Super Bowl LVIII distinguishes itself with the quantity of star players that both teams have.
While we know Patrick Mahomes and Deebo Samuel, there are also lesser-known players who will exercise a significant influence on the game because of the strong roles that they play on their team.
Keeping in mind these lesser-known players will allow us to gain a fuller sense of what each team has in its arsenal.
By knowing about the important players, we can more reliably figure out what are the best bets to place on this matchup.
As of Monday morning, top-rated online sportsbooks have the 49ers favored now only by a point, as the Chiefs have seen significant early action.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, February 11, 2024 – 06:30 PM ET at Allegiant Stadium
Rashee Rice
When people think of Kansas City’s pass attack, they immediately think of the connection between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his favorite target, tight end Travis Kelce.
Rashee Rice is a wide receiver who flies under the radar in the sense that he is not Mahomes’ favorite target but remains extremely important to Kansas City’s offense.
This season, Kansas City’s offense has struggled because it lacks reliable wide receivers who can catch the ball and who understand where to run when Mahomes is trying to find a target on the move, which he often likes to do.
It takes skill to become a reliable pass-catcher and it takes developing chemistry with Mahomes to understand where to go when the play breaks down.
Versatility Unleashed
Rice is the guy who has stepped up for Kansas City, doing the most to fill the void created by the departure of the Chiefs’ previous top wide receiver, current Miami Dolphin Tyreek Hill. He started primarily as a screen guy. For example, his touchdown against the Dolphins came from him collecting a screen and taking it into the end zone.
While his vision and overall ball-carrying ability make him well-suited as a weapon in the Chiefs’ screen game, he is becoming increasingly more reliable in more intermediate passing situations.
His ascent has become most prominent in December.
Whereas, in previous months, he accrued no more than 20 receptions for 253 yards, in December he caught 35 passes for 411 yards. With Rice’s ascent, the Chiefs offense is now more dangerous.
Since December, they have scored 25+ points in four games, whereas they averaged 22.1 points per game on the season as a consequence of their earlier struggles to sustain drives and put up points.
Arik Armstead
Arik Armstead is San Francisco’s top run defender.
The defensive tackle gives the 49ers an important run-stopping option in the middle of their defense.
We can see how important Armstead is because the 49ers have played some games without him. Their worst performance against the run came in a game that he missed. In that game, they allowed an absurd 234 rushing yards on 30 carries – which amounts to 7.8 YPC – and two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals.
With Armstead in, the 49ers have more of a chance of limiting Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco.
Armstead will also help Kansas City’s pass rush. Its pressure rate is significantly higher with him on the field than without him.
Fred Warner
As commentators noted repeatedly during the NFC Championship game, San Francisco’s defense does a great job defending the middle field.
This is largely because of middle linebacker Fred Warner.
As evident in his PFF grades, Warner ranks among the best linebackers at both defending the run and in coverage. He also ably gets pressure when he blitzes.
When people think of 49ers’ pass rushers, they think of edge rusher Nick Bosa.
While Bosa is San Francisco’s most famous defender, Warner does a wider variety of great things for the 49ers defensively.
Drue Tranquill
Linebacker Drue Tranquill is the unsung hero of Kansas City’s high-caliber defense.
His range in space makes him effective both in coverage and as a run-stopper. Because he has this mobility, he can play outside linebacker positions in addition to the middle linebacker role that he’s used to occupying.
With his coverage abilities, he can take care of spaces further downfield so that his fellow linebackers can be more aggressive while attacking downhill.
His versatility overall also makes it easier for his defensive coordinator to match up against opposing offenses.
Trent McDuffie
When people think of the Chiefs’ fourth-ranked pass defense, they think of L’Jarius Sneed and his ability to lock down opposing top wide receivers.
But cornerback Trent McDuffie also deserves a lot of credit.
The Chiefs are having McDuffie showcase his man coverage abilities in the slot, where he can operate as an effective run-stopper, making a greater impact on his team’s run defense than he would if he were playing on the outside.
His elite PFF rankings in defense, run stop percentage, and man coverage attest to his overall quality of play and his importance to the Chiefs’ defense.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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