It has been a while since a Super Bowl has appeared to be such a toss-up. This one between the National Football Conference champions the San Francisco 49ers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champions the Kansas City Chiefs is a difficult game to judge.
The 49ers (15-3) have gone from the No. 2 pick in the draft in April last year to the verge of another championship. The Chiefs (14-4) were in the AFC title contest last year and fell in overtime.
Both teams were dynamic and won a bunch of big games in the regular season, now they meet in the biggest game.
Photo: EPA-EFE
CHIEFS WITH BALL
It is not difficult to figure out how the Chiefs will approach any game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (in jersey No. 15) will test defenses with his arm and skill for reading schemes. He has game-breakers in wide receivers Tyreek Hill (10) and Sammy Watkins (14), which means single coverage on either is a gamble. Tight end Travis Kelce (87) is a first-down machine and a clutch performer.
Damien Williams (26) keys the backfield and comes off two exceptional post-season showings, even though Mahomes has often been the leading rusher by creating the way he did in the AFC championship game with a brilliant tap dance down the sideline for a go-ahead score.
Photo: AFP
That puts a huge onus on the Niners to get an effective pass rush, something they have done virtually every week. They will harass Mahomes with a front seven led by rookie Nick Bosa (97), a force on the outside. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) has had a strong impact, and linebackers Fred Warner (54) and Kwon Alexander (56), who is finally healthy, are formidable. Having edge rusher Dee Ford (55), who was a Chief last season, bolsters the unit.
They will challenge a good Kansas City offensive line anchored by right tackle Mitchell Schwartz (71) and left tackle Eric Fisher (72), but if the offensive line holds true, San Francisco could struggle in coverage against the speedy Chiefs wideouts. Cornerback Richard Sherman (25) remains outstanding, even if the rest of the secondary is not at his level.
NINERS WITH BALL
Photo: AFP
After seeing the star turn by running back Raheem Mostert (31) against Green Bay, the Chiefs must be wary of what usually is a three-pronged rushing attack. Tevin Coleman (26), if healthy, and Matt Breida (22) give quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo options in the backfield, although Mostert is certain to be the main man. They operate behind a veteran line led by left tackle Joe Staley (74) and second-year right tackle Mike McGlinchey, while Kyle Juszczyk (44) is the NFL’s top fullback — as a blocker and receiver.
If the Niners run the ball effectively, it could open some wide spaces for All-Pro tight end George Kittle (85), the most dynamic offensive player they have. Kittle is a difference-maker who will force the Chiefs to use double coverage at times. Safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) will see a lot of Kittle, and safety Daniel Sorensen (49), who has had a monstrous playoffs, will be in the mix.
Covering wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders (17), Kendrick Bourne (84) and emerging rookie Deebo Samuel (19), who is fearless going over the middle, is another chore the Chiefs must handle well. That will require big-time contributions up front from Chris Jones (92) and Frank Clark (55) and line backers Anthony Hitchens (53) and Damien Wilson (54).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kansas City have a dangerous kick returner in Mecole Hardman (19), one of the NFL’s fastest players. The rookie does get antsy to return the ball, though, and that can lead to bad decisions. Harrison Butker (7) is a reliable placekicker with good range. Veteran punter Dustin Colquitt (2) had a kick blocked by the Texans for a touchdown, but he is generally reliable.
So is San Francisco placekicker Robbie Gould (9), in his 15th pro season. He kicked in a Super Bowl for the Bears in 2007, so this stage will not unnerve him. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky is a mere pup in comparison, finishing off his first NFL season. Richie James ranked fifth in overall kick and punt returns for the 49ers, but is not a game breaker like Kansas City have available.
In other news, Nearly half of sports fans in the US would give up one of their other work holidays to have a day off after Super Bowl Sunday, according to a survey commissioned by the daily fantasy sports company DraftKings.
The survey, which was conducted by polling firm SurveyGizmo, found that more than 40 percent of respondents would rather work on Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday or Columbus Day than the Monday after the NFL championship game.
About one in 10 would even prefer to work Christmas or Thanksgiving, and still more would give up the Fourth of July, New Year’s Day or Memorial Day.
“We were curious as to what extent this was a national holiday in itself,” DraftKings president and cofounder Matt Kalish said. “People like to go out to watch the game. They don’t want to be thinking: ‘I’m going to get home at 12:30 or 1am. I don’t want to be getting up to go to work the next morning.’”
The company contacted by e-mail a nationally representative sample of 1,003 people who identified as sports fans.
It found that 43 percent would prefer to give up one of their work holidays to take the day after the Super Bowl off; 43 percent said they would not and 15 percent said they were not sure.
It also found that 45 percent are more likely to take Super Bowl Monday off if their preferred team win the game.
About three in 10 agreed with the statement, “I have called in sick on short notice after the Super Bowl in the past.”
The company also asked fans their feelings about sports betting and found that 82 percent of those self-identified sports fans want to be able to bet legally on the Super Bowl.
Seventy-eight percent said they are more likely to watch the whole Super Bowl if they have money riding on it.
“That’s not surprising,” Kalish said. “People like having something on the line when they’re watching major events like the Super Bowl.”
Although DraftKings started by allowing fans to win money playing fantasy sports, it has entered the sports betting market since the US Supreme Court overturned a national ban on it in 2018.
Gambling on sports is now offered in 14 states — not including Massachusetts, DraftKings’ corporate home.
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