Chiefs v 49ers: Super Bowl LIV, OPEN THREAD – Super Bowl LIV, which features the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, may well end up becoming the most entertaining Super Bowl game ever played. Is that because 
the Chiefs are playing in this game? No. It’s more because these Chiefs are playing in this game. Not only is this a Chiefs defense filled with rising stars but this team contains one of the most high powered offenses — and quarterbacks — perhaps ever, led by a coach who is one of the most brilliant of offensive minds, Andy Reid, who will be unleashing every obscure or unused play in his playbook.
All the while… on the other side of the field, a much younger, creative offensive mind, Kyle Shanahan, will be leading an offense that has mowed down all comers with his run game, and that’s just a part of their attack. Also, Shanahan and his defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, have put together a defense for the ages, which currently ranks #2 in the league.
Something’s gotta give and we won’t know what that will be until the game unfolds at 5:30 PM, CST, today.
This game will be filled with great matchups. However, I think the contest will be won by the team who can do what they do best… better than the other team can do what they do best. So, this may come down to a contest between RB Raheem Mostert and QB Patrick Mahomes. This game will also feature some trick plays… or at least plays we’ve never seen before and it’s the team who can pull off those plays best, who will go on to win this one. That means, this game will be about Kyle Shanahan and Andy Reid. Without getting into what a win would mean to each coach, you can bet your lucky stars that each will empty his playbook and that includes plays we’ve never seen on a football field before… and that gives this the potential to be one of the most entertaining games ever, and not just in a Super Bowl.
RB Raheem Mostert
Let’s begin with 49ers RB Raheem Mostert. Here he is against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game:
What strikes me about Mostert is his quickness to the hole. The Chiefs front seven will need to be disciplined in maintaining there gap integrity and not be moved off their spots by a very good offensive line of the 49ers. If the Chiefs can limit the 49ers running game in the first half, it will go a long way towards a victory, while forcing a new approach by Kyle Shanahan during the second half.
Patrick Mahomes
Here’s all of QB Patrick Mahomes‘ passes vs the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship game:
Those who are pro-49ers will tell you that they won’t allow Mahomes time to set up in the pocket. This is where Andy Reid… and having to weeks to prepare… will have a plan in place for early pressure by San Fran.
49ers Trick Play
Here’s a trick play the 49ers have used. It is a double-reverse with Emmanuel Sanders pitching the ball long to Mostert. Go to 0:45 seconds, play #6:
The Reid led Chiefs have run plenty of unique and tricky plays as well. That’s important to know about, and watch for, if you believe, like me, that he’s about to empty the coffers of his offensive mind. From a piece by Terez Paylor called, “Here’s What Goes Into Andy Reid’s Scripted First 15 Plays” in which he interviews Matt Nagy — HC of the Chicago Bears and the ex-Offensive Coordinator for Reid with the Chiefs — and the subject of trick plays comes up:
“In Reid’s first game as coach as the Chiefs in 2013, for instance, he called a tight end trick play against the Jaguars, a throwback to Anthony Fasano that went for a big gain on the Chiefs’ first play from scrimmage. The play brings a smile to Nagy’s face to this day.
“He’s gonna try to rip your heart out — that’s him, that’s who he is,” Nagy said. “He’s aggressive.”
This next one is from a few years ago and FG kicker Cairo Santos has set up at the 12 yard line, holder Dustin Colquitt takes the snap and pitches it forward to Travis Kelce who sweeps left to the 7 yard line for a first down (there are 2 other trick plays mentioned here but both are so old they predate Andy Reid, one is a pass from punter Louie Aguiar to WR Kevin Lockett, and the last from QB Matt Cassel to WR Dwayne Bowe):
Kyle Shanahan’s Scheme and the Use of George Kittle
One of the best ways to get a feel for how Kyle Shanahan likes to scheme up his offense is to get a good look at his use of TE George Kittle. You can bet that the Chiefs have seen all of these plays but Shanahan does such a good job of hiding Kittle’s passing routes and disguising them as blocking plays, it bears examination. Here’s a breakdown of Kittle’s top 7 routes in 2018, his second year in the league.
Whoever, the Chiefs choose to put on Kittle, they’ll have their hands full. He may one day be as good as Travis Kelce. I think too much has been made of Kittle being a better blocker than Kelce because I’ve yet to see Travis miss a block.
Andy Reid’s Scheme vs. the Titans
Here, Dan Orlovsky talks about Reid’s approach in the Titans game and what he did differently to turn the game into a win. The Chiefs used 70 passes and 48 rushes and… as Orlovsky says here, “Reid out-Tennesse’d the Titans.” Great quote!:
In Terez Paylor’s piece he also spoke with Louis Riiddik who worked with Reid in Philly from 2008-to-2012, right before Andy became the head coach of the Chiefs, and Riddick said this about Andy Reid working his scheme during a game:
“It’s an art form, man — it really is — to watch those guys go at it, because there’s not much time in between [plays],” Riddick said. “People are always screaming, ‘Make some adjustments, make some adjustments!’ but you know, it isn’t that easy. The best ones who master that stuff, they truly are grand masters….
Some guys just seem like they’re calling plays for the hell of it… he [Reid] doesn’t do that.“
Great Pre-Game Links
Link to the NFL’s Complete List of Honors Awards Winner.
TODAY.com – “50” Super Bowl Foods & Recipes – great pics
Alex Smith: Lucky to be Alive story – ESPN
CBS Sports Super Bowl LIV Writer’s Predictions – (6 – Chiefs, 49ers – 2)
Sports Illustrated Writer’s Predictions ABOUT the Super Bowl
Weather
It looks like it will be nearly ideal weather for a football game.
Officials for Super Bowl LIV
There will be seven officials on the field:
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- Referee – Bill Vinovich
- Umpire – Barry Anderson
- Down judge – Kent Payne
- Line judge – Carl Johnson
- Field judge – Michael Banks
- Side judge – Boris Cheek
- Back judge – Greg Steed
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Summary and Prediction
Yes, it’s been a half-century since the Kansas City Chiefs have made it to the big game. However, they are going up against a formidable foe with much to like about their team. That makes this battle not just a good one, but perhaps one of the best ever. It’s certainly going to out-do the 13-to-3 clunker from last year when the Patriots D turned the Rams offense into a powder-puff. Yawn. The bottom line for me is… if these Chiefs can march into New England and beat: the league’s the GOAT, the best coach in the NFL, and number one defense in 2019, by the score of 23-to-16… then they should be able to come out on top today, especially with an extra week for Andy Reid to prepare.
My prediction: Chiefs 51-49ers 24.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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