Chiefs-49ers Week 7: 5 things to watch in rematch of Super Bowl LVIII

The bye week is over, and the Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) don’t have any time to ease again into play. In Week 7, the group will hit the highway to play the San Francisco 49ers (3-3) on Sunday at 3:25 PM Arrowhead time in Levi’s Stadium. The vitality shall be excessive for the rematch of Tremendous Bowls LVIII and LIV.

Will probably be the fourth general time these groups have confronted off below the present regimes; the Chiefs have received each sport.

Even whereas undefeated, Kansas Metropolis appears to be like susceptible attributable to damage — and that may solely rile up a vengeful 49ers group. The gamers obtainable for each groups shall be well-rested for battle; San Francisco performed on Thursday night time final week. That units the stage for a high-level sport between high-end contenders. Listed below are 5 issues to observe of their newest assembly:

1. Dealing with the 49ers’ misdirection on offense

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The Chiefs have gained expertise in opposition to the offensive scheme of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, whether or not it’s in opposition to his group or the model the Miami Dolphins run below head coach Mike McDaniel. The protection is aware of it begins with hole integrity in opposition to the run and disciplined eyes to key on play-action passes.

San Francisco tries to make that as tough as potential. The offense leads the NFL in plays involving pre-snap motion. Within the run sport, the 49ers average 5.2 yards per carry on plays with motion.

The stress shall be on the Chiefs’ entrance seven to be stout on the entrance facet and pursue performs from the again facet, primarily the linebackers and edge defenders. Former Chiefs’ linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr. excelled in opposition to these stretch-run schemes, however third-year linebacker Leo Chenal has additionally been an enormous consider disrupting the sort of offense.

2. Chiefs scheming up large performs

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The Chiefs will want a thought-out offensive plan to guard quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he throws and continues operating the ball effectively. Head coach Andy Reid highlighted what drives the 49ers’ protection in a press convention Wednesday.

“Their defensive entrance,” Reid identified. “It begins with these guys, then they’ve an All-Professional linebacker sitting proper there. That’s fairly good, together with the secondary. They’re effectively rounded, however it begins with the defensive entrance; they set the tempo for his or her protection.”

Second-year left sort out Wanya Morris is slated to start out for the fourth consecutive sport, and the group will possible help him with loads of formations that includes a number of tight ends. Defensive finish Nick Bosa entered Week 7 as the NFL leader in quarterback pressures, three of these ending as sacks.

The Chiefs’ heavier formations may also help within the run sport, however it’s going to additionally arrange the offense for play-action pictures. The chance to hit broad receiver Xavier Worthy on the run downfield appears to current itself a few times a sport, and the Chiefs can’t afford to let these alternatives slip by as a result of stress disrupted the timing.

The quarterback understands that, acknowledging how shut these groups have performed traditionally.

“There’s a play right here or there, if that adjustments then they win,” Mahomes identified of earlier matchups. “That’s the NFL, particularly if you get two of the highest groups going in opposition to one another.”

3. Pressuring and pursuing Brock Purdy

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49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy proved quite a bit on the massive stage of final 12 months’s championship sport, and he has seemingly improved additional as a difference-maker this season. Purdy has the second-most passing yards in the NFL and owns the highest average depth of target (10 yards) and rate of throws into tight windows (23%) among qualified passers this year.

Purdy has grown assured in his mobility, shopping for himself time to make these downfield throws. On common, Purdy takes the most time to throw of any quarterback in the NFL (3.17 seconds).

The duty to cease these drawn-out performs falls on the move rush. Defensive tackles Chris Jones and Tershawn Wharton play a major position in getting Purdy out of rhythm by caving the entrance of the pocket, however defensive ends George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah might want to include or corral the scrambling Purdy; Mike Danna will not play due to a pectoral injury.

4. Chiefs ending drives with touchdowns

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The Chiefs intend to enhance their capacity to complete drives with six factors somewhat than three; at the moment, the group ranks 29th in the NFL in converting red-zone drives into touchdowns.

It received’t be straightforward in opposition to the swarming, instinctive defensive entrance of San Francisco — which makes the earlier level of executing big-play alternatives much more essential. Nonetheless, the Chiefs have to manufacture as a lot house as potential when the sector tightens close to the aim line. The offense must assault sideline to sideline in opposition to the 49ers’ protection.

This season, San Francisco allows the seventh-highest rate of yards per rush on runs outside the tackles (5.6 yards). That requires pin-and-pull toss runs to hit the sting or jet-sweep handoffs to Worthy or broad receiver Mecole Hardman.

5. Protecting the 49ers’ arsenal of weapons

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Purdy’s ascension as a person has been aided by an extremely proficient group of skill-position gamers. The Chiefs are acquainted — however they won’t see all what the 49ers have to supply. Huge receiver Jauan Jennings — a memorable performer from Tremendous Bowl LVIII — was ruled out with a hip injury.

Huge receiver Deebo Samuel started the week as a limited participant in practice with a wrist injury however will play and supply the various problem he at all times does. Cornerback Trent McDuffie matched him effectively within the slot final matchup, however Samuel may even get schemed up on linebackers primarily based on the place he aligns in formation.

Tight finish George Kittle will check linebackers Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill by dropping into zone protection, however security Justin Reid will man him up on third downs. Cornerback Jaylen Watson has had a powerful season, and 49ers’ broad receiver Brandon Aiyuk shall be a robust check for him on the perimeter.