49ERS VS CHIEFS
Sunday 11th Februrary, 11:30pm
49ers @ 4/5
Chiefs @ Evs
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The 49’ers go into Super Bowl Sunday in Las Vegas as (narrow) favourites, adding to the pressure on Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. He’s one of the exceptional offensive strategists in the NFL, but his previous outings at the biggest game in American have been messy. The sporting equivalent of Bradley Cooper and the Hangover wolf-pack messy.
As offensive co-ordinator of Atlanta in 2017, Shanahan and the Falcons were on the wrong end of the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots repeatedly scythed through everyone in their way, to overturn a 28-3 deficit in twenty-three mesmerising minutes.
Fast forward four years, now with the 49’ers, Shanahan had steered San Francisco to a 20-10 lead, against Sunday’s opponents the Chiefs, cue another legendary comeback, this time led by Patrick Mahomes who masterminded two touchdown drives in the final six minutes and thirteen seconds to secure the championship for Kansas City.
Mahomes is looking for his third ring in five years and the Chiefs are pushing for dynasty status. So will he break Californian hearts once again, or will it be third time lucky for Shanahan? Here are three key battles that could determine where the Lombardi Trophy lands on Sunday:
Can the untested Brock Purdy keep his cool?
The 49’ers sophomore QB was the last player selected in the 2022 Draft, and began life as the 49’ers third string quarterback. But opportunity knocked through injury, and his cerebral qualities – composure, accuracy, balance– have perfectly complemented the Shanahan offense.
It’s one that requires rhythm, balance and precision and a calm, cerebral head to weave the ball into the hands of the routinely moving parts including speedster wideouts like Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, alongside the contemporary alt-receiver Tight End George Kittle.
So far in his brief but effective career, he’s punched above his weight. But the intensity levels will be maxed out on Sunday. And this Chiefs defensive front, led by All-Pro Chris Jones, is ferocious. Don’t doubt for a second that Steve Spagnuolo, the KC defensive co-ordinator, will bring the heat and dial up blitzes like they’re quarters flying into a slot machine. Will the iceman hold it down, or crack under the pressure?
Can the 49ers keep Kelce in check?
Chiefs fans must love Taylor Swift, because pretty much the moment she and Kelce started dating, the future Hall of Famer has reclaimed his position as one of the most dangerous players in the game, after an indifferent start to the season. This is a very different Kansas City offense to previous Mahomes led iterations – much more patient and less explosive, leaning more on the ground game driven by the dynamic Isiah Pacheco, who will fancy his chances against a San Fran defense that struggles against the run.
One of the connecting threads between then and now is Kelce and even if at times his age is showing, his physicality and ability to make clutch plays even in double coverage, mean he’s still a game changer as he’s proved in the playoffs. But if the 49’ers can minimise his impact, the light will be shone on the supporting cast that Mahomes has at his disposal to step up. And that’s potentially a big problem (Rashee Rice notwithstanding) as fellow receivers MVS, Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman have all had lacklustre seasons.
Can the Chiefs blaze into an early lead?
Because if they do, this San Francisco side struggles to come back when behind. Why? Chasing a lead typically means an offense will move away from their ground game, for various reasons, principally the need to conserve time. But whilst the 49’ers offense, full of aerial threats appears on paper to be built to implement an effective passing attack in a situation like that, there’s a reason why historically Shanahan offenses struggle to come back and win when in a hole. No ground game means the play action fake – when teams feint a run, then pass – is less effective. If the opposition don’t suspect you’re going run the ball, they’re not going to bite on the fake. And the 49’ers love the play action fake.
They’ve mounted two impressive comebacks in the playoffs against Green Bay and Detroit respectively, but if Kansas City can establish a two score lead, the plan B approach from the 49’ers may start to unravel.
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