Team Leaders:
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[IMG]https://scontent.fmci1-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/427931294_7803219469705713_3430688091429341493_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=gvSnlPqAJWQAX_veunH&_nc_ht=scontent.fmci1-3.fna&oh=00_AfCdtNuiXjpGQ0e-D04OmXt78PaS3Dy7sAR8HDxt9Q7pNA&oe=65CD4C0D[/IMG]
Expert’s Picks:
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Prisco’s Pick:
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[TD]This Chiefs team hasn’t been the gaudy-statistical offensive team
we have come to expect from Mahomes, but he has found a way
to work through major issues on offense this season, including poor
tackle play and receivers who couldn’t hold onto the football. Now
he has his team on the precipice of history.
The Chiefs would become the first back-to-back champion since the
New England Patriots and Brady did it way back in 2003 and 2004.
While Mahomes hasn’t racked up the big numbers in the playoffs,
he’s been steady, capable and made the big plays when needed
without making mistakes. Game manager? Hardly. But he hasn’t
thrown a pick in three postseason games and has been sacked just
three times behind a leaky offensive line. That’s playing big in the
moment.
That isn’t to say Mahomes can’t get hot and carry this team, even
with the issues. We know he can. But I think the Chiefs will start
out running the football in this game with Isiah Pacheco against a
49ers defense that has given up 5.6 per rush in the playoffs. The
49ers have been gashed trying to defend the run, getting pushed
around by both the Green Pay Packers and Detroit Lions. Andy Reid
is smart enough to know that’s where he has to attack.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs have their best defense
during the Mahomes era. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is one of the
best ever in the postseason, but he faces a stiff challenge against
the 49ers’ high-scoring offense. Spagnuolo loves to use a lot of nickel
and dime looks, but you can bet the 49ers will attack that with
Christian McCaffrey if he does. The Chiefs, like the 49ers, are
vulnerable to the run and would be even more so if they don’t play
more base defense.
Then there’s 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, playing in his first Super
Bowl. This is a game that could be his true proving moment for any
doubters still left. He has been really good this season, putting his
name in the MVP talk for a bit. In the 49ers two postseason victories,
he has come up big with late-game drives. That’s how quarterbacks
are defined, even if he did have some struggles at times in those
games.
Purdy has been outstanding against the blitz this year — No. 1 in the
league — so Spagnuolo will have to be creative with how he uses it.
The Chiefs secondary is the strength of the defense, and its disguises
and late rotations could be big in getting Purdy to hesitate a tick.
Early on, I see two teams running the football against weak rush
defenses. The game will be close late. But in the end, it will be
Mahomes time.
I can see it now: 49ers lead by three at 20-17, Mahomes with the
ball at his own 25 with 2:20 left in the game and two timeouts.
From there, it’s Mahomes pulling out another magical moment, a
surgical carving of the 49ers defense to get the Chiefs a game-winning
touchdown, even though the field goal would tie it.
That would give Mahomes three Super Bowl victories in six years
as a starter, with one loss in the big game. He could easily have
played in two others, blowing a 21-3 lead to the Bengals in a playoff
loss and seeing an offsides penalty negate an interception that would
have beaten the Patriots in an AFC championship game.
The man is on a mission. That mission is to take down Brady as the
greatest quarterback of all-time. But let’s make it bigger than that.
He could be on his way to being the next Michael Jordan, leaving
stars in his path without rings as he piles them up as the greatest
to do it.
High praise for sure, but who are we to doubt Patrick Mahomes?
I certainly won’t.
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[TD]Chiefs 24
49ers 20
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