The Kansas City Chiefs are again within the Tremendous Bowl for the fourth time within the final 5 seasons, they usually may very well be ushered in as the subsequent NFL dynasty in the event that they win their third.
But, regardless of the expertise of Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, sportsbooks across the nation imagine the San Francisco 49ers, the winners of the NFC, are the slight favorites on this matchup.
That has one NFL analyst very confused heading into the week earlier than the massive recreation at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“How in the world are the 49ers favored in this game?” Ross Tucker, the previous NFL offensive lineman turned analyst, stated on “Fescoe in the Morning.” “The Chiefs, I felt like, were clearly the better team in all three of the playoff games – including at Buffalo and at Baltimore.
“The Niners, guys, I can identify six performs proper now off the highest of my head within the Packers recreation the place in the event that they went the opposite approach, the Packers win that recreation.… After which the Lions have been killing the Niners till they peed down their leg like I’ve by no means seen earlier than, one of the vital epic meltdowns of all time. Actually, I’m not a Lions fan, however that was onerous to observe.
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Former NFL participant Ross Tucker at house with a few of his memorabilia from groups he performed for. (Jeremy Drey/MediaNews Group/Studying Eagle through Getty Photos)
“So, you’re telling me you’re going to say the Niners are the favorite? They’re like going off yards per play from the regular season, give me a break, bro. You’ve got to be kidding me. In a close game, you’re going to take Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan over Mahomes and Andy Reid? Yeah, not me. I’ve seen this movie too many times – I’m going to take the Chiefs.”
Like Tucker talked about, maybe oddsmakers are trying on the complete season as an entire when setting betting strains for this recreation. The 49ers have been the second-best offense in the course of the common season when it comes to yards per recreation. They averaged 398.4 per recreation with the third-most factors per contest with 28.9.
Additionally they had a top-10 protection, ending eighth in yards allowed (303.9) and the third-best common factors allowed per recreation (17.5).
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In the meantime, the Chiefs have been nonetheless an important offense regardless of their points all year long, ending ninth in whole yards (351.3 per recreation). Nevertheless, they completed fifteenth in factors scored (21.8).
However nothing within the common season issues when the playoffs roll round. Groups just like the Dallas Cowboys perceive that after an important common season, resulting in a division win, all simply to lose at house within the wild-card spherical. Any crew can get scorching on the proper time.
The Chiefs did win the AFC West once more this season, however some believed the Miami Dolphins – the highest offense within the common season – would be capable of take them down on the highway. And even when they didn’t, the Chiefs must undergo Buffalo and Baltimore, each of which have been Mahomes’ first profession highway playoff video games.
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates in the course of the NFC Championship Recreation towards the Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Photos)
Ultimately, Mahomes and his unit appear like they’ve in latest playoff journeys, shifting the ball effectively by means of Kelce, Isiah Pacheco and whoever else Reid is scheming open.
The 49ers have had a extra troubling two playoff video games. Brock Purdy & Co. needed to battle to take the lead late within the fourth quarter towards the Packers, the place Jordan Love finally threw a foul interception on a possible game-winning drive for San Fran to flee with the win.
Then, final week towards the Detroit Lions, Tucker talked about the epic breakdown that occurred the place the Lions owned a 24-7 lead at halftime solely to offer it up within the second half.
There’s little question each of those groups are matched up effectively, however Mahomes has the expertise issue within the last recreation of the season, whereas this will likely be Purdy’s first journey to the Tremendous Bowl.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes rolls out to move towards the Raiders, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Picture/David Becker)
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That reality, whatever the expertise San Francisco possesses on the offensive aspect of the ball, is why many imagine the Chiefs have the higher hand. However sportsbooks are pondering in any other case by a slight margin.
