as someone on this Chiefs offense is bound to break free. One thing this 49er’ defense has going for them is stopping Travis Kelce. San Francisco has allowed the fewest rec yards to opposing tight ends this season! Unfortunately, stopping one pass catcher might not cut it against Kansas City…

As for the Chiefs, they are not underestimating anyone either. This Chiefs team came so close to a Super Bowl trip last season, best believe they are not going to let this one get away. I simply cannot see the 49ers find a consistent defensive game plan to hold down the most talented quarterback in football. Mahomes has the highest career passer rating and TD-INT ratio in the playoffs by any player in the Super Bowl era (min. 125 pass att). Kansas City has the perfect gameplay. If Mahomes and Reid identify double-coverage pre-snap, I’m sure they will send Hill deep to take a safety out of the play allowing guys like Kelce, Watkins, Hardman to find the hole in the middle of the defense while they are likely in single coverage. Besides if they double up on Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, Mahomes can beat you with his legs as he has led the Chiefs in rushing this postseason with a combined 112 rush yards including a galvanizing AFC Championship TD run.

Expect the Chiefs offense to be themselves as they thrive on big plays leading the league in catches over 30 yards (34) and 40 yards (20). An arsenal of weapons that can stretch the field both horizontally and vertically will keep a young 49er squad guessing all day long. All that I have to say is the 49ers get to pick their poison. Choose wisely.

Lamar’s Lombardi

No, not Lamar Jackson. This is for Lamar Hunt. It’s been 50 years and it’s time to cap off the first century of the NFL with a Chief Super Bowl victory. The 49ers franchise will always live up to the Golden Standard and there is no doubt in my mind a Lombardi is headed back to the Bay Area sooner than later. However, as long as #15 is slinging that ball in Kansas City with a strong supporting cast alongside of him, I’m taking the Chiefs Kingdom in Miami as Mahomes continues to make history.