Super Bowl LIV is coming up on Sunday, and it will be the culmination of an NFL season that has been full of dominant teams and unexpected twists and turns.
After coming out of nowhere to win the top seed in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers will look to win their first Super Bowl since 1994. Standing in their way will be the Kansas City Chiefs, the high-flying team that is looking to win the big game 50 years after their last triumph in the season’s final matchup.
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will host this year’s festivities, which look to be highly entertaining. Let’s break down the matchup and pick a winner.
Offense
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most dynamic passing offenses in the NFL while the San Francisco 49ers possess one of the strongest rushing offenses in the league.
Kansas City’s offensive attack centers on Patrick Mahomes, one of the league’s best QBs, and his variety of receiving options. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce are elite players at their positions, giving the team an arsenal of deep threats.
The Niners are more old-school on offense, with Jimmy Garoppolo serving as the perfect game manager while a three-headed tandem of running backs, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, and Tevin Coleman, do the heavy lifting. The trio combined to lift the 49ers to having the second-most rushing yards per game this season.
Defense
The Niners are best known for their defense and for good reason. The key matchup in this game is probably how their elite passing defense, which held opponents to only 169 yards per game in the air this season, can match up with the Chiefs’ elite passing attack. Can Richard Sherman and company slow Mahomes down?
The Chiefs might struggle with the 49ers rushing options, as they have one of the poorest units against the rush in the league. However, their passing unit is great at forcing interceptions and could force Garropolo into costly mistakes.
Special Teams
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is one of the best at his position in the game. He made 34 field goals this season, tops in the league with a 90% accuracy rate. 49ers kicker Robbie Gould struggled a bit more, making 23 of 31 field goals.
Neither team has an especially strong punting game, with 49ers’ punter Mitch Wishnowsky and Chiefs’ punter Dustin Colquitt ranking near the bottom of the league.
Coaching
What do you prefer: A long-time veteran coach who is respected throughout the league, but has never won a Super Bowl, or a hot-shot young coach that comes with a strong pedigree but little experience?
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has done it all in the league except a title, having 21 years’ experience as a head coach in the league along with a .621 career winning percentage.
49ers boss Kyle Shanahan took over a franchise in despair in 2017 after a successful tenure as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator, posting a losing record in his first two seasons. However, the offensive guru took off this season and has his team in the Super Bowl.
Experience vs. fresh blood: it all comes down to personal preference.
Prediction: Chiefs 30, 49ers 24
Ultimately, we think that not even the 49ers vaunted secondary will be able to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ passing attack. We like Mahomes to have a big day and for Andy Reid to finally win a long-awaited title, although the scrappy Niners won’t make it easy for them.
