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NFL Playoff Time!
The 2023 NFL season has lastly reached its final showdown. Super Bowl LVIII is upon us, and two historic franchises are set to go face to face for the newest Lombardi Trophy. What higher approach to put together for the 58th Tremendous Bowl than by digesting 58 vital issues to know for the large sport? We have got you coated proper right here with all one of the best details and figures:
1. Tremendous Bowl LVIII will function the Kansas City Chiefs in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.
2. That is the second time the Chiefs and 49ers have matched up in a Tremendous Bowl, beforehand assembly in Tremendous Bowl LIV on the finish of the 2019 season. Kansas Metropolis received that sport, 31-20.
3. That is the Chiefs’ fourth Tremendous Bowl look in 5 seasons. They’re simply the third staff in NFL historical past to get pleasure from such a stretch, after the 2014-18 New England Patriots and 1990-93 Buffalo Bills.
4. The Chiefs additionally received final 12 months’s large sport, Tremendous Bowl LVII, in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles. Which means they’re trying to turn into the primary back-to-back champions for the reason that 2003-04 Patriots.
5. Kansas Metropolis’s different two Tremendous Bowls this half-decade embrace the 2019 victory over the 49ers and a 2020 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the subsequent season, when Tom Brady secured his file seventh Tremendous Bowl title.
6. That is the 49ers’ second Tremendous Bowl look in 5 seasons, and their third prior to now 12. Previous to their loss to the Chiefs in 2019’s large sport, San Francisco misplaced to the Baltimore Ravens in Tremendous Bowl XLVII on the finish of the 2012 season.
7. The 49ers personal the all-time benefit in Tremendous Bowl victories, with 5 wins in comparison with Okay.C.’s three. All 5 of San Francisco’s Lombardi Trophies got here between 1981-94, whereas the Chiefs first received Tremendous Bowl IV in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings after the 1969 season.
8. The Chiefs are coming off their sixth straight AFC Championship Recreation look, trailing solely the Patriots dynasty for essentially the most consecutive convention title-game bids (eight).
9. The 49ers are coming off their third straight NFC Championship Recreation look, and their fourth in 5 seasons.
10. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes would be the first participant at his place to ever begin 4 totally different Tremendous Bowls earlier than the age of 30. He received his first title at age 24 in 2019 and is now searching for a 3rd ring at age 28.
11. Mahomes is on an unprecedented tempo because the face of the Chiefs’ aspiring dynasty, already searching for his third Tremendous Bowl MVP after beforehand successful in 2019 and 2022. He additionally owns two NFL MVP awards after simply six full seasons as a starter.
12. Typically held to a normal of his personal, not in contrast to Tom Brady throughout his legendary 23-year profession, Mahomes has extra mixed playoff wins (14) in a six-year span than another QB.
13. Mahomes matched a profession excessive in turnovers (17) throughout an uncharacteristically uneven 2023 common season, throughout which the Chiefs completed with their worst file (11-6) of his time as a starter. However he is since gone 3-0 with zero turnovers within the playoffs.
14. The Chiefs QB is commonly perceived as taking part in a wholly totally different sport than his friends, wowing with not solely gaudy numbers however acrobatic arm angles and clutch scrambles. Whereas Brady as soon as dominated the big-game panorama with mechanical imaginative and prescient and pocket presence, Mahomes thrives together with his innate potential to make off-script performs look routine, particularly within the greatest moments.
15. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is simply the fourth head coach in NFL historical past to make at the very least 5 Tremendous Bowl appearances. Previous to his title bids in Okay.C., Reid led the Eagles to Tremendous Bowl XXXIX in 2004, when Brady’s Patriots prevailed.
16. Since turning into the Chiefs coach in 2013, Reid has led Okay.C. to double-digit wins in 10 of his 11 seasons, plus eight straight AFC West titles. Mixed together with his 14 years as Eagles coach (1999-2012), he is logged 258 profession wins (fourth most in NFL historical past) and 25 profession playoff wins (second most behind solely longtime Patriots coach Invoice Belichick).
17. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is searching for his first Tremendous Bowl title after beforehand showing in two — first because the Atlanta Falcons‘ offensive coordinator in 2016, and once more as San Francisco’s head coach in 2019.
18. Each of Shanahan’s earlier Tremendous Bowl appearances included his staff surrendering multiple-score leads. Atlanta infamously misplaced a 28-3 result in Brady and the Patriots in 2016, marking the biggest comeback in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Shanahan’s 49ers then misplaced a 20-10 result in Mahomes and the Chiefs, who scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter factors to win in 2019.
19. Shanahan, like Reid, has lengthy been lauded for designing one of many NFL’s most dependable offenses. In his final 5 years, the 49ers have completed with a top-five scoring offense 3 times, and a top-10 yardage output 4 instances.
20. If the 49ers have been to beat the Chiefs, they might tie the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for essentially the most Tremendous Bowl titles (six).
21. San Francisco would be the first staff to have 5 totally different Tremendous Bowl-starting QBs, with present signal-caller Brock Purdy following Jimmy Garoppolo (2019), Colin Kaepernick (2012), Steve Younger (1994) and Joe Montana (1981, 1984, 1988-89).
22. Purdy would be the third-youngest QB to begin a Tremendous Bowl in NFL historical past. He turned 24 on Dec. 27.
23. Purdy was the 262nd and remaining decide of the 2022 NFL Draft, coined “Mr. Irrelevant” for his ignored arrival after a university profession at Iowa State. He solely grew to become the 49ers’ QB after accidents to Garoppolo and former No. 3 general decide Trey Lance.
24. Regardless of his late draft standing, Purdy immediately thrived in San Francisco, serving to lead the 49ers to the 2022 NFC title sport, then producing an MVP-caliber season in his first full 12 months as a starter in 2023. The 49ers have gone 21-4 with him beneath middle, together with playoffs, whereas he has thrown 44 touchdowns to simply 15 interceptions.
25. Purdy (6-feet-1, 220) and Mahomes (6-2, 225) have comparatively comparable builds, and just like the latter, Purdy has confirmed adept at extending performs with motion in and outdoors the pocket, exceeding expectations as a younger starter.
26. The 49ers QB advantages from a star supporting forged that features All-Professionals and/or Professional Bowlers at virtually each key place group, together with operating again Christian McCaffrey, vast receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, tight finish George Kittle and offensive sort out Trent Williams.
27. Purdy additionally is similar to Rams legend Kurt Warner, who entered the NFL as an afterthought out of Northern Iowa, improbably led the NFL in key passing marks throughout his first 12 months as a full-time starter, produced his first comeback victories within the playoffs and went on to steer a heralded offense — “The Biggest Present on Turf” — to the Tremendous Bowl.
28. Purdy was statistically essentially the most environment friendly QB within the NFL this 12 months, pacing all starters in yards per try (9.6) whereas ending top-five in yards (4,280), TDs (31) and passer ranking (113.0).
29. McCaffrey, who joined the 49ers through the 2022 season by way of commerce with the Panthers, has been an MVP candidate himself, main the NFL with 2,023 whole yards (1,459 dashing; 564 receiving) and 21 touchdowns. He has been simply as imposing within the playoffs, with 188 dashing yards and 4 scores in San Francisco’s two wins.
30. In the meantime, in Okay.C., tight finish Travis Kelce stays Mahomes’ favourite weapon. At 34, Kelce is contemporary off his eighth straight season with at the very least 900 receiving yards, and he has been even higher on this 12 months’s playoffs, with 262 yards and three TDs in three video games.
31. Kelce already has essentially the most catches in NFL playoff historical past (156), passing 49ers legend Jerry Rice in Okay.C.’s AFC Championship win over the Ravens. He additionally has the second-most receiving yards (1,810) and TDs (19), trailing solely the Corridor of Famer Rice.
32. Previous Chiefs groups have been characterised by their pace and explosiveness, using deep threats like Tyreek Hill. However Kelce has lengthy been Mahomes’ most constant move outlet, working the center of the sector as a nearly uncoverable large man. That is been notably true late this 12 months, after Okay.C. endured weeks of irritating drops and penalties by a youthful receiving corps.
33. Each the Chiefs and 49ers additionally boast a few of the NFL’s prime offensive linemen. Three mixed starters — 49ers left sort out Trent Williams, Chiefs middle Creed Humphrey and guard Joe Thuney — have been Professional Bowl alternatives this 12 months.
34. Each groups additionally play quick, bodily protection. Okay.C. completed with the No. 2-ranked “D” in yards and factors allowed, whereas San Francisco completed No. 3 in scoring and has six common starters, together with move rusher Nick Bosa, linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and cornerback Charvarius Ward, who’ve earlier Tremendous Bowl expertise.
35. Greater than at another level within the Reid-Mahomes period, the Chiefs protection has helped propel Okay.C.’s title bid. Together with the playoffs, throughout which their Steve Spagnuolo-led unit held the Ravens and Miami Dolphins to a mixed 17 factors, the Chiefs have allowed a mean of simply 294 yards per sport — one of the best mark by the franchise since 1995.
36. The disruption begins up entrance on the Chiefs “D,” the place star defensive sort out Chris Jones and second-year move rusher George Karlaftis have mixed for twenty-four sacks and 54 QB hits, together with playoffs.
37. Kansas Metropolis’s protection can also be grounded by the aggressive back-end trio of cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie, plus security Justin Reid, who’ve mixed for 15 tackles for loss and 27 move deflections, together with playoffs.
38. The 49ers are simply as, if no more, imposing on that facet of the ball, constructing a status for suffocating contact. Whereas Bosa has been quieter than typical off the sting, Warner and Greenlaw mix for a hard-hitting middle of the unit, with former Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward excelling on the perimeter with a career-high 23 move breakups and 5 picks.
39. Each groups completed within the prime 10 this 12 months in common time of possession, excelling at ball management thanks not solely to their protection however rugged dashing assaults.
40. The 49ers give McCaffrey a heavy workload, however they’re additionally artistic in distributing touches to Deebo Samuel, who’s usually utilized in movement close to the road of scrimmage and constantly ranks among the many NFL’s finest in yards gained after the catch.
41. The Chiefs, alternatively, deploy second-year again Isiah Pacheco as their prime rusher. Whereas he does not get almost the amount of touches as McCaffrey, his uniquely highly effective and demonstrative stride tends to take a toll on opposing groups over time.
42. Mahomes’ different prime contributors embrace rookie WR Rashee Rice, who has emerged down the stretch as a dependable downfield choice (77.5% catch fee); and veteran speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has secured a number of key deep passes within the postseason after averaging 15 yards per reception through the common season.
43. The 49ers’ highway to the Tremendous Bowl wasn’t notably clean, regardless of claiming the NFC’s No. 1 seed and having fun with a first-round playoff bye. The underdog Green Bay Packers led San Francisco late within the divisional spherical, earlier than Purdy led a last-minute TD drive and the protection intercepted QB Jordan Love. The Detroit Lions then constructed a 17-point lead on the 49ers within the NFC title sport, earlier than a slew of drops, turnovers and failed fourth-down makes an attempt assisted a San Francisco comeback.
44. The Chiefs’ biggest energy, in addition to their unmatched big-game expertise, might be getting after opposing QBs. They completed second in whole QB pressures, hurrying, hitting or sacking opposing passers on virtually 28% of drop-backs.
45. Whereas Reid oversees Okay.C.’s offense, the Chiefs’ return to the Tremendous Bowl is notable contemplating they misplaced coordinator Eric Bieniemy following the 2022 season. Bieniemy had been the OC for the whole lot of Mahomes’ profession as a starter. He was changed with former Bears head coach and ex-Chiefs assistant Matt Nagy.
46. The 49ers additionally survived their very own staffing purge, returning to the large stage regardless of dropping run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel (now the Dolphins head coach) and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans (Texans head coach) in back-to-back offseasons. Former Carolina Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks now oversees San Francisco’s “D.”
47. Notable new faces on the Chiefs this 12 months embrace left sort out Donovan Smith, who changed Orlando Brown Jr.; proper sort out Jawaan Taylor; linebacker Drue Tranquill and move rusher Charles Omenihu, who just lately suffered a season-ending harm.
48. Notable new faces on the 49ers embrace backup QB Sam Darnold, a former No. 3 general draft decide; defensive sort out Javon Hargrave, who additionally performed in final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl with the Eagles; and move rusher Chase Young, a former No. 2 decide acquired by way of commerce with the Washington Commanders in November.
49. Different key Chiefs who’re sidelined resulting from harm embrace veteran RB Jerick McKinnon, who performed a key receiving function through the membership’s 2022 Tremendous Bowl run; second-year WR Skyy Moore and two-time champion DT Derrick Nnadi.
50. Key 49ers sidelined with accidents embrace security Talanoa Hufanga, a 2022 All-Professional who logged seven picks between 2022-2023 earlier than struggling a torn ACL in November.
51. 49ers kicker Jake Moody was a third-round decide this 12 months, making him simply the second participant at his place to enter as a top-100 choice within the final 15 years. He has changed longtime kicker Robbie Gould with blended outcomes, setting a franchise file for longest discipline objective by a rookie (57 yards) however lacking at the very least one FG or additional level in every of his final three video games.
52. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has spent the whole lot of his seven-year profession in Kansas Metropolis, and he set a profession excessive in FG conversions (33 of 35, or 94.3%) this 12 months, additionally hitting 100% of extra-point tries. He is an ideal 7 for 7 on playoff FGs this 12 months.
53. Tremendous Bowl LVIII might be hosted at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, adjoining to Las Vegas. It’s the first Tremendous Bowl hosted within the state, and Allegiant Stadium — residence to the Raiders — was simply opened in 2020.
54. Kickoff is about for six:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 11.
55. Tremendous Bowl LVIII might be broadcast on CBS and out there to stream on Paramount+.
56. Nickelodeon may also broadcast its personal kid- and family-friendly model of the Tremendous Bowl, that includes digital results, particular visitors and interactions with characters from reveals like “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Dora the Explorer.”
57. The Chiefs will put on their residence crimson uniforms, which additionally they used for his or her 2019 Tremendous Bowl win over the 49ers. San Francisco will put on its away white jerseys. Groups carrying white have gone 16-3 prior to now 19 Tremendous Bowls.
58. The principle CBS broadcast will function Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (coloration commentary), Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn (sideline reporters), Jay Feely (particular groups analyst) and Gene Steratore (guidelines analyst). This 12 months’s halftime present will function Grammy-winning R&B artist Usher.
Tremendous Bowl LVIII goes down Feb. 11 on CBS. The sport may also be broadcast on Nickelodeon and streamed on Paramount+.
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