🏆 SUPER BOWL LVIII PREGAME THREAD - SF 49ERS vs KC CHIEFS 🏆

Yes we are way too conservative on defence, we should run 5 man fronts, it suits our current personnel with Kinlaw and Hargrave. We must stop the run early.

49ers simplified keys to victory on offense: Use McCaffrey early and often to establish the run in order to open up the passing game and to keep the Chiefs offense off the field as long as possible. Also substitute Mitchell and Mason. Interestingly, when the Cowboys found a way to contain CMC, Mason churned out his best performance of the season. Mason averages 5.2 yards per carry and scored a TD every 13.3 carries and hasn't fumbled the ball a single time this season. By comparison, CMC averages 5.4 YPC and scores TD every 19.4 carries. So using Mason may not be a bad option.

However, If Chiefs load the box to prevent CMC from running wild, like Dallas did, the Niners need to implement play-action pass for Brock who'll torch them in the passing game. Niners need to take what the Chiefs give them. When Dallas found a way to contain CMC by loading the box--Brock torched them with 4 passing TDs. Niners need to utilize the play-action pass more frequently against the Chiefs, which they failed to do against the Lions. Brock is virtually unstoppable using play-action with a near 80% completion rate and 10.7 yards per attempt and close to 140 RTG during the regular season. 49ers keys to victory on defense: Put a linebacker on Kelce near the line of scrimmage to bump-and-run him hard on every play, to keep him off-balance, then double team Kelce to neutralize him. Jerry Rice said to double him 100 percent. If refs don't call holding penalties against Chiefs O-line,

49ers coaches better call them out, for this could mean the difference between winning and losing, as it will neutralize the 49ers pass rush which is vital especially against Mahomes whom the Niners will have to put pressure on in the pocket and will help prevent Pacheco from running uncontested in the backfield. Of course, 49ers defensive linemen need to play to their full potential to make this work.

Linebacker Warner must continue reading the offense and tackling opposing RBs from behind scrimmage. Use the 5 man defensive line. Niners cornerback Lenoir needs to be a shut-down corner like he was against Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Lions and do the same with Rashee Rice. While safety Gipson is doing well in the postseason, the safeties need to up their game and fly around the field like Hufanga did before he got injured to match the competitiveness of the Chiefs safeties, Reid, Conner, Edwards and Bush who are putting up sacks, TFLs, PDs and INTs, becoming the unsung heroes of the Chiefs' defense in the postseason. Bang! Bang! Niner Gang! Niners!!!

We need our offense to control the time of possession. Keep Mahomes off the field and keep our defense fresh. Best way to do that is just run the ball. Not a time for Kyle to try and prove Brock is more than just a system QB.

Originally posted by calvinshobbes:
some of those drops were wide open. i think we got lucky and did play well on a few key stops but the Lions basically drove down the field at will

No different than Baltimore fumbling on the GL or a blatant PI not getting called on a INT in the EZ.

Or the no call when Brock got hit in the head late by a lions DL.

Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Brock Purdy stats vs. Steelers
Purdy's first game against a top-10 defense came in Week 1 against the Steelers. He played well on the road at Acrisure Stadium in poor weather, completing 19-of-29 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-7 blowout by the 49ers.

Some will try to minimize Purdy's success in this matchup by pointing out that T.J. Watt still managed to sack him three times and that Christian McCaffrey did a lot of San Francisco's damage on offense. However, considering the weather conditions and strength of Pittsburgh's defense, this was an impressive showing from Purdy.

Brock Purdy stats vs. Cowboys
Purdy's best performance against a top-10 defense came against the Cowboys in Week 5, another 49ers blowout. In that contest, Purdy completed 17-of-24 passes for 252 yards and a whopping four touchdowns in a 42-10 victory.

Again, some may opine that Dallas' defense was only ranked so highly because it dominated lower-end competition while enduring issues against winning teams. Even so, Purdy's dismantling of the unit and ability to absorb just one sack against the Micah Parsons-led pass rush was spectacular. That was reflected in his passer rating for the game, a mark of 144.4 that ranked as his third best in a contest for the season.

Brock Purdy stats vs. Browns
While Purdy's first two games against top 10 defenses were strong, his next two weren't as good. He completed a season-low 12-of-27 against the Browns for 125 yards, one touchdown, and one interception just a week after crushing Dallas.

It must be noted that Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey all were hurt at some point in this game. That left Purdy without his usual force of weapons on a windy day in Cleveland, so that partially explains the struggles.

Still, Purdy was less accurate than usual and took three sacks — tied for his second-most all season — as he struggled to avoid pressure with Williams out. It was one of his least impressive games of the season, and it resulted in a 19-17 loss because of a missed Jake Moody field goal.

While many blamed Moody for missing the kick, the loss showed just how important it is for the 49ers to be at full strength around their young, developing quarterback.

Brock Purdy stats vs. Ravens
Purdy enjoyed a long stretch playing lower-caliber defenses before facing the Ravens in a Week 15 game that many thought would be a Super Bowl preview.

Purdy endured his worst-ever game against Baltimore. He completed 18-of-32 passes for 255 yards, but he tossed a whopping four interceptions in the contest. That was easily the most of his career and accounted for more than a third of his season total.

Granted, Purdy had some balls glances off his receivers' hands in this contest, but his accuracy wasn't as sharp as it normally had been. That led San Francisco's offense to sputter in the 33-19 defeat.

The Ravens' defense is arguably the best in the NFL, so it's not a surprise that they were able to limit Purdy and make him throw into some tough windows. However, this serves as another example that if Purdy's accuracy or ball placement is off just a little, it can have an impact on his ability to succeed against tough defenses.

Purdy vs the Ravens is the best comp I could find also. Ravens and Spagnuolo play the same kind of pressure packages on defense. The Browns, Cowboys and Steelers aren't that great a comp because they were earlier in the season when Brock is just recovering from his arm injury, and due to injuries the Browns isn't a good comp in my opinion. Cowboys are an example if when Kyle isn't afraid to run at a defense. I still think the Cowboy defense has more issues than the KC and Ravens defenses.

I still think the 49ers passed too much in the Christmas game against the Ravens. But turnovers are the key to any game. Even KC lost to some bottom feeding teams when they had a negative turnover differential. That's why running the ball is so key, 49ers turned the ball over against the Ravens because they passed too much.

Originally posted by Cosmo:

Originally posted by 49ersking:
After all the analysis, obvious ad/disadvantages of the Chiefs vs 49ers and this and that:
Some heads would say: KC 31-17
Some hearts would say: 49ers 24-20

KC averaged 21.8 PPG this year, so what heads predict 31 points against the Niners defense? Are they screwed on straight?

I mean....they might. If our defensive effort is the same as the Packers and lions game, they can absolutely hang 30 on us.

In other news I don't know how these players practice hard on this soddy and muddy field. We literally can't and shouldn't practice how you play. That is such a disadvantage. An ACL or Achilles can pop easily because of a bad field.

Originally posted by Silky:
I mean....they might. If our defensive effort is the same as the Packers and lions game, they can absolutely hang 30 on us.

In other news I don't know how these players practice hard on this soddy and muddy field. We literally can't and shouldn't practice how you play. That is such a disadvantage. An ACL or Achilles can pop easily because of a bad field.

And if the 49ers play up to there level they win by 21+ points.

Yes Purdy v the Ravens is the best comparison.

We need to stop the interceptions and offensive penalties.

My thought on slowing Chris Jones is running 23 personnel from the gun and having a FB/TE/RB in the backfield after motions are done to provide support to our interior line.

For any Terminator fans, remember one thing, Google is Skynet.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Brock Purdy stats vs. Steelers
Purdy's first game against a top-10 defense came in Week 1 against the Steelers. He played well on the road at Acrisure Stadium in poor weather, completing 19-of-29 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-7 blowout by the 49ers.

Some will try to minimize Purdy's success in this matchup by pointing out that T.J. Watt still managed to sack him three times and that Christian McCaffrey did a lot of San Francisco's damage on offense. However, considering the weather conditions and strength of Pittsburgh's defense, this was an impressive showing from Purdy.

Brock Purdy stats vs. Cowboys
Purdy's best performance against a top-10 defense came against the Cowboys in Week 5, another 49ers blowout. In that contest, Purdy completed 17-of-24 passes for 252 yards and a whopping four touchdowns in a 42-10 victory.

Again, some may opine that Dallas' defense was only ranked so highly because it dominated lower-end competition while enduring issues against winning teams. Even so, Purdy's dismantling of the unit and ability to absorb just one sack against the Micah Parsons-led pass rush was spectacular. That was reflected in his passer rating for the game, a mark of 144.4 that ranked as his third best in a contest for the season.

Brock Purdy stats vs. Browns
While Purdy's first two games against top 10 defenses were strong, his next two weren't as good. He completed a season-low 12-of-27 against the Browns for 125 yards, one touchdown, and one interception just a week after crushing Dallas.

It must be noted that Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey all were hurt at some point in this game. That left Purdy without his usual force of weapons on a windy day in Cleveland, so that partially explains the struggles.

Still, Purdy was less accurate than usual and took three sacks — tied for his second-most all season — as he struggled to avoid pressure with Williams out. It was one of his least impressive games of the season, and it resulted in a 19-17 loss because of a missed Jake Moody field goal.

While many blamed Moody for missing the kick, the loss showed just how important it is for the 49ers to be at full strength around their young, developing quarterback.

Brock Purdy stats vs. Ravens
Purdy enjoyed a long stretch playing lower-caliber defenses before facing the Ravens in a Week 15 game that many thought would be a Super Bowl preview.

Purdy endured his worst-ever game against Baltimore. He completed 18-of-32 passes for 255 yards, but he tossed a whopping four interceptions in the contest. That was easily the most of his career and accounted for more than a third of his season total.

Granted, Purdy had some balls glances off his receivers' hands in this contest, but his accuracy wasn't as sharp as it normally had been. That led San Francisco's offense to sputter in the 33-19 defeat.

The Ravens' defense is arguably the best in the NFL, so it's not a surprise that they were able to limit Purdy and make him throw into some tough windows. However, this serves as another example that if Purdy's accuracy or ball placement is off just a little, it can have an impact on his ability to succeed against tough defenses.

Purdy vs the Ravens is the best comp I could find also. Ravens and Spagnuolo play the same kind of pressure packages on defense. The Browns, Cowboys and Steelers aren't that great a comp because they were earlier in the season when Brock is just recovering from his arm injury, and due to injuries the Browns isn't a good comp in my opinion. Cowboys are an example if when Kyle isn't afraid to run at a defense. I still think the Cowboy defense has more issues than the KC and Ravens defenses.

I still think the 49ers passed too much in the Christmas game against the Ravens. But turnovers are the key to any game. Even KC lost to some bottom feeding teams when they had a negative turnover differential. That's why running the ball is so key, 49ers turned the ball over against the Ravens because they passed too much.

I agree KC and BAL are similar in style, especially on 3rd down and 'pass it' situations - high frequency of disguised pressure and disguised coverages. Brock needs to prepare his mind because it will be challenged in passing situations.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Giedi:
Between the 49ers practicing on mud covered astroturf and Chiefs losing Nnadi, I'll take Nnadi being unavailable for the Chiefs.

He was put on IR before the AFCC game. He was done regardless

KC is going into the Superbowl the same way we were in 2019 and 2012. Injuries to our offensive and defensive lines. Our health has been pretty good this year - knock on wood. Most of the game installs and practices were last week, so I don't think the bad - mud on astroturf surface - is going to affect the 49ers much.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he went to two Taylor Swift concerts last year, and thinks her presence at games has opened the league up to a new set of fans. "Having the Taylor Swift effect is positive."

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 5, 2024

w
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That is a terrible take on Taylor Swift. Goddell should keep quiet.

Does Wilks blanket Ward on Rice like they do against Metcalf? Just lock him up. Hargrave and Young really need to show out up front and maybe even some 5 man fronts. Chase seems to do better lined up next to Bosa…We need the LB's to not run themselves into blocks and out of plays for the first half. Watch out for the screens and quick passes; make them pay with big hits. Hopefully they jump/pick some of those short throws. Go Niners!!!

Have any pictures leaked of the practice field to see just how bad it actually is?

Originally posted by elguapo:

Originally posted by Cosmo:

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by Waterbear:
Is Thuney playing?

I don't see any way he can play with a torn pec

Football gods really smiling on the Niners. If Thuney doesn't play, which seems to be the case, and losing Omenihu, that's 2 of their best players out for this one. HUGE.

Well all pro Hufanga is out and Ferrell too which was huge in defending the run and setting the edge sooooooooo

We had NO edge set versus the Lions.

Remember when Brock's arm was injured, and he said, "It's part of God's plan." Brock was then asked about His plan, and he said, "Don't know yet." We're all finding out now.