Super Bowl LIV Full Preview And Prediction

Defense is a bit of a different story for the San Francisco 49ers. There’s little doubt that they have the superior squad heading into the Super Bowl this season.

The Niners have given up the least yards per play this season, plus they’re sixth in total turnovers. Perhaps most important to note, they put up those numbers primarily by limiting opposing team’s passing too.

It’s going to be critical for them to keep up that staunch pass defense against the Kansas City Chiefs and their litany of weapons. It will undoubtedly help that the anchor to that air defense is one of the only stars in the game who’s helped lead a team in the Super Bowl before, Richard Sherman. Having someone who’s accustom to the pressures of playing on this grand of a stage to rely on could be immensely valuable to San Francisco.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though. The Chiefs’ defense shouldn’t be overlooked. They have respectable pass stopping credentials this year, and some solid pieces across the board.

What they don’t have is an elite run defense. The Chiefs have given up the seventh most rushing yards this year, and are tied for fourth when it comes to most yards allowed per attempt. Defensive end Alex Okafor’s absence due to a torn pec will only exacerbate those problems as well.

Going up against a 49ers squad that annihilated the Green Bay Packers on the ground, and the Minnesota Vikings for that matter, that’s a bad area to have problems at.

Ultimately, Kansas City’s inability to effectively contain the run could not only give the 49ers the edge on defense, but also the edge in this game as a whole to boot.