Super Bowl Preview: Which Team Has the Advantage

by Eric Fulton

Super Bowl LIV, the final game of the National Football League’s 100th season on February 2, sees the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers take on the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
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The 49ers, looking for their sixth Super Bowl win (which would tie the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for the most ever in the Super Bowl era), are making their first appearance in the Super Bowl since losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.  For the Chiefs, Super Bowl LIV will be their first appearance in 50 years when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

Let’s take a look at the matchups and see where each team has the advantage …

Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes v. Jimmy Garoppolo 

Super Bowl LIV sees two great young quarterbacks facing off for the second time. The last time they were on the field together, Garoppolo injured his knee forcing him to miss the rest of the season in 2018. Patrick Mahomes, a former MVP in the 2018 season has continued to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He had a scary knee injury earlier this season, but came back to help lead Kansas City to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years.
 
Stats:
Garoppolo: 3,978 yards passing, 27 TDs 13 INTs. 102 passer rating. 
Mahomes: 4.031 yards passing, 26 TDs, 5 INTs, 105.3 passer rating.

Advantage: While the passing yards and touchdown passes are nearly even, Mahomes has thrown less picks, plus he can been a major factor running the football. Mahomes and the Chiefs have the advantage. 

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Running Back: LeSean McCoy v. Raheem Mostert

A veteran player versus a player who did not have a home until he joined the 49ers. McCoy, who played under Andy Reid in Philadelphia is making his first trip to the Super Bowl. While he did not have many rushing attempts this season, he is helping with pass blocking game. Mostert was cut by five other NFL teams before finding a home with San Francisco. He had a breakout game in the NFC championship game rushing for 220 yards, the second most rushing yards in a playoff game behind hall of famer Eric Dickerson.
 
Stats:
McCoy: 101 carries, 465 yards, 4.6 yards per rush 4TDs
Mostert: 137 carries, 772 yards, 5.6 yards per rush 8 TDs

Advantage: Mostert’s performance in the playoffs has been huge for the 49ers’ run-first offense. With Tevin Coleman possibly unavailable for the Super Bowl due to a shoulder injury, Mostert will have to carry the load for San Francisco. If Mostert plays well again, the 49ers will have a great shot winning the Super Bowl. 

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Wide Receivers: Sammy Watkins & Tyreek Hill vs. Emmanuel Sanders & Deebo Samuel 

Both the 49ers and Chiefs have wide receivers that can make plays. The question will be which quarterback will make the fewest mistakes when it comes to getting the ball to their playmakers. Hill is obviously dangerous because of his speed to run after the catch. Watkins is pretty fast himself. Samuel has had a great rookie season in San Francisco and it helps him having a veteran like Sanders, who was acquired by the 49ers via a trade midseason from the Denver Broncos.
 
Stats:
Watkins: 52 receptions, 673 yards 3 TDs, Hill: 58 receptions, 860 yards, 7 TDs.
Samuel: 52 Receptions 802 yards 3 TDs, Sanders: 66 receptions, 869 yards, 5 TDs.

Advantage: While numbers advantage the 49ers, the abilities of the Chiefs receivers when it comes to making big plays with Mahomes as their quarterback gives them the edge. Garoppolo only threw the ball eight times in the NFC Championship game. So it looks as though the 49ers will be committed to running the ball more in the Super Bowl. 

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Tight End: Travis Kelce vs. George Kittle 

You don’t hear this much, but tight end is by far the best matchup in the Super Bowl. It is strength vs. strength. Most people will tell you that Kelce and Kittle are the two best tight ends in the NFL today and both players are valuable to their respected quarterbacks.  Expect both players to have a big play or two in Super Bowl XLV.
 
Stats:
Kelce: 97 receptions, 1229 yards 5 TDs.
Kittle: 85 receptions, 1053 yards, 5 TDs.

Advantage: This is as close as you can get. Both are All-Pro caliber tight ends. For this game, I think Kelce will have more catches, but Kittle will be the bigger force in the game. 

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Defense:

Both teams have familiar names on defense who have played in Super Bowls such as Terrell Suggs for Kansas City and Richard Sherman in San Francisco. Players who are key contributors are Chris Jones, Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu for the Chiefs. For the 49ers, Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner provide a one-two punch on the defensive front. While Dre Alexander and Kwon Alexander are a big strength on the linebacker side.

Stats:
Chiefs – Allowed 394.6 yards per game (17th best in the NFL)
49ers – Allowed 281.8 (2nd best in the NFL)

Advantage: For the 49ers, they have to limit the big play ability of Patrick Mahomes. With better defensive players, the 49ers do have an advantage to dominant the line of scrimmage and be able to shut down the Chiefs’ passing game. 

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Special Teams: Harrison Butker & Dustin Colquitt vs. Robbie Gould & Mitch Wishnowsky 

Two of the NFL’s best kickers will be in the big game as both Butker and Gould have shown to come through for their teams in the clutch. Colquitt has the experience over the rookie Wishnowsky, but Wishnowsky has a 65 yard punt and 23 punts inside the 20 to his credit.
 
Stats:
Butker: 34 of 38 FGs made, 56 long. Gould: 23 of 31 FGs made, 47 long.
Colquitt: 48 punts 44.3 yard average. Wishnowsky: 52 punts 44.9 yard average.

Advantage: The Chiefs have the advantage in this one because of the great one two punch of Butker and Colquitt. If the game is really tight, it may come down to a field goals and punting that could win the game. 

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Coaching: Andy Reid vs. Kyle Shanahan  

Two great offensive minds collide in the Super Bowl in a classic “Youth vs. Experience” game. Each has experienced heartbreaking losses in a Super Bowl. Reid, while the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX to the New England Patriots. While Shanahan was the offensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons as they also lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI in stunning comeback fashion.

Advantage: Shanahan can prove he can call a really good game, but it was not all his fault the Falcons blew an epic 28-3 lead in Super Bowl XLI. For him, this is redemption as he looks to join his father, Mike as a Super Bowl winning head coach. For Reid, this is all about winning one Super Bowl to solidify his place as one of the greatest head coaches ever. He is going to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. All he needs now is a Super Bowl to crystalize the legacy. I would say experience has the advantage on this one.

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Prediction: This has the potential to be a classic Super Bowl. San Francisco is 2-0 in Super Bowls held in Miami, while Kansas City has the coaching and quarterback advantage. However, I think the 49ers have a stronger running game and the better defense.
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Final: 49ers 30, Chiefs 27.