On Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Here’s why San Francisco will win its record-tying sixth championship.
Brock Purdy motivated by the doubters
Purdy has seemingly performed with a chip on his shoulder his total (temporary) profession. Some consider the final decide in the 2022 NFL Draft lucked into the beginning QB job merely due to accidents to the gamers in entrance of him.
After the 49ers traded former No. 3 general decide Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys in August, Purdy shouldered much more stress to show San Francisco didn’t make a mistake. Then, in December, former Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton slapped Purdy with the “game manager” label — a moniker analysts haven’t been capable of cease speaking about ever since.
But a victory on Sunday and none of it issues. Winning a Super Bowl ring in simply his second yr, in opposition to Patrick Mahomes whereas quarterbacking the NFC’s No. 1 seed, can be a star-making second for the 24-year-old.
49ers have MVP candidates at QB and RB
On paper, there’s lots to love about the defending champion Chiefs, who’re a well-balanced workforce with arguably the finest QB in the NFL and extra championship expertise. But the 49ers have the NFL’s main rusher (1,459 yards) and yards-from-scrimmage chief (2,203) in Christian McCaffrey and Purdy.
The second-year QB led the MVP race for a lot of the common season, and he completed first in passer ranking (113), third in landing passes (31), fourth in completion share (69.4) and fifth in passing yards (4,280). Purdy additionally thrives when beneath stress, posting the second-best completion share (55.8), second-most passing yards (1,278), third-most landing passes (11) and fourth-best passer ranking (90.2) when pressured this season, per Pro Football Focus.
Relentless San Francisco pass-rush
Mahomes was pressured on 35.66% of his dropbacks this season, eighth most of QBs to play in 15 or extra video games. Per Pro Football Focus, when pressured, Mahomes’ numbers considerably worsened. His completion share dipped from 67.2% to 49.2%, and he averaged practically a full yard much less per move try and threw the fourth-most interceptions (eight) in the league.
Conversely, San Francisco had the second-most pressures (387) and hurries (262) and the fifth-most hits (66) of any workforce throughout the common season. Edge-rusher Nick Bosa had the third-most pressures (95) throughout the common season, whereas his counterpart, Chase Young, ranked twentieth with 66 pressures. Expect defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to deliver the stress at Mahomes aggressively and often.
Unexpected hero: TE George Kittle
Kittle does his most harm in the largest video games. His 32-yard landing reception acquired the 49ers on the board in the second quarter of their divisional-round win over the Green Bay Packers after the offense had struggled to place something collectively in the first quarter. In dropping efforts, he got here up massive in Week 17 in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens (seven receptions, 126 yards) and Week 8 in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals (season-high 9 receptions, 149 yards).
He additionally has had massive video games in opposition to a number of playoff groups, together with the Dallas Cowboys (three landing catches) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (eight receptions, 89 yards, one TD).
The Chiefs had the second-best protection in the NFL throughout the common season, rating fourth in opposition to the move (176.5 yards per sport), and in the event that they shut down Purdy, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, anticipate 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan to show to Kittle to inject life into the offense.
PREDICTION: 49ers 27-23
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