Every February, on a sacred winter Sunday, millions of Americans gather around their televisions to watch the biggest sporting event of the year. Who doesn’t love the Super Bowl?
Even if you’re not a football fan, there’s something here for everyone. This is the only time we actually look forward to commercials, and the halftime show is an extravaganza all on its own.
Super Bowl halftime shows have spawned some unforgettable pop-culture moments over the years. You may not remember what you did yesterday, but I’ll bet you remember Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction”, or Katy Perry and left shark.
The Super Bowl is the epitome of must-see TV.
With all the hoopla surrounding the event, it’s easy to forget that there’s an actual football game going on. But, if there was ever a year to pay attention to the game, it’s this year.
Super Bowl LIV has the potential to be an instant classic.
Super Bowl LIV
This year, it’s the San Francisco 49ers versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
Obviously, one of the things that makes this year’s game so great is the fact that the New England Patriots are not in it again.
Really though, the matchup for Super Bowl LIV couldn’t be better if it were scripted. These two contrasting teams are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Super Bowl LIV will be a high-powered, explosive offense versus a hard-nosed, stingy defense. It’s a big-play team that scores fast versus a methodical team that prefers to pound it out on the ground. It’s old school versus new school. This game has the ingredients for an all-timer.
Here’s a brief analysis to get you ready for Super Bowl Sunday.
Kansas City Chiefs
Don’t take your eyes off of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In just his third season, Mahomes led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 years. By doing so, Mahomes proved that he is not only one of the best players in the game today, he has the potential to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Mahomes leads an explosive offense that scores points in a hurry and can come back from large deficits in a short amount of time. Even if the Chiefs get in a multiple touchdown deficit, don’t count them out. Mahomes spearheaded two straight come from behind victories to get to the big game.
Patrick Mahomes is not your typical, run-of-the-mill quarterback. He’s a dual threat. While he possesses a cannon of an arm and can put up some impressive numbers through the air, he is equally as dangerous as a ball carrier.
In the AFC Championship game against the Titans, Mahomes was 23 of 35 for 294 yards passing and threw for three touchdowns. He also rushed for another touchdown and led the team in rushing yards.
Mahomes is undoubtedly one of the most electric players in the game and puts his team on his shoulders. But, it is a team sport, and the Chiefs wouldn’t be where they are without a roster loaded with talent. The Chiefs are littered with explosive players such as wide receiver Tyreke Hill, who is one of the fastest players in the NFL.
Make no mistake about it, this is the Patrick Mahomes show, and the Kansas City Chiefs will go as far as Mahomes is willing to take them.
San Francisco 49ers
Think about everything the Chiefs are, then imagine the complete opposite, and you get the San Francisco 49ers.
There’s a reason I didn’t mention the Chief’s defense, they’re just not that good. The 49ers defense, on the other hand, is one of the best in the league. There’s an old saying in football: Defense wins championships. And if this is true, the San Francisco 49ers will be holding the Lombardi trophy when the dust settles.
The defense is the heart and soul of this 49ers squad. It’s what got them here, and it was what made the difference in the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has long been one of the best in the league, but the 49ers defense stifled him. The Niners defense intercepted Rodgers twice, sacked him three times, and forced three fumbles. On top of that, they held Rodgers to zero touchdowns, despite him passing for 396 yards.
We know the defense is stout, but what about the offense? The 49ers will need to score early and often, but can they do it?
The 49ers love to pound the ball on the ground with one of the most prolific rushing attacks in the league. For most of the season, they used a rotation of running backs. But in the playoffs, running back Raheem Mostert emerged as the focal point of this 49ers rushing attack. He’s basically been unstoppable.
Mostert broke numerous playoff rushing records in the NFC Championship game when he exploded for 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The 49ers’ ground game was so effective that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo attempted only 8 passes the entire game.
Don’t let that stat fool you, though. Jimmy G is more than capable of winning games through the air, but why throw it if you don’t have to? The 49ers are a textbook old-school, smashmouth team. They win in the trenches and dominate the line of scrimmage.
However, if the Niners find themselves trailing late in the game, it could be difficult for them to mount a comeback, as their run-dominate offense eats up the clock.
And the winner is…
Technically, the Chiefs are slight favorites. However, this game is as 50/50 as it gets.
The contrast in these two teams is undeniable, but the balance is so perfect. For this reason, I believe Super Bowl LIV will come down to the wire.
And both teams have been resilient in tight situations. The Chiefs have never lost a game by more than seven points with Mahomes as their starter, while the 49ers excelled in both close and blowout conditions throughout the season.
Something has to give.
By the time it’s said and done, Super Bowl LIV could be one of the greatest of all time. And I can’t wait to watch this one unfold.