Kansas City Chiefs: Getting to know 49ers before Super Bowl LIV
By Cullen Jekel
Cullen: Switching it up, the Chiefs have an explosive offense. Patrick Mahomes [is] a top QB in the league and he’s got plenty of weapons in Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Damien Williams, Mecole Hardman, and even Sammy Watkins has been stepping it up lately.
How can the 49ers slow down that attack? Who’s key on that side of the ball for San Francisco?
Justin: There isn’t really a picture-perfect strategy to stopping the Chiefs offense. It remains likely the most dangerous unit in the NFL and there’s no defense that could halt them once they get going. But if any defense could slow them down, it’s the 49ers.
Kansas City’s offensive line has been excellent in pass protection all year but they’re going up against the most dominant pass rush in the NFL. If the 49ers can get pressure on Patrick Mahomes, it could throw the Chiefs’ offense out of rhythm and prevent him from taking those deep shots.
It will be up to players like Jimmie Ward and Kwon Alexander to neutralize Travis Kelce in the passing game while Richard Sherman, Emmanuel Moseley, and K’Waun Williams will face the unenviable task of slowing down the Chiefs speedy receivers. It won’t be easy, but a prominent pass rush would go a long way towards slowing down Kansas City’s offense.
Cullen: One part of that pass rush, as you mentioned earlier, is Dee Ford, an ex-Chief whose five-year tenure in Kansas City ended rather…unceremoniously, might be the best way to phrase it. How vital has he been to the 49ers, and how much of an impact do you see him having on Sunday?
Justin: Dee Ford has kind of been overshadowed this season by the 49ers stellar front-seven, but make no mistake about it, they missed him late in the season. Ford dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him out most of the final few weeks of the regular season but it’s been a huge boost to the defense having him back. This 49ers pass rush works as a pack. You could try and limit Ford, but then there’s Nick Bosa.
#49ers DE Nick Bosa has been voted the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year by fans. The No. 2 pick's ridiculous season (playoffs included), per @PFF:
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) January 30, 2020
-90 total pressures
-13 sacks
-19 QB hits
-58 QB hurries
-37 total tackles
-40 stops
-1 forced fumble
-1 interception
-2 pass breakups
Limit Bosa and you still have to worry about Arik Armstead. And if you manage to stop all three, DeForest Buckner is waiting to make a play. There isn’t a pass rush like the 49ers in the NFL, and Dee Ford is a huge reason for that.