After wins in their respective Championship games, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will feature in 2019 Super Bowl in what is sure to be a fascinating contest in Miami, Florida.
Here is a breakdown of the strengths and weaknesses of the AFC and NFC Championship winners ahead of the showdown.
Kansas City Chiefs
Strengths – Speed, fearless QB and momentum
Weakness – Still question marks about their defense
It has been 50 years since the Kansas City Chiefs played in a Super Bowl but the AFC West team are finally heading back to the biggest game in the sport. Andy Reid has been with the Chiefs since 2013 and he will get the chance to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time as a head coach.
The Chiefs hit form at exactly the right point of the regular season. They won seven of their last eight games to wrap up their division and secure the number two seed in the AFC Championship.
Their offense has exploded in the playoffs so far. After a shaky opening quarter against the Houston Texans, they put up 51 points to win that game. They then dispatched the dangerous Tennessee Titans, scoring 35 points in that clash. Third-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes should have no problem with the occasion. Their special QB will relish the opportunity to showcase his talent in the biggest stage of them all.
The one question mark about this Chiefs team over the last couple of years has been their defense. They have improved over the last few weeks to make some big plays; however, it is an area the 49ers will be looking to exploit.
It is the Chiefs who are the marginal favorites with the leading bookmakers, which can be found in the NFL news brought to you by WSN, as they cover everything you need to know about the event, including what types of sign-up offers they provide and platforms they are available on.
San Francisco 49ers
Strengths – Rock-solid defense and an explosive running game
Weakness – Quarterback untested in a game of this size
San Francisco 49ers are looking to join the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers with six Super Bowl wins next month. This is their first appearance in this game since 2013 where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
Following the appointment of young head coach Kyle Shanahan and acquirement of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots in a trade, San Francisco have been on the up. The 49ers had a record of 4-12 in 2018 so their transformation into NFC champions has really turned around fast.
San Francisco can make a strong case for having the best defense in the NFL. That has been their biggest strength this season, particularly in close games.
Expect to see the 49ers rush the ball far more than throwing it in Tampa. Running-back Raheem Mostert scored four touchdowns in their victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. Although there are still question marks around Garoppolo, given his lack of experience, he has done a great job at leading his team to this point.
It is hard to select a winner in this game but the edge may just be with the 49ers as their defense is more likely to make a game-winning play in a tight encounter.
